Have you ever wondered how it will feel to be in heaven? Surrounded by surreal beauty of nature, relaxing on a luxurious seat while all the comforts of life like food, water, ornaments and what not reach you where you are 🙂
Welcome to a Shikara ride at Dal Lake !
To be honest with you, I could never really relate to what people called as a unique and surreal experience of a Shikara ride at Dal Lake in Srinagar. After staying in a houseboat in Kerala, and boating on several beautiful lakes across India on our trips to Udaipur, Ooty and Kodaikanal to name a few, I always thought that a Shikara ride at Dal Lake in Srinagar will be just another of boat ride on yet another beautiful lake in India. But now I understand. You have to experience it, live it, to understand it. In short, it is definitely a very unique experience to take a Shikara ride on the Dal Lake.
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What is the experience of a Shikara ride on Dal Lake
A shikara is a boat that has a half-bed on one side and a bench on the other. You can actually lean in and even lie down on this bed, relax and experience floating on the extremely calm Dal Lake while riding on the Shikara. On the second day of our 9 days trip to Kashmir, after exploring the beautiful Mughal Gardens of Srinagar, we proceeded to a ride on the Dal Lake Shikara. We were a group of 8 people including adults and kids. So, we needed two Shikaras. There are several “ghats” (stops) on the bank of the Dal Lake. You can take a ride on the Dal Lake from any of these Ghats. Our driver took us to Ghat number 5.
The Shikaras were waiting for the customers. After an initial negotiation (which is very much required) we boarded our Shikaras. They promised us a beautiful experience covering 8 different points around the Lake. And also spending a total of 2 hours or more if required. From here started our Shikara ride on Dal Lake.
Soon after we settled down and started enjoying the scenic beauty of the lake which is lined with houseboats on all sides. With a dramatic backdrop of the tallest mountain ranges in the world. After a while, a few sellers approached us on their Shikaras. Some were selling cut fruits, while others were selling antiques and ornaments. Some even came with a “hokkah” which was tobacco free but gave the experience of drinking a traditional “hokkah” 🙂
When we arrived at the other end of the Lake, we stopped at some floating shops for refreshment. We had tea and Kahva (the famous hot drink or tea of Kashmir). And the kids had little snack. From here, again started the tour around the lake. We saw several beautiful houseboats as we crossed them. And wondered how our own experience of staying in a houseboat in Srinagar was going to be. As we had booked one towards the end of the trip.
Finally after crossing several houseboats, we reached near the floating market of Dal Lake. This is a wholesale market it seems. And your boat man will convince you hard to stop here. As it is very likely once you step inside the shops you are going to buy something. We also stopped at the floating market. And some of us bought some gifts and souvenirs to take back home. Shopping in Kashmir is another unique experience that I need to dedicate another post to,
Anyways, after finishing the shopping, we started back on our ride across the Dal Lake in our Shikara. This time, the boat man gave the row to one of our friends to try her hands on rowing. While the water of Dal Lake is so calm that even with the rows in her hand, the boat sailed as calmly as ever. But we were at our wits end, crying out at every single ripple for our friend to be cautious !!
It was nearing sunset. And the sunset views from the Shikara are something you won’t want to miss at all.
After nearly 2.5 hours of Shikara ride, we reached back at the banks. Filled with lifelong surreal experience.
Related read : Is it safe to visit Kashmir now?
Shikara ride points on Dal Lake Srinagar
The Shikara people claim that there is in total 8 points that they will show you while taking the Shikara ride on Dal Lake in Srinagar. Most of these are mere structures that you see while passing through. While some others are like islands or shops where you can actually stop and get down. We saw Nehru Park, the Island of Char Chinar, Taj Hotel, Shalimar Bag, Nishat Bagh, Floating Market and Hazratbal Mosque. You can stop at as many of these as you like.
What is the timing of Shikara ride on Dal Lake
The Shikara ride on Dal Lake happens all through the day. It starts early in the morning. And goes on till late at night, till 10:00pm easily. Sometimes the super enthusiastic tourists request to arrange Shikara rides on Dal lake in the middle of the night as. well. And it does get arranged. So, you can enjoy a Shikara ride on Dal Lake anytime all through the day.
What is the cost of Shikara ride on Dal Lake
Unfortunately there is no standard cost of Shikara ride on Dal Lake. The cost varies from season to season. And even from ghat to ghat. So depending on which point you are boarding the Shikara from. And how much time you spend on the Shikara, the price also varies. Also, bargaining plays a crucial role in determining the cost of Shikara ride. When we visited, they quoted us INR 5000 per Shikara, which obviously seemed exorbitant. We had also talked to another Shikara agent on another ghat the day before. So, we called them and asked whats the usual charge for them. And they said INR 1500 per Shikara!!
Finally, after much bargaining we agreed on INR 2000 per Shikara. And we were 4 people per Shikara including kids. Although we heard few others pay as low as INR 200 per person for the Shikara ride. So, it really depends on how well you bargain and how much time you overall spend on the Shikara ride.
How many people can sit in one Shikara
Ideally the Shikara ride will be comfortable for a max of 4 people. However, once while ferrying from our houseboat to the banks of the lake, all 9 of us had to adjust in a single Shikara. We managed. But the space was too tight. And due to the overload, we were too afraid to even move a bit. The shikara was swinging more and seemed more likely to loose it’s balance at the slightest mistake 🙂 So I will suggest, maximum 4 adults sit in one Shikara.
When is a good time to take a Shikara ride on Dal Lake
Usually, people prefer evening time to take a ride on the Shikara in the Dal Lake. because, the sunset views are amazing. And it is also a very relaxing experience. So, after the whole day of sight seeing or roaming around, it feels really relaxing to enjoy boating over the Dal Lake end of the day. But it can be as enthralling in the early morning or late evening hours as well. I will suggest, if you have enough time in Kashmir, take Shikara ride twice. Once in the usual evening hours. And once in the late evening hours when the lights of the houseboats around the lake create a fairy tale atmosphere.
More from our week long Kashmir trip:
How safe it is to visit Kashmir
All you need to know about a Shikara Ride in Dal Lake in Srinagar
Is it worth staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake
Exploring Asia’s largest Tulip Gardens in Kashmir
One day of sightseeing in Srinagar Kashmir
Our 9 days Kashmir Trip itinerary with family and kids
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