The Beautiful Dal Lake, Srinagar and the scintillating Shikara experience

A Shikara lying idle on a summer evening at Dal Lake Srinagar. Clicked through my Nikon D5300

Our Jammu and Kashmir Trip is one trip we would be sharing quite a bit about in the coming days!

This beautiful dawn image was captured on my Nikon D5300 near Ghat no.9 of Dal Lake, Srinagar.

In the backdrop of mountains, you can also witness the illuminated houseboats, mostly used for hotel stays by tourists.

Here , the "Shikara" boat as it is famously called, lies idle in the evening waters as the boatsmen leave it on the lake-shore after yet another day of ferrying/riding tourists. The time was around 7.30 in the evening.

Talking about the Shikara ride, A 1.5 hour ride costs around 500₹ . the Shikara rides through the lake across the Floating markets where the boatsmen will ask if you want to buy something? Of course it is no wild guess that they would be having some percentage of commission on every purchase we make. Why else would they park their shops only at shops of their choice?

Nonetheless, the boat ride through the floating fields (yes!) And the floating shops (shops within houseboats in the lake) on a beautiful summer evening is indeed fascinating to say the least.

The backdrop of Himalayas makes it even more magnificent. And if you are in a mood to have some desi corns "makkai/bhutta " you'll just need to find some seller on a nearby boat. (Yes they do sell ice creams/ kesars i.e saffron / ornaments and what not! on boats). So prepare for some constant nagging in fellow Shikara boats approaching near yours with the headline "Floating Shop" on their boats.

And yes, in case you have booked a stay at a houseboat, in all probability they will arrange for your pickup and drop from the Ghat to their houseboat inside the lake. A free ride, yeah! Is there anyone on this planet who doesn't like free rides? :)

The Shikara ride was mesmerizing and so was walk along the Dal lake Ghat  where this photo happened. Beautiful memories indeed.

Read more on our Kashmir trip and how we summited 14000 feet into the Himlayas .(of course via Asia's highest and longest cable car - The Gondola Gulmarg!)

For more: www.ourtravelcravings.com !

Cheers!