The Dal Lake of Srinagar is synonymous with the houseboat. Kashmir Houseboats Tour offers an opportunity to enjoy this unique attraction of Srinagar. Kashmir houseboat package covers all the essential destination of Kashmir-Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Mughal Gardens etc....Can I get some information like...from where to hire these houseboats, which places they take us, what facilities I can enjoy ...and also the rates...if possible...
Posted On : 4/12/2009 11:28:57 PM
Ragamala Chakraborty Reward Points : 45200 Member Since : Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The coupling of Kashmir and its Shikara can be best termed muse for it s just sourced some fantabulous lines of great poets. Holidaying in Kashmir without a ride on Shikara is incomplete. Beautiful Lakes and water bodies nestled in the lap of mountains in Kashmir are worth taking a jaunt to let our hearts render the best preserved lines. The two-hour boat ride takes tourists on a relaxing sightseeing tour of interior parts of the calm and composed waters of Dal Lake, and be part of shopping- by-Shikara pleasure trips. During few hours of Dal Lake cruise you come to explore many tourists places located in its vicinity. Nishat and Shalimar gardens as well as Hazratbal mosque are directly accessible by Shikara. Your Shikara trip will be accompanied by migratory avians with robust bills perched on the branches of willow trees. A swarm of birds, hunting on the floating gardens, will decorate your trip with their unmatched flights in the immediate vicinity. The hunting birds that make their way on islands created by man for vegetations. This is extremely fertile and provide rich source of food in the form of frogs, lizards, mice, grasshoppers and other insects to the Kingfisher. Taking a Shikara ride on Nagin Lake is an out-of-box experience. Lined by willow trees water of Nagin Lake mirrors the ice clad conical tree leaves of lake. To its south is the Shankaracharya hill or Takht-i-Sulaiman and to the west, is Hari Parbat. A floating shopping joint, Nagin Lake is thronged by salesman who sell out everything from fruit, nuts, fresh flowers, film, baked goods, pappier-match boxes, woolen shawls, silk carpets, leather goods, money-changing services and on and on. Mansar Lake is a beautiful lake, wrapped by trees on all side and dotted by mountains here there. The food and crafts festivals by J&K Tourism is a grand festival organized on bank of Mansar Lake.
Posted On : 4/13/2009 3:15:34 AM
Manpreet Bharara Reward Points : 30900 Member Since : Wednesday, April 08, 2009
The beautiful Kashmir valley is known as Paradise on Earth. For centuries, the magnificence of Kashmir has attracted people from all over. The lofty mountains, the green forests, the colorful culture, serene environs and the beautiful houseboats have combined together to make Kashmir one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Kashmir houseboats tour takes you to Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam alongwith stay in the houseboat Shikara . Day 01 : Arrival at Srinagar On your arrival at the Srinagar airport, you will be met by our representatives. From there, you will be escorted to your respective houseboat. Thereafter, you will leave for a boat ride in the Dal Lake. The night stay will be at the houseboat. Srinagar Shikara TourDay 02 : Srinagar Sightseeing The entire day will be spent in roaming around the city of Srinagar. You will visit the magnificent Mughal Gardens, Shankaracharya Temple and the Old City. Overnight stay will be in the houseboat. Day 03 : Srinagar - Gulmarg In the morning, you will drive down to Gulmarg. Enjoy the picturesque beauty of the valley on a Gondola ride or try golf at the world s highest golf resort. For the night, you will stay at a hotel in Gulmarg. Day 04 : Srinagar - Pahalgam After having breakfast, you will proceed towards Pahalgam. On arrival, you will check into a hotel. Throughout the day, enjoy the beautiful meadows and the scenic locales of the valley. The night stay will be at the hotel. Srinagar TourDay 05 : Pahalgam - Srinagar In the morning, you will leave Pahalgam for Srinagar. On arrival, you will again board the houseboat. The rest of the day will be spent in visiting the Hazratbal shrine and the beautiful Nagin Lake. Overnight stay will be in the houseboat. Day 06 : Departure from Srinagar The first half of the day will be for visiting the local market of Srinagar.
