Nilnag Lake: Bridges Kashmir to New Zealand

Irfan Ahmad Mir

More than 47 km’s away from summer capital Srinagar, Nilnag Lake lies in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. From 22 km’s away from Chadoora Tehsil, a village namely Buzgoo had started to get attention of local, national and international tourists few years ago. Though the destination is not attended to such extent by administration so far but still it witnesses big chunk of tourists every year.
Spread over 32 kanals of water body, the Nilnag Lake is said to be receiving waters from Saad-e-Ne’ar which is 100 meters away from the Lake. Ne’ar (Near’d) pronounced by rural population. According to Mukhtar Raina, a local said that there was a Muslim saint who spent his major portion of life there (Saad-e-Near’d) and after his death he was buried there. The water to Nilnag comes from there which is considered as its source.
However as per others they contested over the source and said Nilnag has its own source that emerges from its depth. The Lake was dredged in year 2017-18 by Government and its boundaries were extended.
The Lake comes under Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA) who since two years has started its maintenance to attract locals and tourists as well.
In 2020, Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA) constructed few huts on the right side of lake while the left side is occupied by farm land (Milkiyati land).
According to Raina if the area is attended and maintained like other tourist destinations across valley, it will generate revenue of billions for the government. However he expressed disappointment over poor road connectivity in the area and said the place has been ignored by the government since long.
“From Nilnag to Yusmarg stretch it is about 4-5 km dilapidated road. Only a 1-km road was macadamized till village Qistwad, a scheduled tribe village while the rest 4-km’s have been left and are yet to be attended which comes under MNREGA”, Raina said.
According to locals, there is a famous Kashmiri phrase “Nilnaguk Aaab Palzan Beerwah’s” (Waters of Nilnag quenches Beerwah’s thirst) but it is unfortunate to say that the waters of Nilnag is unable to drink right now due to waste accumulated into.
As per locals the destination can be emerged as a biggest production market for fish production but authorities have turned their eyes closed and unattended a chapter which can provide employment to thousands of youth.
In surrounding of Lake, there are establishments including huts made by Forest Department and Government High School Buzgoo. As per locals due to massive deforestation in the wooden areas of Nilnag, authorities launched a plantation drive in the area a decade ago which brought lush green mesmerizing beauty back to the area.
According to locals, it is being said that Nilnag Lake had been a pet destination of Eric Biscoe who was a British missionary and educationist and had set up a Tyndale Biscoe in Kashmir. Eric, a native of New Zealand died in 1949 and wished not to be buried as per Christianity rituals but to be cremated as per Hindu religion. The Eric’s wish was fulfilled and his remains were brought in a bottle to Nilnag where half of his ashes were floated in waters while another half mortals were buried in a grave dug few meters away in wooden area of Nilnag.
According to Raina, the Eric’s wish is marked on his grave in wooden area of Nilnag where his half remains are buried.