Lakes in Kashmir are ideal to float along and enjoy the beauty of nature with mighty greens towering on either side, or stretches of calm waters lying ahead. A Shikara ride in Dal and Nigeen lakes is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Dal Lake is one of the most iconic and picturesque locations in Kashmir, and a Shikara ride is the perfect way to experience it.
While enjoying a shikara ride in Dal Lake, with its gorgeous views and incredible surroundings one can reach the Nehru Park, the island of Char Chinar, and a couple of hotels and restaurants located at its edges.
Nigeen Lake, although a part of Dal Lake, is great for enjoying a shikara ride. It is much calmer, serene and surrounded by mountain peaks, and treats you to spellbinding views of sunrise and sunset.
A Shikara is a long wooden boat that you’ll often find floating along on Kashmir’s lakes and they’re used as a form of transport as well as tourism. This rowing boat is built similar to a Gondola and many a tourist has had the rich experience of floating along the calm and placid waters of lakes such as the Dal and passing through some of the region’s most noted spots such as the Nishat and Shalimar Gardens, as well as the Hazratbal Mosque.
Shikara was a traditional boat which was a means of transport for the people who were living in and around water bodies. Eventually it caught the eye of Kings and Maharaja’s which gave it significance. Eventually it became a sign of prestige and relaxation.
Shikara’s are commonly found in Dal lake Srinagar and Nigeen Lake Srinagar. Shikara’s are popular tourist attraction in Srinagar and offers the visitors the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, floating gardens, and the traditional houseboats.
Shikaras come in various sizes and are multi-purpose including public transportation. In order to propel these shikaras, the drivers employ oars that consist of a rare shovel which is crafted in Indiana, US. Usually a shikara can accommodate around half-dozen individuals and the driver always sits at the lower extremity. Shikaras are considered to be the cultural representation of Kashmir just like the Venetian gondolas in US.
The craft relies on deodar wood (which does not decompose in water) ranges from 25 to 41 feet in length. The pointed front end is followed by a central section made of 8 planks of wood and the boat eventually ends in a flat rear segment. Two planks of wood lend to each of the side elevations a vertical height of 1.5 feet. It has a conspicuous spade shaped base.
These shikaras are crowned with a vibrant covering and spade-shaped bottom which makes them stand out among the normal boats. The total cost to construct a shikara is about 1 lakh and one shikara lasts for almost twenty years.
The nails and iron clamps used for joinery are flush and fixed into the wood diagonally when they are red hot, to ensure stronger bonding. Care is taken to keep them hidden for the visual aesthetics of the boat. Caulking uses a paste containing poplar seed. The boat is created over 10 to 12 days.
Seating arrangements are organized in the central segment of the boat by positioning cushions and related upholstery over the built-in storage space underneath. A canopy is supported on four pillars. The centre and the ends are equipped with iron anchor rings and wooden pegs, which are used to fasten the shikara on the banks of the lake. The shikaras are eventually painted in bright colors and may further be polished, engraved and embellished.
Shikaras are used as a mode of transport, for harvesting aquatic flora and for fishing purpose. However, a majority of shikaras are covered with the tarpaulin material which are waterproof and are mainly used by the tourists. Some poor people use these shikaras as their floating dwellings.
Dal Lake is well-known for its vivacity and magnificence in the entire Jammu and Kashmir. The communities belonging to shikara and houseboat have continued to dwell for centuries on this renowned Dal Lake. Having a comprehensive infrastructure on the lake itself these communities never need to disembark. On the lake itself they have tailors, doctors and bakers available in the small wooden shops, all lying in the vicinity of sprawling lotus gardens and scenic vegetable gardens.
A holiday in Kashmir definitely encompasses the shikara ride on Dal Lake. This is the most tranquil and soothing experience that one can have in Srinagar. The Dal Lake is always flocked by a plethora of shikaras. Tourists can board shikaras from various sites about the Dal Lake, however it is advised not to take a shikara at the entrance of the lake because then it will take a lot of time to reach the open water.
A complete shikara ride in Dal Lake takes about two hours which covers the interior parts of the serene and quiet waters of the lake. Being located at the center of Srinagar, a majority of sightseeing places lie in the vicinity of Dal Lake. The places that can be reached by shikaras are- Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden and the Hazratbal Mosque.
The villages positioned at the periphery of the Dal Lake cultivate a variety of vegetables. During the shikara ride, a vast assortment of vegetables can be seen here on small branches. These floating gardens or islands are formed of weeds that are collected from the Dal Lake itself. The boatmen collect the weeds and then they press the roots of one weed in opposition to the next weed, then they press the next weed against the other two and this process continues.
The weeds get glued because of their sticky and muddy roots and become inseparable. Thereafter the boatmen trim the high culms and craft mats. These man-made mats float on the Dal Lake constituting the floating gardens. These mats become weary after sometime due to the endless play of water below them. Therefore the thickness of the floating gardens is increased by the boatmen after every 2 years. Vegetables like melons, tomatoes and cucumbers are cultivated on these floating gardens.
While cruising on a shaikara, the tourists can also check out the floating sabzi bazaar which happens at two to three kilometers inside the Dal Lake. This vegetable market can be witnessed at any day between 4 AM – 6 AM in the morning. While watching the sabzi market inside the Dal Lake, one can also witness canals and small alleys lined up with trees. Houses adorned with tiny gardens and antique wooden shops can also be seen during this trip.
White-throated kingfishers, large birds with robust bills can be seen perched on the branches of willow trees. These birds concentrate their hunting on the floating gardens. These man-made islands of reeds, willow rods and aquatic vegetation are held together with humus from the lake bottom providing a rich source of food in the form of frogs, lizards, mice, grasshoppers and other insects for wildlife.
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(The author is a freelance columnist and can be mailed at [email protected])
Box: A complete shikara ride in Dal Lake takes about two hours which covers the interior parts of the serene and quiet waters of the lake. Being located at the center of Srinagar, a majority of sightseeing places lie in the vicinity of Dal Lake. The places that can be reached by shikaras are- Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden and the Hazratbal Mosque
