Photo: Original: Biswarup Ganguly Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Houseboats from the 19th centuryDal Lake, Nigeen Lake and the Jhelum
Life on the water in Srinagar.
The shikara, a long, light wooden boat with a canopy, is Dal Lake's taxi, market stall and school run. The carved cedar houseboats moored along the lake became popular in the Dogra period, when outsiders were not allowed to buy land in the state and British visitors built homes on the water instead.
Facts
- Floating vegetable markets are held from shikaras at dawn on Dal Lake.
- Many houseboats are decorated inside with walnut carving and khatamband ceilings.
4 more photographs
Photo: Laportechicago at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Abid Sidiq Ahanger · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Dashrathgoyal85 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Vishalmgs · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
