Every Experience You Can Have With Kashmir Tour Packages Booked Online
From shikara rides on Dal Lake to the Gulmarg Gondola, here are the experiences included in Kashmir tour packages you can book online.
Ask anyone who has been to Kashmir what they remember most, and the answer is usually the same: a morning on Dal Lake. The lake is not just a view from a hotel window. It is a neighbourhood, a marketplace, a farm and a highway all at once, and spending a full day on it is the best introduction to Srinagar you can have.
This guide walks you through a complete day on Dal Lake, from the floating market before sunrise to a quiet evening on a houseboat deck. It also covers practical details: how shikara rides are priced, which parts of the lake are worth exploring, how to choose a houseboat, and how to be a respectful visitor in a place where thousands of people live and work on the water.
Understanding Dal Lake before you go
Dal Lake covers roughly 18 square kilometres on the eastern edge of Srinagar, framed by the Zabarwan hills. It is not one open sheet of water. Causeways and floating islands divide it into basins, including Hazratbal, Bod Dal, Gagribal and Lokut Dal, each with a slightly different character. Boulevard Road runs along the southern and eastern shore, lined with hotels, ghats (numbered landing points) and shikara stands.
Several thousand people live on the lake itself, in houseboats, wooden homes on stilts and on the floating gardens known locally as rad. These gardens are mats of reeds and weeds layered with lake mud, anchored with poles and farmed for tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, lotus stem and greens. Many of the vegetables sold in Srinagar’s markets are grown here.
Knowing this changes how you see the lake. The narrow channels you drift through are streets. The boats that pass you carry schoolchildren, vegetables, firewood and post. A day on Dal is a glimpse into a way of life that exists almost nowhere else.
5:30 am: The floating vegetable market
Set an alarm. The floating market is held at first light in the inner part of the lake near Rainawari and winds down by about 7 am, so you need to leave the ghat around 5:15 to 5:30 in summer (a little later in spring and autumn).
Your shikara will glide through dark channels as the sky lightens behind the Zabarwan hills. Then, quite suddenly, you will find yourself among dozens of small, flat-bottomed boats piled high with produce: lotus stem, collard greens (haak), pumpkins, radishes, aubergines and seasonal fruit. Farmers and traders haggle quietly from boat to boat. Nothing is shouted, and very little is said in English, which is part of the charm.
- What to bring: a warm layer (mornings on the water are cool even in summer), a small amount of cash, and a camera with a fast lens for low light.
- Etiquette: this is a working market, not a show. Ask before photographing people up close, and don’t block boats that are trading.
- Souvenir sellers: you will be approached by boats selling saffron, jewellery and papier-mâché. A polite “no, thank you” is enough.
7:30 am: Breakfast on the houseboat
Return to your houseboat for a proper Kashmiri breakfast. Expect fresh bread from the local bakery (girda or lavasa) with butter and jam, eggs cooked to order, and a choice of kahwa (saffron green tea) or noon chai (salt tea). Eat on the front deck if the weather allows; the morning light on the water is one of the loveliest sights in Kashmir.
9:00 am: A long shikara ride through the lake
Most visitors take a one-hour shikara ride around the Boulevard side of the lake. It is pleasant, but you only see a small part of Dal. If you have a day, book a longer ride of three to four hours that goes deeper into the lake. A good route looks like this:
- Char Chinar: a tiny island in Bod Dal with four chinar trees at its corners, planted in the Mughal era. In autumn the leaves turn red and gold.
- Floating gardens: drift slowly past the farmed islands and you will see families tending crops from their boats.
- Meena Bazaar on the water: a cluster of shops on stilts selling shawls, papier-mâché, woodwork and jewellery. Browse without pressure; you can always buy later in the city.
- Kabutar Khana and the old lake villages: wooden houses, mosques and small workshops line the inner channels.
- Nehru Park and Golden Lake area: a calm stretch with views back to the hills.
Shikara rates are set by the local shikara associations and displayed on boards at the ghats. Hourly rates and fixed-route rates are both common. Agree the route and the total price before you set off, and confirm whether stops at shops are included or optional.
12:30 pm: Lunch with a view
You have two good options. Return to your houseboat for a home-cooked lunch of rice, rajma, haak and perhaps rista. Or have your shikara drop you on Boulevard Road and walk to one of the lakeside restaurants for a set Wazwan meal for one or two people, which lets you try several dishes without ordering a full feast.
2:00 pm: The Mughal Gardens along the lake
The great Mughal gardens are all within a few kilometres of the lake’s eastern shore, so the afternoon is the natural time to visit them by road.
| Garden | Built | Why visit |
|---|---|---|
| Nishat Bagh | 1630s | Twelve terraces running down to the lake; the largest Mughal garden in Kashmir |
| Shalimar Bagh | 1619 | Black marble pavilion, water channels and old chinars; the most famous of the gardens |
| Chashme Shahi | 1632 | A small garden around a natural spring whose water is said to have healing qualities |
| Pari Mahal | 1650s | Ruined terraced palace above the lake with the best sunset view over Dal |
If time is short, pick Nishat Bagh for its lake views and Pari Mahal for the late-afternoon light. Gardens open in the morning and close around sunset, with small entry fees.
5:30 pm: Sunset from the water
Head back to a ghat for a second, shorter shikara ride at sunset. As the sun drops behind the city, the lake turns pink and gold, the Zabarwan hills go purple, and the call to prayer drifts over the water. This is the moment most photographs of Kashmir are trying to capture. Ask your boatman to stop in a quiet spot away from the busy ghats and switch off the conversation for a while.
