Dal
Lake is one of the most famous
tourist places and tourist attractions in Kashmir in
India. It is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in Jammu and
Kashmir. The total area of the water body is around 22 square kilometers,
and the population living near the lake is around 50 thousand. The spot is
located at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is the most popular for
Indian tourists and also abroad in the world. The article is about Dal
Lake in Srinagar and the most beautiful houseboat
and floating market in India.
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| Dal lake Kashmir |
Houseboat Dal Lake
The houseboat
is one of the major tourist attractions in Srinagar, Kashmir. In India, where
we live, a house, village, lane, or town is connected with another city or
village by road. So, we all need a common skill like riding a cycle or bicycle
or driving a car, but in a place located in Kashmir, you have a much-needed skill
that is boating. The most popular place is Dal
Lake. Because you have seen there, most of the area is filled with water,
and the house looks like it is floating on the reservoir. There are many boats,
and shikaras are the only carriers to travel from one place to
another place and carry goods. Here the main attraction for tourists is the beautiful
houseboat and floating
market in Srinagar, known as “Meena Bazar,” like a fish market
and vegetable market on a boat, and also a floating shop, household, post
office, bank, and ATM. Most of the tourists come to Srinagar to stay in houseboats and experience life on the lake.
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| Houseboat Dal Lake |
Floating Market, Srinagar
The
lake is a way of floating market; here you can buy handlooms in Kashmir, winter
clothes and also summer clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics, and a variety of shops
are available on the floating market.
In the spot, you can visit Nehru Garden, a beauty of flowers. There are
different colors of about 1200 boats available in the water body. The houseboat and village life of the spot, floating
market, floating garden, and floating green fields are the biggest tourist
attractions in Srinagar. The boat is
commonly known as a shikara, which
is made of wood and is the only communication for villagers in the lake.
Sitting on a shikara, you can buy all daily needed food, fruit, vegetables,
tea and coffee, rice, and cloth from the floating market. If you
want to see about the experience, you have to go to the interior place of the
village, and Shikara plays the most important role in visiting the tourist spot.
Shikara
A traditional colorful boat, made of
wood, well furnished, with a roof made of tarpaulins, with a bow and stem.
Generally, the Shikara has six seats for six persons and a helmsman. The
colorful roof in Shikara is made with tarpaulins. Shikaras can be
various sizes and are used for various purposes, like transportation, fishing,
and harvesting. It is found to be in tourist places, lakes, and also parks. A shikara
ride can be experienced on Dal Lake Kashmir, Kerala, and also other
recognized tourism spots.
What is the best time to visit Dal Lake in Kashmir?
Summer, meaning March to
August, is the best time to explore the destinations in Kashmir.
At that time, the lake will be full of water. You may also visit Kashmir from
September to November, but it will not be perfect for Dal Lake because, at that
time, the water in the reservoir decreases a lot. In winter, from December to
February, the temp decreases up to
– 5 degrees Celsius, and that’s why the water body is covered with snow. At
that time the beauty of the lake is amazing, but it will be difficult to visit the
interior part of the place and explore the village life of the people. In
January, light ice was floating on the water body; it broke when the shikara ran. At that time, you could
not walk on the floating ice. In 1986 in winter, ice formed on the water body; a
man also walked and played on the floating ice for 3 months. When most of the
people carry portable heaters to save themselves from the cold. The amazing
heater is named Kangri, which does not need electricity and is not charged.
Kangri is made by local people with a kind of wood and an inner part of mud,
using coal for heat generation. Kangri is mostly used in Kashmir in winter for 3
to 4 months every year.
How to reach Dal Lake in Srinagar?
To visit Dal Lake Srinagar,
firstly you reach Srinagar by bus, train, or air from other states of India. If
your place is nearest to Udampur in Jammu and Kashmir, you can reach Udampur.
From Udampur you will find private taxis or buses to reach Srinagar by road,
and the distance will be near about 200 km and the time taken 6 hours. Jammu
city and Udhampur distance is about 70 km.
An amazing, beautiful
tourist place, and the beauty is
eye-catching, increasing more at night when the light reflects on the lake
water. It looks like a flood of light is flowing. Its beauty cannot be expressed in words if you don’t visit the tourist
place.
Srinagar airport to Dallake distance
Srinagar International Airport is the only international airport
connected with other Indian states through Jammu and Kashmir and is the nearest
airport, only about 23 km from Srinagar.
You will find taxis to visit the destinations from the airport at a fare of near
about Rs.1000, and also available is the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation
(JKSRTC), with a fare of Rs.100 per person and a time taken of 1 hour.
Hotels near Dal Lake
According to tourist reviews, there
are some hotels and homestays you can book or stay near the tourist
destinations. (Reviews and ratings as of 25/10/25)
Hotel lake side
The hotel is located on Boulevard
Road, Ghat No. 12, Abikarpora, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The hotel has 186
reviews and a 4.4 rating. The location of the hotel is ideal, on the lakeside, with
an amazing property and clean and comfortable rooms. Good service with
delicious food and polite staff. The hotel is situated in the middle of the
lake, offering a unique and peaceful stay. It is not a houseboat, but they
provide a boat for transport. They also help to arrange Shikara to explore the Floating Market.
Redbury Homestay
The homestay is located in Dar
Mahalla, Bren, Boulevard Road, in Srinagar. The property is around 1 km away
from the destination. The homestay has 37 reviews and a 4.8 rating. Homely
atmosphere, friendly hosts, clean rooms, and a pleasant environment. It is the
best homestay near the destinations.
Hotel Aziz
The
hotel is located on Boulevard Road, Gagribal, in Srinagar. The hotel has 30
reviews and 5-star ratings. Great customer ratings seem to indicate overall the
hotel is great for a stay. You can book the proper one without any hesitation. The
hotel offers neat and clean rooms, delicious food, and an amazing lake view.
Warm hospitality, comfortable rooms, and peaceful surroundings made the hotel a
memorable experience.
Zostel Srinagar
The best
3-star hotel in Srinagar. The hotel is located at Paradise Avenue Lane,
Shalimar Road, Nishat, in Srinagar. The property is peaceful, has breathtaking
charm, delicious food, and also stunning mountain views. Great hospitality with
cozy rooms makes the hotel Zostel a perfect accommodation for a stay. The
property has 1.7 K reviews and a 4.6 rating. Contact Number for any details:
01141169723.
Conclusion: You must visit the tourist spot Dal Lake in Srinagar. On the tour of Kashmir, you will become familiar with and experience with houseboat, floating market, and also Shikara boating.
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