Dal lake.. is srinagar ‘s jewel, a vast mirror –flat sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboat and the misty peaks of the pir panjal mountains. Flotillas of gaily painted shikaras(gondola –like taxi boats) skiff around the lake , transporting goods to market, children to school and travellers from houseboat to shore . if you want to photograph the lake, bring a long and polarising filtter to cut down the glare from the water .
Most visitors to Srinagar stay on a houseboat is a charming experience . for others it is a waking nightmare
Houseboats. the houseboats of dal lake offer a window back to in time. These flat-bottomed pine barges are basically floating villas, with bedrooms, lounges, kitchens, staff quarters and gorgeous veranda leaning out over the water, decorated with carved walnut panels. Interiors fall somewhere between Mughal splendour and English chintz. Most houseboats are run by families, who provide home-cooked meals and shikaras trips to shore and around the lake.