HOUSEBOAT FESTIVAL - ART AND CULTURE

News: Houseboats to be the highlight of winter tourism in the Kashmir Valley

 

What's in the news?

       The Kashmir Valley’s famed and intricately carved houseboats, which Bollywood movies over decades have projected as a dreamy stay for honeymooners, will be this winter season’s main attraction.

       The Kashmir Tourism Department on Saturday organized a houseboat festival in Srinagar.

 

Key takeaways:

       The houseboat festival is a celebration of the unique role played by houseboats in attracting tourists from across the globe for decades now.

       Shikaras, which are small wooden boats, were decked up on the Dal lake for the festive occasion in the evening.

       Around 1,200 registered houseboats are moored in and around the twin Dal and Nagin lakes in Srinagar.

 

Dal Lake:

       Dal is a lake in Srinagar (Dal Lake is a misnomer as Dal in Kashmiri means lake), the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

       The urban lake is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”.

       The floating gardens, known as “Raad” in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August. 

       It is located in Zabarwan mountain valley, on the foothills of the Shankaracharya Hill.

 

Char Chinari Island:

       Char Chinari Island is in the middle of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

       The island owes its name to chinar trees, as Char Chinari means four chinars.

       It was constructed by Murad Baksh, the brother of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

       Chinar trees were planted on the picturesque island with the Zabarwan hills in the backdrop.

 

Other Islands of Dal Lake:

       One island is located on the Bod Dal and is known as Roph Lank or Silver Island.

       The other island is located on the Lokut Dal and is called Sone Lank or Gold Island.