The Vishansar Lake also known as Vishan Sar () is an alpine, high-elevation oligotrophic lake, located near Ganderbal town and Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies at an elevation of . It has a maximum length of 1km and a maximum width of 0.6km.

Etymology and geography

'Vishansar', in Kashmiri, means ''the 'lake of Vishnu'.'' This lake holds religious significance for

Kashmiri Pandits The Kashmiri Pandits (also known as Kashmiri Brahmins) are a group of Kashmiri Hindus and a part of the larger Saraswat Brahmin community of India. They belong to the Pancha-Gauda, Pancha Gauda Brahmin group from the Kashmir Valley, located w ...

. It is home to various species of fish, including the

brown trout The brown trout (''Salmo trutta'') is a species of salmonid ray-finned fish and the most widely distributed species of the genus ''Salmo'', endemic to most of Europe, West Asia and parts of North Africa, and has been widely introduced globally ...

. The lake remains frozen during the winter months. In summer, the lake is surrounded by lush alpine meadows where local shepherds graze sheep and goats. The lake is a popular destination for trekkers in the

Kashmir Valley The Kashmir Valley, also known as the Vale of Kashmir, is an intermontane valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir, a region in Indian-administered Kashmir.(a) (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcont ...

. Vishnasar is fed by Krishansar Lake and nearby

glaciers A glacier (; or ) is a persistent body of dense ice, a form of rock, that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires ...

. The Lake is the source of Kishanganga River, which flows northwards up to Badoab, and then westwards through Gurais, along the

Line of Control The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line between the Indian and Pakistanicontrolled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but ser ...

. Gadsar Lake lies approximately 9 kilometers (5.6mi) to the west, crossing Gadsar Pass.

Gallery

File:Vishansar10.jpg, File:Vishansar11.jpg, File:Vishansar lake2.jpg, File:Vishansar13.jpg, File:Vishansar14.jpg,

References

{{Hydrography of Jammu and Kashmir Lakes of Jammu and Kashmir Geography of Ganderbal district Tourist attractions in Ganderbal district