Mansar Lake

Mansar Lake is a lake located 62 km from the city of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is fringed by forest-covered hills, and is over a mile (1 mile) in length and half-a-mile (0.5 mile) in width. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes are designated as Ramsar Convention sites in November 2005. Mansar is primarily fed by surface run-off and partially by mineralised water through paddy fields. The lake supports CITES and IUCN redlisted Lissemys punctuata, Aspideretes gangeticus and Mansariella lacustris. The composite lake is high in micro nutrients for which it is an attractive habitat, breeding and nursery ground for migratory waterfolks like Fulica atra, Gallinula chloropus, Podiceps nigricollis, Aythya fuligula and various Anas species.

About
Besides being a popular excursion destination in Jammu, it is also a holy site, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake Manasarovar. On the Eastern Bank of the Lake there is a shrine to Shesha (the serpent-mount of Vishnu). The shrine comprises a big boulder on which are placed a number of iron chains perhaps representing the small serpents waiting on the tutelary deity of Shesha. Two ancient temples of Shiva, Narasimha, as well as a temple of Durga are situated in the vicinity of the Mansar lake. People take a holy dip in the water of the lake on festive occasions.

Newlyweds consider it auspicious to perform three circumambulations (parikrama) around the lake to seek the blessings of Shesha, the lord of serpents, whose shrine is located on its eastern bank.

Certain communities of Hindus perform the mundana ceremony (First hair cut) of their male children here.

There are also some ancient temples on the lake's shores, which are visited by devotees in large numbers. Mansar is also ideal for boating for which the Tourism Department provides adequate facilities.

This Mansar lake road joins to another important road that directly links Pathankot (Punjab) to Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu Province. Udhampur is a Town of strategic importance, again on National Highway No. 1A. The shortcut road from Mansar or Samba to Udhampur by-passes the Jammu town. Surinsar Lake, a smaller lake that is linked to Mansar, is 24 km from Jammu (via a bypass road).

Flora and fauna
Areas around Mansar lake are rich in forests. Many types of trees such as Scrub, Peepal and Acacia are found here. The lake is bordered with Pine trees and provides shelter to a number of Birds and Animals. There is also a wildlife sentury near the lake which provides home to a number of Birds and Animals such as Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Cranes and Ducks. Many types of Fishes and Tortoises are also found in the Lake. Some types of Snakes are also found in the lake.

Legend
According to local tradition based on the Mahabharata, Babruvahana, the son of Arjuna and Ulupi, was the ruler of this area during that time. After the war, Arjuna performed a ritual called the ashvamedha yajna to prove his mettle and vantage over the land. Babruvahana captured the horse which was the power symbol of the yajna at Khoon village near Dhar Udhampur road where later on Babruvahana killed Arjuna. After the victory, Babruvahana shared his success with his mother by presenting the head of Arjuna to her. After knowing that Arjuna was his father, Babruvahana wanted to get Arjuna back. Therefore, he had to procure Mani from Shesha. For that, Babruvahana made a tunnel with his arrow which was known as Surangsar. After defeating Shesha and capturing the mani, he came out of Manisar (Mansar), that was the other end of the tunnel.