Srinagar, Aug. 5 -- The Lotus bloomat Wular Lake after three decades has turned the valley's largest freshwater lake into a vibrant tourist attraction.

For the first time since 1992, lotus flowers - locally known for their edible stems, nadru- have blossomed across 4 to 5 square kilometers of the lake.

The resurgence follows a prolonged absence after a massive flood disrupted the lake's delicate ecosystem, burying the aquatic plants beneath layers of silt.

The sudden appearance of the bloom has sparked excitement among locals and tourists alike, with boat rides and photo sessions becoming common in the otherwise quiet stretches of Wular, located in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.

"I never thought I would see this again in my lifet...