Houseboats

	View from the Houseboat deck

Many tourists are attracted to Srinagar by the charm of staying on a houseboat, which provides the unique experience of living on the water in a cedar-panelled elegant bedroom, with all the conveniences of a luxury hotel. Srinagar's thousand or so houseboats are moored along sections of the Dal and Nagin Lakes and river Jhelum, each decorated fancifully and named romantically and even whimsically. Like hotels, houseboats vary in degree of luxury and have been accordingly graded by the Department of Tourism. A luxury houseboat, like a luxury hotel has fine furniture, good carpets and modern bathroom fittings, while the ‘D category’ (the lowest category) of houseboats, like low-budget hotels, is spartanly furnished. Like hotels too, houseboats vary widely in their locations. Some overlook the main road, others look out onto lotus gardens and yet others face tiny local markets and villages, all right in the middle of the lake! All houseboats, regardless of category, have highly personalized service. Not only is there always a "houseboy" for every boat, but the owner and his family are never far away. The cost per day of hiring a houseboat includes all meals and free rides from the houseboat to the nearest jetty and back, as no houseboat on the lakes is directly accessible from the banks.

Every standard houseboat provides a balcony in the front, a lounge, dining room, pantry and 3 or more bedrooms with attached bathrooms. All houseboats not moored to the bank of the river or lakes provide a shikara as a free service from the houseboat to the nearest ghat (jetty). Virtually every houseboat in Srinagar has been provided with a municipal water connection.

Category and location of houseboats

The State Tourism Department has classified the houseboats into five categories - Deluxe, A, B, C and D, corresponding more or less to the degree of comfort and service of hotels.

	Houseboats on Dal Lake

There are 1087 registered houseboats in Srinagar of which 702 are anchored in the Dal Lake, 173 in the Nagin Lake, 142 on the River Jhelum, 5 on the Dal Lake near Naseem Bagh, and the rest in other water bodies. Among these, 349 houseboats with a combined capacity of 1007 double rooms are in the Deluxe class and are mainly anchored in Dal Lake, Nageen Lake, and Naseem Bagh. In addition there are 129 A-class houseboats, 124 B-class houseboats, 134 C-class houseboats and 351 D-class houseboats. Detailed break-up of various classes of houseboats and their mooring location are as under: -

Houseboat No. of Total No. Dal Nageen River Naseem Other Category H.Boats. of rooms Lake Lake Jhelum Bagh locations Deluxe 349 1007 264 76 5 4 - A-Class 129 310 89 28 10 1 1 B-Class 124 299 85 17 16 - 6 C-Class 134 306 78 9 32 - 15 D-Class 351 772 186 43 79 - 43 G.Total:- 1087 2694 702 173 142 5 65

Row of Houseboats on the Dal Lake

Shikaras on the Dal lake

TARIFF OF HOUSE BOATS

Following is the tariff of boarding & lodging in various categories of houseboats on the basis of double occupancy, subject to revision from time to time:

Deluxe Class	Rate (2001- 2002)
Double Room per day.	Rs. 1500/-
Single Room occupancy per day.	Rs. 1000/-
Every additional person sharing the same room.	Rs. 500/-
Children 6 to 11 years.	Rs. 300/-

The Houseboat sitting room

A- Class

Double Room per day.	Rs. 1000/-
Single Room occupancy per day.	Rs. 600/-
Every additional person sharing the same room.	Rs. 400/-
Children 6 to 11 years.	Rs. 200/-

B- Class

Double Room per day.	Rs. 700/-
Single Room occupancy per day.	Rs. 500/-
Every Additional person sharing the same room.	Rs. 300/-
Children 6 to 11 years.	Rs. 150/-

C- Class

	Boarding & Lodging	Lodging only
Double Room per day.	Rs. 550/-	Rs. 300/-
Single Room Occupancy per day.	Rs. 350/-	Rs. 200/-
Every additional person sharing the same room.	Rs. 200/-	Rs. 100/-
Children 6 to 11 years.	Rs. 100/-

View from a Houseboat deck

Approaching the Houseboat

D- Class

Double Room per day.	Rs. 300/-	(Boarding/lodging)
Single Room occupancy per day.	Rs. 200/-	(do)
Every Additional person sharing the same room.	Rs. 100/-	(do)
Full Boat for one day.	Rs. 250/-	(lodging only)
Full Boat for one week.	Rs. 800/-	(lodging only)

On special occasions the daily hire charges of three-bed room houseboats in different categories, without meals, shall be as under: -

Deluxe Houseboat	Rs. 2000/-
"A" Category	Rs. 1500/-
"B" Category	Rs. 1000/-
"C" Category	Rs. 750/-

For reservation and enquiries contact the House Boat Owners Association Counter in the Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar Tel: No.450326.