In Srinagar, there is a beautiful Dal lake. It captivates one with the charms of the mirror-like surface reflecting the mountains, as well as its fascinating history and houseboats that are one-of-a-kind in India. What a catch: so many unique things in one small spot!

The Dal lake is often called a «Jewel in the crown of Kashmir» or «Srinagar’s Jewel». And that isn’t by chance. Firstly, it has always been an income source for the locals: fishing is actively practiced here, and the seaweeds that grow here are used in medicine, so the locals collect them for sale. Secondly, for several centuries, the Dal lake has been attracting foreigners into the city, which helps the city’s development.

It all started back in the 18th century when the Mughals saw the true value of the local climate. They started to come to the lake more often, set up lush gardens, and built palaces. After the fall of the Empire, the locals took advantage of all those riches. But then the British came into the area, who were also attracted by the soft summer weather typical of the region. And, of course, the beauty of the place: mountains, gardens, breathtaking sunsets, and almost pristine nature. So, the British decided to develop an infrastructure required for their comfortable recreation.

So, the Dal lake saw the appearance of houseboats – the big residences of foreigners who wanted to live in comfortable apartments and travel on the water surface at the same time. Gradually, the number of houseboats increased to 500. And there occurred a collapse, as the movement of such big boats became impossible. So the locals started offering their services to transport foreigners in their beautiful small boats called shikaras, which strongly resemble miniature Venetian gondolas.

When the British left, the inventive Indians decided to commercialize their picturesque and already quite popular lake. The houseboats were restored and turned into shops, hotels, churches, and schools, and some of them were repurposed as houses for the maintenance staff. And a trip in shikaras was transformed into a fascinating tourist attraction: a boat trip of the lake with a visit to magnificent gardens is one of the favorite entertainments of the guests of the city.