Srinagar : Srinagar is a city famous for its lakes, Houseboats, shikaras and Mughal gardens, Handicraft shops. Places to visit comprise Dal Lake, Nehru park, Nagin lake, Shankaracharya temple (highest point of Srinagar, 5 km climb from boulevard), 3 Mughal gardens (Chashmeshai, Nishat & Shalimar), Hazratbal Mosque. Temple ruins of Avantipur are 29 kms away.

Houseboats are a unique experience with hundreds of boats together on the banks of Dal Lake. For those who prefer a more secluded lake experience would prefer the Nagin side of the lake which is a little farther from the Boulevard area (from where one takes Shikaras to reach the Dal lake houseboats).

Srinagar is a base point to access areas of Gulmarg (50 kms), Sonmarg (85 kms) and Pahalgam (100 kms) and starting point of the high altitude driving route (June-Sept) to Leh (438 kms) via Kargil (204 kms) 

Houseboat Facts

• Each houseboat has an attached cook boat at the rear from where the food is served to the visitor lodging in the boat. 

• It is moored on the banks of the lake (Nagin or Dal Lake) and remains floating but stationary. 

• The cooks are skilled in preparing Continental, Indian and Kashmiri Dishes. 

• The meals served during the day comprise of Bed-Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea and Dinner.

• The cook boat is moored a stem of the main boat which also houses the servants. 

• Boats are electrified, and the interior decoration has something typical of what Kashmir has to offer.   

• Houseboats are categorised broadly into Deluxe and Standard category. There are better than deluxe category houseboats which are generally classified as Super - Deluxe. We recommend deluxe or higher category houseboats for a comfortable stay.

Typical Stay - A Srinagar stay could be anywhere from 3 nights (1 day arrival, 1 day local sightseeing, 1 day Sonmarg) to a week (Some guests just enjoy houseboat experience and laze around while some others keep Srinagar as the base and visit Gulmarg and Pahalgam, especially in Winter). 

Seasonality - All year round destination. Jan-March are good for Winter / Snow experience. April - October are overall best months to visit.

Access - Srinagar Gets direct flights from Mumbai, Jammu and Delhi. Most guests either arrive by flight or from Jammu by road (either Via Patnitop or Katra-Patnitop-Pahalgam or Katra Patnitop route)

Please email to jnk@nivalink.co.in with dates of travel for a firm quote (hotel cost and transportation) with an indicative itinerary covering Srinagar and other destinations in Kashmir.