3N/4DKashmirDal Lake, Srinagar
Shikara rides, houseboats and the floating vegetable market
- Type
- Lake
- Location
- Srinagar, Kashmir
- Time needed
- Half day, plus a houseboat night if you like
- Best time to visit
- April to October for shikara rides. Sunrise for the floating market, late afternoon for the evening ride. In very cold winters parts of the lake can freeze.
About Dal Lake
Dal Lake sits on the eastern side of Srinagar, with the Zabarwan hills on one side and Boulevard Road running along its shore. Most visitors see it from a shikara, the small covered boat that carries two to four people. A ride takes you past rows of carved wooden houseboats, lotus beds, small islands and the lanes of water where people live and farm.
Early in the morning, vegetable sellers meet in boats on the inner lake to trade produce. This is the floating market, and it is over by sunrise or soon after. In the evening the lake is calmer, and the light on the hills makes it the most popular time for a ride. Char Chinar, a small island with chinar trees, is a common stop.
Many families choose to spend one night on a houseboat, either on Dal Lake or on the quieter Nigeen Lake to the north. Houseboats are reached by shikara from the ghats along the Boulevard. The Mughal gardens, Hazratbal and the Shankaracharya hill are all on or near the lake, so it is the natural centre of any Srinagar stay.
Things to do at Dal Lake
- Take a one or two hour shikara ride at sunset
- Go out before sunrise to see the floating vegetable market
- Stay a night on a houseboat on Dal or Nigeen Lake
- Stop at Char Chinar island
- Walk along Boulevard Road in the evening
How to reach Dal Lake
- The ghats on Boulevard Road are about 15 km from Srinagar airport, about 30 to 40 minutes by car.
- Dal Gate, at the southern end of the lake, is close to the city centre at Lal Chowk.
Tips before you go
- Agree the shikara rate and duration before you board.
- The floating market starts very early, so book your shikara the evening before.
- Floating shops will come up to your boat. A polite no is enough if you do not want to buy.
- Carry a light jacket for evening rides, even in summer.
Packages that cover Dal Lake
3N/4DKashmir
4N/5DKashmirKashmir Valley Highlights
3N Srinagar · 1N Pahalgam- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹15,900
per person
5N/6DKashmirClassic Kashmir Tour with Houseboat
2N Srinagar (houseboat) · 1N Gulmarg · 2N Pahalgam- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹19,900
per person
Nearby places to visit
Must visit
Mughal garden · Srinagar
Nishat Bagh
A terraced Mughal garden on the eastern shore of Dal Lake, laid out by Asif Khan in the 1630s, with chinar trees and views over the lake.
Time needed: 1 hourRead more →Shrine · Srinagar
Hazratbal Shrine
A white marble mosque and shrine on the north-western shore of Dal Lake, revered for a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad.
Time needed: 1 hourRead more →Temple · Srinagar
Shankaracharya Temple
An old stone temple to Lord Shiva on a hilltop above Srinagar, reached by road and a flight of steps, with views over Dal Lake and the city.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hoursRead more →Tulip garden · Srinagar
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
A large tulip garden at the foot of the Zabarwan hills, open for a few weeks in spring, usually from late March to April.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hoursRead more →Dal Lake: FAQs
What is the best time for a shikara ride on Dal Lake?
Sunrise if you want to see the floating market, and the hour before sunset for the calmest water and the best light.
Is it worth staying on a houseboat?
Yes, for one night. It is a very Kashmiri experience. Many travellers then move to a hotel for the rest of the trip.
Does Dal Lake freeze in winter?
In very cold spells, usually in January, parts of the lake can freeze over. Shikara rides may be limited then.