Evening: Life on a houseboat
Houseboats are one of Kashmir’s most distinctive stays. Most were built in the 20th century from cedar (deodar) and walnut wood, with carved ceilings, carpeted sitting rooms, a dining room, and two to four bedrooms with attached bathrooms. They are moored permanently; you reach them by shikara.
In the evening, the houseboat staff will serve dinner and, in colder months, light a heater or a traditional bukhari stove. Sit on the deck with a cup of kahwa and watch the lights come on along Boulevard Road. It is a quiet, unhurried end to the day.
How to choose a houseboat
- Category: houseboats are graded by the tourism department, from standard to deluxe and premium (sometimes called luxury). For a first stay, choose deluxe or premium.
- Location: Dal Lake has the classic views and lively atmosphere; Nigeen Lake, to the north, is calmer and more private. Houseboats on the Jhelum river are cheaper but less scenic.
- Facilities: check for attached bathrooms with hot water, heating in winter, Wi-Fi if you need it, and whether meals are included.
- Licence: stay only on houseboats registered with the Department of Tourism. Your tour operator should confirm this.
Practical tips for your Dal Lake day
- Best months: April to October for pleasant weather. In winter (December to February) the lake edges can freeze, which has its own beauty, but rides are shorter and colder.
- Sun protection: there is little shade on a shikara. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen from May to September.
- Cash: many boatmen and floating shops prefer cash, though UPI is increasingly accepted.
- Plastic: carry a refillable water bottle and take your rubbish back to shore. The lake faces real pressure from pollution and weeds.
- Children: shikaras are stable and safe, but keep small children seated and away from the edges.
- Photography: the soft light of early morning and late afternoon is best. Midday light on the water is harsh.
A respectful visitor’s guide
Dal Lake is home to thousands of people. Treat the inner channels as you would a residential street: keep voices low early in the morning, don’t photograph inside people’s homes, and dress modestly when visiting villages or shrines on the lake’s edge. If a family invites you for tea, accepting is a lovely way to experience Kashmiri hospitality, and a small gift for children (such as fruit or stationery) is appreciated more than money.
The lake has faced decades of encroachment, sewage and weed growth, and conservation work is ongoing. As a visitor you can help by choosing licensed operators, refusing single-use plastic, and never throwing anything into the water.
One day or more?
A single full day covers the essentials. With two days, you can split the long shikara ride into a morning in the inner lake and an afternoon visit to Hazratbal Shrine and the northern basins, and spend a second night on a houseboat on Nigeen Lake for comparison. Couples on a honeymoon often choose two houseboat nights; families with young children often prefer one houseboat night and the rest in a hotel.
Dal Lake through the seasons
The lake you see depends on when you come. In spring (March to May), the willows along the shore turn bright green, the almond orchards above Badamwari blossom, and the Tulip Garden at the foot of the Zabarwan hills is a short drive from the ghats. Mornings are crisp and the light is clear, which makes this a favourite season for photographers.
In summer (June to August), the lotus beds in the northern basins bloom pink and white, the floating gardens are at their most productive, and evenings on the water are long and warm. This is the busiest time on Boulevard Road, so the inner channels and Nigeen Lake feel especially peaceful by comparison.
In autumn (September to November), the chinar trees around the lake and on Char Chinar island turn red and gold, the air is still and dry, and reflections are often perfect. Late October is our favourite time for a long shikara ride.
In winter (December to February), mist hangs over the water in the mornings, houseboats wear white roofs after snowfall, and in the coldest spells the shallow edges freeze. Rides are shorter and you will need blankets, but the lake has a quiet beauty few visitors see.
Nigeen Lake: Dal’s quieter neighbour
Connected to Dal Lake by a narrow channel, Nigeen Lake is smaller, deeper and far calmer. Its houseboats are spaced further apart, the water is cleaner, and you can swim in designated areas in summer. There is little traffic and almost no hawking. Many experienced travellers prefer to stay on Nigeen and visit Dal by shikara; the ride between the two lakes passes through some of the most beautiful lake villages in Srinagar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a shikara ride on Dal Lake?
The standard ride is one hour, which covers the Boulevard side of the lake. For the floating gardens, Char Chinar and the inner villages, book three to four hours. Rates are fixed by the shikara associations and displayed at the ghats.
Is it safe to stay on a houseboat?
Yes. Licensed houseboats are registered with the tourism department, have staff on board around the clock, and are reached only by shikara, which adds privacy. Choose a deluxe or premium houseboat booked through a reliable operator.
Can I swim in Dal Lake?
Swimming in Dal Lake is not recommended. Nigeen Lake has cleaner water and some houseboats there offer swimming in summer.
What time does the floating market start?
It begins at first light, around 5 am in summer and later in spring and autumn, and is usually over by 7 am. Arrange your shikara the night before.
Is Dal Lake worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you dress warmly. Misty mornings and snow-covered houseboats make it one of the most atmospheric times of year, though rides are shorter.
Plan your Dal Lake stay with us
All of our Srinagar and Kashmir packages include at least one shikara ride, and most include a night on a licensed deluxe or premium houseboat. Tell us whether you want the classic Dal view or the quiet of Nigeen, and we will arrange the houseboat, the early-morning market visit and a boatman who knows the inner channels well.