Gardening on Water: The Dal’s Ancient Floating Gardens

For thousands of years, Kashmir has been called  jannat (heaven) by Urdu poets, travelers, and tourists. The Dal Lake in Srinagar is a jewel in its crown. Flamingo pink lotuses carpet the waters, and shikaras —small wooden boats— row upon it, making the destination a favorite for Instagram-loving  honeymooners. However, deep in the Dal is a world less visible: its floating gardens.

In Gardening on Water, Meher Varma, returns with a two-part audio dispatch from Srinagar, introducing us to the political complexities that challenge the reductive depiction of 'Kashmir as heaven on earth.’

Join us as we row you through the majestic and complex world of Dal's Floating Gardens.

This episode was made possible by the support of @heirloomcities