Srinagar
3 min read
A snowy night on a Srinagar houseboat is unforgettable if the boat is warm. How houseboats are heated, what to ask before booking and when to choose a hotel instead.
2 min read
Dal Lake freezes partly in hard cold spells, and fully only in rare historic winters. When it happens, what it looks like and why you should never walk on the ice.
Kashmir Adventure
Beyond the shikara: kayaking, canoeing and other activities on Srinagar's lakes, the water sports festival that put Dal on the map and what visitors can realistically book.
Floating shops will paddle up to your shikara selling kahwa, saffron, flowers, fruit, jewellery and crafts. What is worth buying, fair prices and how to say no politely.
Kashmir's carved cedar houseboats began as a workaround to a land rule and became an icon. How they started, how they are built and how to choose one today.
Before sunrise, farmers paddle their produce out onto Dal Lake to trade from boat to boat. How to visit the floating market respectfully, timing and what to expect.
Kashmir Tour Packages
Manipur has Loktak Lake and its floating phumdis; Srinagar has Dal Lake and its floating gardens. Routes from Imphal, the best season and a 7-night lake lover's plan.
Houseboat categories, Dal Lake vs Nigeen Lake, what rooms are like, food, heating in winter and how to book a good houseboat in Srinagar.
Everything you need to know about a shikara ride on Dal Lake: the classic routes, how prices work, the best time of day and what you will see.
From a sunrise shikara ride and Mughal gardens to the old city's shrines and a wazwan dinner: the best things to do in Srinagar, with tips from locals.
