Floating Market

The Floating Market of Dal Lake, Kashmir, is the second-largest of its kind in the World. Mainly used for the wholesale trade of vegetables and flowers harvested in the Floating Farms of the Dal Lake. The farmers are the sellers here, and most products are sold through the Banter system, and usage of money is minimal.

The farmers, armed with their oars and long sweaters, brave the chilling weather of Kashmir on their little Shikaras (Small Traditional Boats) to harvest the day's produce from their floating farm and bring it to the Gudher (AKA Gathering Place). The market is open from Morning Four to Seven. By the time the sun is bright, the trade is over.

The market became known to other countries after a Japanese Photographer printed its picture in a Tourism Book in Japan in the 1960s.

Photography @jeevanlxavier