Row the Shikara, Gently Down the Lake

      Srinagar's Dal Lake is an ethereal beauty that will never pass into nothingness.

As one approaches the Dal Lake, there are hundreds of colourful houseboats lined up like ducks in a row beckoning to tourists.

Houseboats in Dal Lake

A Carved Wooden Balcony of a Houseboat

Dal Lake is the most commercial tourist destination in Srinagar, but it promises you an unforgettable experience (trust me on this).The beauty of this lake is mesmerizing; it is surrounded by the white majestic mountains (Pir Panjal) on one side, and historic milestones like the Mughal Fort and the Shankaracharya Temple on the other.  

Pir Panjal Mountains overlooking Dal Lake

The Dal Lake is stretched along 15.5 kms. with a number of gates. These gates are shikara stops that help you reach the houseboat of your choice. The best way to enjoy the beauty of this place is to go for a sunset ‘cruise’ in the shikara.

The one hour shikara sunset tour covers the floating vegetable market, vegetable farms, Meena Bazaar and the Golden Lake.

Vegetable Farms in Dal Lake

 

Meena Bazaar

Dal Lake could also be called a floating ‘shopping mall’. You have your grocery vendor, a professional photographer trying to convince you to wear the Kashmiri dress and click pictures, jewellery dealers trying to sell you stones and artificial jewellery, and boatsmen selling the best (the very best) gushtabas (soft meat balls), sheikh kababs and kahwa (a refreshing and tasty Kashmiri drink)!


Boatman selling Kashmiri Food in the Lake

Don’t be surprised if the shikara boatman introduces you to the Golden lake while take a tour of the Dal Lake. As per a local Kashmiri, many years ago (during the Mughal times) anyone who looked down from the Shankaracharya temple (the temple overlooks the Golden lake) could see a bed of gold in that area of the lake. Many tried to get the gold but always ended up drowning or getting strangled by the water weed.  (Believe it or not!)

Golden Lake

As the sun sets, this lake pristine beauty comes to the fore as it sheds its commercial stance and reveals its true self. 

In the night, the houseboats light up like glow worms that reflect in the mirror-sheet of pristine water. My mind was lost in the antithesis of the moment; the bustling traffic of the tourists and the serenity of the lake.

Free Tips:

·       Don’t forget to bargain with the shikara boatmen, they will probably always charge you more than you need to pay.  

·       If you are an early riser you can visit the vegetable market (from 5 am to 7 am) in the shikara to get some of the best local produces like vegetables, fruits and spices.

·        Ask your houseboat owner to assign you a shikara or a small boat to pick you up from the gates.

·        Shopping in Dal Lake is more expensive than shopping from the promenade roadside shops or shops in Srinagar.

·       Kashmiri people love talking and are warm, friendly people who love to help. Don't mistake them to be inquisitive (although please do not indulge a personal or intense conversation).

Cost: Rs. 400/- to Rs. 600 for one hour in the shikara. The cost of the trip to the vegetable market early morning is around the same.

The Magical Himalayas

The Majestic Himalayas

Randomly assembled lines by an Urdu poet describing the Himalayas:

"O Himalah! O rampart of the realm of India!
 Bowing down, the sky kisses your forehead

To the outward eye you are a mere mountain range
In reality you are our sentinel, you are India's rampart

Snow has endowed you with the turban of honour
Which scoffs at the crown of the world-illuminating sun

O Himalah! Are you like a theater stage
Which nature's hand has made for its elements?"

My one month holiday to the North was about to begin. I was really excited as I embarked the plane to Srinagar, and occupied a window seat. The pilot announced that we would be travelling via Rajasthan.

I peeked out of the window and all I could see were brown patches of barren land. Suddenly, far away amongst the chaotic clouds, I noticed a white peak that almost looked like it could touch the sky. I dismissed this frivolous thought and convinced myself that I misunderstood a cloud. But all of a sudden the clouds moved like the curtains of an Opera, to reveal tall majestic snowcapped mountains. Words couldn’t describe the beauty, and all I could utter to myself was ‘Wow!’

A closer look at the Himalayas, also known as the 'land of snow'

My eyes were transfixed as I peeked outside the window. I could see civilization below some thousand odd feet. The tin roof tops sparkled under the sun's rays that looked like rubies and diamonds strewn on the ground.

 



Roof tops shine like silver and rubies

And then just like magic, the scenery changed from snow white mountains to beautiful green pastures, greeting you with a warm welcome to explore Kashmir.

 

Welcome to Srinagar Airport