Posted On : 4/13/2009 3:39:47 AM
Siddharth Ray Reward Points : 61200 Member Since : Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Shikara is a type of wooden boat which is normally found in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Shikaras are used for various purposes like transportation, fishing and seaweed harvesting. Some of the poor people in Kashmir use these shikaras as floating homes. Shikaras are among the popular tourist attractions in the valley of Kashmir as several tourists take a cruise along the Nagin and Dal lakes in this region. There are many houseboats and shikara communities along the Dal Lake who have lived for centuries. Most of the houseboats are perfectly furnished in English Style and chairs, couches, tables, proper beds and bathrooms with hot water are included in these houseboats. Shikara ride is one of the most relaxing and soothing aspects of a holiday in the valley of Kashmir. Shikaras are being used for longer tours which is one of the worthful pleasures ride around the Lakes of Dal and Nagin. This two hour shikara ride takes tourists on a soothing sightseeing tour of some of the interior parts of the placid and calm waters of the Dal Lake. As this Dal Lake is centrally situated in the landscape of Srinagar several places of interest are been built in its surrounding area. Tourist destinations such as the Hazratbal mosque and the Shalimar gardens are conveniently accessible by these shikaras. On this tour of Shikaras tourists come across several birds like kingfishers and large striking birds with robust bills hovering on the branches of willow trees. These birds migrate from places and come to this lake for hunting their prey. Man made islands or the floating gardens comprise of willow rods, aquatic vegetations and reeds. They are held together with humus which consists of mud extracted from the bottom of the lake. These lakes are very fertile and provide rich source of food to these birds. Frogs, grasshoppers, mice, lizards and other insects are some of the food available for these birds in these lakes.
Posted On : 4/14/2009 11:34:51 PM
Roop Chatterjee Reward Points : 21400 Member Since : Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The shikara is a type of wooden boat found on Dal Lake and other water bodies of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Shikaras are of varied sizes and are used for multiple purposes, including transportation of people. Drivers use oars having a unique spade-shaped bottom to row the shikara. A usual shikara seats half-a-dozen people, with the driver sitting at the lower end. Like the Venetian gondolas, they are a cultural symbol of Kashmir. Some shikaras are still used for fishing, harvesting aquatic vegetation usually for fodder , and transport in the deeper parts of Dal Lake, while most are covered with tarpaulins and are used by tourists. Some are used as floating homes by poor people. Shikaras have become quite a popular tourist attraction, with tourists taking cruises along the Dal and Nageen lakes, visiting places of interest. A very popular postcard photo of a shikara is the florist s shikara, in which the florist carries varied flowers for sale.
Posted On : 4/15/2009 11:53:35 PM
Bidyut Nath Reward Points : 22200 Member Since : Friday, March 27, 2009
Here, I would like to differ from Roop, Siddharth and Ragamala because houseboats are quite different from Shikara. You people have provided nice and elaborated information on Shikara but Priyadarshini was asking about houseboats. However, we have got huge information on that too, it will be a great help for those who want to have a Shikara ride. Houseboat is a Novel type of accommodation available in Kashmir as you have Hotels available throughout the world. Living on a houseboat experiences a fun and real joy for those who experience such stay and always carry cherishing moments along with as a memory for the entire lifetime. The Staff at service on a Houseboat comprises of a Captain, Room Boy, Chef , besides attached Shikara with Shikara-wala for To and Fro Crossings and other Shikara Rides. Thus one feels homely atmosphere while one s stay on a Houseboat. The houseboat is usually made out of Cedar wood which sustains the would be damages through water as the wood is got seasoned before using for such construction. One has to spend lavishly on the construction of a houseboat with modern amenities and facilities available like Corridor, Drawing room, Dinning room, Pantry, 02 to 07 bed rooms with attached fully sanitary fitted bath rooms with hot and cold water running. Many tourists