A houseboat shikara ride is how you do everything on Dal Lake: the shikara, a slim wooden boat with a canopy, cushioned seats and a boatman paddling from the stern, carries you from the ghat to your moored houseboat and then out to the gardens, lotus beds, markets and sunsets. Since Kashmir houseboats never leave their moorings, the shikara is your only way to see the lake from the water.
Below are the kinds of ride you can take, the best hour for each, how official rates work, what changes at night, and the safety habits worth keeping. There is also a short note on the very different boats called shikaras in Alleppey.
Quick facts
What it is
A canopied wooden boat paddled by one boatman, seats about fourTransfers
Ghat to houseboat and back; usually included in your stayLake tours
Hire by the hour or by route; paid to the boatmanRates
The tourism department notifies official shikara rates; ask to see the cardBest hours
Dawn for calm and the market, late afternoon to sunset for colourTake
Life jacket, shawl, water, a strap for your phone
How a houseboat shikara ride works
The shikara is long, light and flat, with a fabric canopy on four posts, a padded seat you half recline on and a heart shaped paddle. The boatman sits at the back and steers with the same stroke he paddles with. It is slow, steady and very quiet, which is exactly why it suits the lake.
Every houseboat either owns a shikara or works with a boatman at its ghat. The short hop between ghat and boat is part of your stay; anything longer is a ride you agree separately. If you have not chosen a boat yet, our Srinagar houseboat guide explains the ghats and lake areas.
Shikara routes from a Dal Lake houseboat
| Ride | Roughly how long | Best time | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghat to houseboat | A few minutes | Any time | Your first close look at the boats |
| Short lake loop | About an hour | Late afternoon | Houseboat rows, the island garden of Nehru Park, open water |
| Char Chinar and the inner lake | Two to three hours | Morning or afternoon | The tiny island with chinar trees, floating gardens, lotus beds in summer |
| Floating vegetable market | Two hours or so | Before sunrise | Farmers trading vegetables boat to boat |
| Mughal gardens shore | Half a day with stops | Morning | The lakeside terraced gardens on the eastern bank |
| Sunset ride | About an hour | Last hour of daylight | Colour on the water, mountains turning purple |
On Nigeen, rides are calmer and some boatmen will take you through the connecting channels towards Dal; see Nigeen Lake houseboats.
Official shikara rates and agreeing a ride
The tourism department notifies official shikara rates, set by the hour, by the day and for fixed routes between ghats and lake spots, and the same structure applies on Nigeen. The card is meant to be displayed at the ghats. Boatmen at busy ghats sometimes quote well above it, especially to visitors who look new.
- Ask your houseboat owner what the current official rate is for the ride you want.
- Agree the route, the stops and the total time with the boatman before you sit down.
- Confirm whether the rate is per boat (it usually is) and how many can ride.
- Pay at the end, not the start.
How shikara costs fit into the overall cost of a stay is explained on the price page for Dal Lake.
Flowers, saffron and the floating shops
Spend an hour on the water and the shops come to you. Flower sellers paddle shikaras heaped with blooms, and others bring saffron, dry fruit, shawls, jewellery and snacks. The flower shikaras are lovely to photograph. Selling is persistent but rarely rude; a smile and a clear no works.
Sunset and night shikara rides
The Dal Lake houseboat sunset shikara ride is the most booked hour on the lake: start about forty five minutes before sunset so you are on open water when the colour comes. After dark, lights from the Boulevard and the houseboats reflect on the water, and everything feels quieter still.
A night shikara ride is best done with your houseboat's own boatman, on a short route close to the moorings. Many boatmen stop tourist rides once it is fully dark. In cool months, ask for a blanket in the boat; the temperature drops quickly once the sun goes. For honeymoon and family timing, see families, couples and seasons.
Safety and comfort in a shikara
- Ask for life jackets and use them, especially for children and anyone who cannot swim.
- Step into the centre of the boat, sit down at once and stay seated; shikaras tip if you stand at the edge.
- Keep phones on a strap. A great many phones rest on the bottom of Dal Lake.
- Carry water, a sun cap in summer and a shawl in spring and autumn.
- Do not take a ride in strong wind or a storm; the open lake gets choppy fast.
Shikara houseboat Alleppey: a different boat altogether
In Alleppey, the word shikara is used for something else: a small covered motorboat that slips into the narrow village canals where the big houseboats cannot go. It is a good way to spend two to four hours on the backwaters without booking a houseboat, but it has no rooms and no overnight stay. For short cruises there, see hourly houseboat cruises, and for the full picture of Kerala's moving boats, the Alleppey houseboat guide.
Questions travellers ask
Is the shikara ride included with a Dal Lake houseboat?
Yes, the hop from the ghat to your houseboat and back is normally part of the stay. Lake tours, the floating market and garden trips are extra and paid to the boatman.
When should I take a shikara ride on Dal Lake?
Dawn is calmest and the only time to see the floating vegetable market. The hour before sunset gives the best colour. Midday in summer is hot and glary.
Can I take a shikara ride at night from my houseboat?
Yes, for a short ride near the moorings with your houseboat's own boatman. Many boatmen stop tourist rides once it is fully dark, and it gets cold quickly, so carry a shawl.
How many people fit in a shikara?
Most take about four adults comfortably, with the boatman. Larger families usually take two boats.
Is a shikara safe for children?
Yes, if they wear a life jacket, sit in the middle and stay seated. Keep rides short for very young children.
Is there a shikara ride on Nigeen Lake too?
Yes. Nigeen has its own ghats and boatmen, the water is calmer, and some routes join Dal through connecting channels.