UPPER COURSE OF THE VITASTA. 
105 
1899 .] 
The Dal measures about four miles in length and two and a half 
in width where it is broadest. Its depth nowhere exceeds 30 feet, and 
in most parts it is far more shallow. At its southern end it is fringed 
by lagoons, and a great portion of it is covered by the famous floating 
gardens. Notwithstanding the superabundance of water-plants and 
vegetable matter, the water everywhere retains an admirable clearness 
and freshness. This is, no doubt, due to the ampleness of the springs 
which rise within the lake. Though we find no direct mention of the 
lake in the Rajataraiigini, and though it does not claim any parti¬ 
cular sanctity, there is no want around its shores of ancient and 
holy sites. 
The earliest reference to the lake itself occurs in the Chronicle of 
Sri vara who describes at length how King Zainu-l-‘abidln diverted 
himself on the lake and adorned its vicinity. 1 2 S'rivara calls the lake 
Dala, while the few Mahatmyas which condescend to mention it, use 
the form Data} He also mentions the two small artificial islands 
called Lanka , and now distinguished as BupHank and Sun a ldnk (‘ the 
Silver Lanka,’ ‘ Golden Lanka’). Different names are given to several 
distinct portions of the lake. But of these only Hastavalika, the 
present Ast^vol, can be traced in the Clnonicles. 
The sacred sites of Gopadri, Jyesthesvara, Theda, S'uresvarl, etc., 
with their numerous Nagas line the eastern shores of the Dal. They 
will be mentioned below in the description of the vicinity of the capital. 
The well-known gardens of Shalimar, Nishat and Nasim are creations 
of the Mughal Emperors who did much to enhance the natural beauties 
of the lake. 
Besides the springs of the lake itself the latter is fed also by a 
stream which comes from the Mar Sar lake, high up in the mountains to 
the east. The old name of this stream, marked ‘ Arrah ’ on the map, is 
uncertain. The S'arvavatara seems to extend to it the name Mahasarit . 3 
In its lower course where it approaches the north shore of the Dal, it 
now bears the name of Telbal Nal (stream). An earlier form is fur¬ 
nished by S'rivara who calls the stream at this point, by the name of 
Tilaprastha ; the latter is also found in several Mahatmyas* 
67 Erom the junction with the Mahasarit downwards the Vitasta 
flows for over three miles between almost unbroken lines of houses 
raised high above the water on stone embankments. The latter consist 
now-a-days chiefly of large blocks of stone which belonged to ancient 
1 6'riv. i. 418 sqq. 
2 See, e.g., Vitastamah , xxi. 39. 
3 See S'arvav. iii. 75 ; iv. 129. 
* See S'rtv. i. 421; S'arvdv. iv. sqq., etc. 
J. i. 14 
