"DALGATE"
"DALGATE"SRINAGAR - THE CITY OF HOUSE BOATS Kashmir's most well known city, Srinagar, stands by the clear waters of the Dal Lake, and the rushing Jhelum. During the days of the Raj, the ruler of Kashmir let the British come to Srinagar but did not allow them to build. So they took to the water and lived in houseboats on the lovely Lake! And the houseboats stayed on to become a symbol of the beautiful valley.
A houseboat holiday is a delightful experience. Just stepping on board transports
you to a different world, away from the hustle and bustle and noise of the city.
There are different categories of houseboat, from deluxe to D class. And they
could be situated either on the banks of the lake or river, or in the interior
of the lake. So while selecting one you should consider this factor. If you
are with your family and young children, it would be advantageous to take one
which is on the banks or overlooking the Boulevard, so that you can get ashore
in a few minutes. If honeymooning, you may prefer to be in the interior, all
by yourselves.
Most houseboats on the Nagin and the Jhelum are situated on the banks of the lake, and can be accessed directly from land without the help of a shikara, while all those on the Dal require a shikara to get to and from them. Most houseboats on the Dal are situated in long straggling rows; some face the Boulevard, Srinagar's most exciting address, while others are situated singly or in groups of two and three.
For the honeymooners the houseboats deep in the lake are ideal. The romantic setting of the lake in Kashmir together with the royal setting of the houseboats create magic. The best activity while on the houseboat in Kashmir would be to sit in the balcony and enjoy the multi hues of natural and human life pass by. The view from the houseboat keeps changing with the season too. There are the awe aspiring mountains of the Pir Panjal (also spelt as Panchal) and the majestic mountains of Himalayas. In winter the fun doubles when the snow covered surrounding take over. The waters of the lake are mesmerizing as it is.
Each houseboat in Kashmir has anything between two and four bedrooms in it with attached bathrooms and a common sitting and dining room. The charges of a houseboat include all meals and a certain number of crossings by shikara to and from the houseboat. Houseboats offer far more personalized service than hotels because of the far higher host guest ratio. On the other hand, fellow guests at the same houseboat tend to interact much more than if they were staying at the same hotel. Which is why houseboats are ideal for a large group of eight or more adults.
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