House Boat (Duke of Windsor), Dal Lake, Srinagar

[anupmathur]

House Boat (Duke of Windsor), Dal Lake, Srinagar

An experience not to be missed. It is totally different from what grotty Srinagar city normally has on offer.

This was a typical luxuriously furnished 3-bedroom boat that we hired in full. A nice sitting room and a dining room too. A small kitchenette cum pantry and a front-side sit-out. You could also use the terrace as a sit-out. Two of the bedrooms had a double bed each and one had 3 beds.
A dedicated shikara is at your service throughout, to ferry you back and forth from shore (not for joy rides!).

All this at Rs.3200/- per day. Food is extra and is cooked usually at the caretaker's home (which is usually a 'lesser' boat tied up nearby, or is on terra firma nearby), brought on board, re-heated in the pantry if required, and served.

Running hot and cold water available in the bathrooms attached to each bedroom.

NOTE: A houseboat stay is to be enjoyed by staying on the boat FULL DAY, and not like going sightseeing through the day and returning late at night for sleeping.
Life on the lake is quite a complete and satisfying experience.
Many many food boats, grocery boats, 'restaurant boats', 'dukaan' boats etc... will visit you throughout your stay and keep you entertained.

A view of 'our' houseboat - the Duke of Windsor!!












Yummy waswan and gushtaba!!:




The long corridor connecting all the rooms:









There are even 'garbage collection' boats, like the one below!



There are 2 'mother-boats' at the far end of the lake and these offer water surfing, Indian style, on very fool-proof and innovatively designed surfboards. Rs.200/- per ride, lasting about 10 to 15 minutes.

The surfing stations, you see two of them?:


And the surfing:








And watch some small videos:

YouTube - Watersurfing on the Dal Lake, Srinagar

YouTube - Watersurfing on the Dal Lake, Srinagar

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YouTube - Surfing on Dal Lake - 2, Srinagar

YouTube - Surfing on Dal Lake - 2, Srinagar

[hitanshu]

Its just something I can NEVER understand. I would never be able to sit out full day!! I've seen the boat, looks nice from outside. But what i like is that ride. dang, anup saab you had to share this info before. NO ONE else has ever shared this info!!

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by hitanshu

Its just something I can NEVER understand. I would never be able to sit out full day!!

Like I said, you don't really literally SIT DOWN the full day!! You could take a shikara ride, go on a learning curve and what not!
Anyway, it's TEHO, remember?!!

[Yogesh Sarkar]

I agree with Hitanshu, that’s why on all four visits to Kashmir I have stayed in hotels/guest houses. On a houseboat one is just too tied down and you have to be a bit careful while taking a bath etc. not my cup of tea, at least till I keep using hotels etc. as just a place to sleep.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

and you have to be a bit careful while taking a bath etc.

Now this is IMPOSSIBLE to understand! May I ask why?

Let me assure you these boats do NOT roll or pitch!

I can appreciate the fact that you guys have no time. But time is again one of those entities that one has to CREATE, if one wants.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Not about the house boat roll, but its more about ensuring one doesn’t wets the plastic covered floor in the bathroom.

[dark_horizon]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

Not about the house boat roll, but its more about ensuring one doesn’t wets the plastic covered floor in the bathroom.

I am still not able to comprehend, why you wont take a bath on a houseboat *scratches head*

[Yogesh Sarkar]

You don’t take showers while traveling?

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

Not about the house boat roll, but its more about ensuring one doesn’t wets the plastic covered floor in the bathroom.

That floor, YS, will outlive you! It's not plastic. Most of these boats have a fibreglass bathtub.
And anyway, it is NOT your responsibility if the bathroom 'melts' away while you were trying to have a simple little shower with soap and water (only)!


Sorry I do not have a pic of me having a shower! LOL. If that is what you meant!?

[hitanshu]

Umm, beats me again. Gimme the same money and I'd blow it all up in Sonamarg. Heaven on earth - truly. Gorgeous place. I mean ladakh and all is nice, stark blah blah, but sonamarg is just plain gorgeous. And no matter how much people gush, Srinagar is pretty dirty, busy, heavy traffic a place for my liking. Dal lake is again horribly overrated. Sonamarg, otoh - *sigh*!! except the lake, Sonamarg has everything one would ever want in a hill station!