Living in a houseboat on Dal Lake, Kashmir , I spent a day in houseboat on Dal Lake. I had less than 24 in Srinagar after my trek to Great Lakes of Kashmir, before I take my flight back home. I wanted to make the most of the time I had here. Kashmir had already stolen my heart in the past day I spent on the trek. I wanted to experience living in the “much-talked about” house boats on the Dal Lake. There is a lot of discussion on the internet which suggests to choose staying on Nagini lake over Dal lake. But I had something very special planned for Dal Lake, I wanted to learn about the life of locals on Dal Lake.
The handsome owner of the houseboat was a kashmiri. He, along with his parents, had migrated to Europe but come back to his roots. He was kind enough to take me around in his own Shikhara to show me other houseboat on the main side of the dal Lake.
Dal Lake,
It was a pretty scene to witness so many shikharas on the Dal lake, something that I had only seen in pictures earlier. But this [art of the lake was more touristy and chaotic. The tourists were taking rounds of shikhara ride and the Shikhara walas were constantly looking for their prospective customers. The houseboats of all shapes and sizes were decked up close to eachother, it was literally possible to hop on on one houseboat to another.
I generally go silent for a couple of weeks after every trek. I wanted my space and peace. I asked the owner to take me back to his houseboat. He joked with me that i made him give me a free Shikara ride., that too on his fasting days of Roza! Never mind, our conversations on the Shikhara ride were insterting, I hope he didn’t mind the efforts!
I finally hopped on to this houseboat. It was a cluster of 8-10 houseboats, surrounded with the greens of the lake and the land.
The houseboat had a deck. I got ample time to spend with myself here. The vibe in this part was so pleasant that it felt the time stood still. Neither could the boat move, or could I. I observed the mountains glow in the dark when the stars and the moon showed up.
Only a few locals their Shikharas through this part of the lake.
The boat was actually a houseboat, with proper drawing room, dining room and bedrooms with attached bathrooms. Every room was luxuriously furnished and decorated with Kashmiri handicrafted. The colorful wall-hangings and carpets. complemented the wooden walls.
The dining was well decorated with antique style wooden chairs and table beautiful chandelier and other artefacts on the sides gave a feeling of the ancients times.
Dinner was cooked in Kashmiri style flavoured with local spices. Kashmiri Dum Aloo, Rogan Josh and Pulao. I’m sound more Interested in the cinnamon flavored kashmiri Kahwa after dinner.
My cosy little bedroom, jut perfect for me to have a peaceful sleep after sleeping in the tents on the 8 days long trek.
I wanted to buy the Kashmiri style dangling earring (called ‘Athnoor’ in local language) for myself. I enquired about it from the owner and he called up a seller, who come down in his Shikhara for a door-step service.
I had my flight back to Pune the next afternoon. I was my first night on the bed after trekking for 7 cantinuous days, yet, I woke up at 3:30 am next morning to head out to explore the Life on Dal Lake at 4:00 am. And I’m glad I did that!