are attracted to Srinagar by the charm of staying on a houseboat, which provides the unique experience of living on the water in a cedar-paneled elegant bedroom, with all the conveniences of a luxury hotel. Srinagar s thousand or so houseboats are moored along sections of the Dal and Nagin Lakes and river Jhelum, each decorated fancifully and named romantically and even whimsically. A luxury houseboat, like a luxury hotel has fine furniture, good carpets and modern bathroom fittings, while the D category the lowest category of houseboats, like low-budget hotels, is spartanly furnished. Like hotels too, houseboats vary widely in their locations. Some overlook the main road, others look out onto lotus gardens and yet others face tiny local markets and villages, all right in the middle of the lake All houseboats, regardless of category, have highly personalized service. Not only is there always a houseboy for every boat, but the owner and his family are never far away. The cost per day of hiring a houseboat includes all meals and free rides from the houseboat to the nearest jetty and back, as no houseboat on the lakes is directly accessible from the banks. Every standard houseboat provides a balcony in the front, a lounge, dining room, pantry and 3 or more bedrooms with attached bathrooms. All houseboats not moored to the bank of the river or lakes provide a Shikara as a free service from the houseboat to the nearest Ghat jetty . Virtually every houseboat in Srinagar has been provided with a municipal water connection. The shikara is a type of wooden boat found on Dal Lake and other water bodies of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Shikaras are of varied sizes and are used for multiple purposes, including transportation of people. Drivers use oars having a unique spade-shaped bottom to row the shikara. A usual shikara seats half-a-dozen people, with the driver sitting at the lower end. Some of the travel agents offer houseboat tour package like this Day 1 Arrival at Jammu- After your arrival at the Jammu railway station, you will be received by our representatives and escorted to the hotel. The overnight stay will be at the hotel. Day 2 Jammu Srinagar- You will be escorted to the Jammu bus stand. From there, you will undertake a 7-8 hours bus drive to Srinagar. For the night, you will be resting at your houseboat. Day 3 Srinagar Sightseeing- A visit to the Mughal Gardens will keep you occupied in the first half of the day. The tour will include a visit to the Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh. After having lunch at the houseboat, you will leave for the splendid Dal Lake. A shikara ride of the lake and taking a look at the nearby places will occupy your afternoon and most of your evening. In the night, you will rest at the houseboat. Day 4 Srinagar - Gulmarg Srinagar- In the morning, you will leave Srinagar for a full day tour of Gulmarg. One of the most magnificent summer resorts in the valley, it is quite popular for golf in summers and skiing in winters . Apart from the highest golf course in the world, Gulmarg is also known for its natural charm and snowy mountains. Another attraction is Gondola cable car ride from Gulmarg to Khalinmarg. In the evening, you will leave for Srinagar and go straight to the houseboat. Day 5 Srinagar - Sonamarg Srinagar- In the morning, you will leave for Sonamarg, the most picturesque drive from Srinagar. Enroute, you will be halting to visit a number of beautiful spots. You will spend the whole day at Gulmarg, known as Gateway of Ladakh. You can also take a horse ride to Thajiwas Glacier, where snow remains round the year. You will leave for Srinagar in the evening and spend the night at the houseboat. Day 6 Srinagar - Pahalgam Srinagar- This day will be booked for an excursion to Pahalgam, situated at a height of 2440 m. Enroute, you will visit Saffron fields, Avantipur ruins and Anantnag sulpher spring. Pahalgam is a favorite shooting locale for Indian films. In the evening, you will return back to Srinagar. The houseboat will serve as your host for the night. Day 7 Srinagar Katra- Early morning you will leave for Katra. After 6-7 hours drive, you will arrive at Katra and straight away check into a hotel. After a little freshening up, you will start tour walk towards the Vaishno Devi Ji temple. By midnight, you will return back to the hotel and stay for the night. Day 8 Katra Jammu- In the morning, you will be free for your personal activities. Thereafter, you will leave for the Jammu railway station for a train to your destination.
Touring Kashmir, Kashmir Houseboats
