What to see, do and eat around Dal Lake:

About 5 to 6 days should be a decent length of time to do justice to the Kashmir. One day for dal lake is not enough but quite comfortable.Dal lake, starting from Dal Gate ( Dal Gate is opening water gate for dal lake) Dal Gate is starting location of boulevard road. Dal lake is worth visiting in your package. Dal lake is filled with clean water,fishes  and houseboats (beauty and stay ) explore dal lake in one day with your friends, partners, solo  even single girl, women can explore dal lake it’s pretty safe and secure.

START: Right from your hotel, after check out and breakfast depends on your itinerary from your tour operator or Guide, drive slowly from dal gate(starting point of boulevard road and dal lake).Road with its natural beauty on left side while going towards foreshore and zabarwan mountains are on your right side. You should first explore Chashma Shahi Garden (Royal Springs) just 20 minutes  drive from Dal Gate , buy entry tickets from counter and enter into beautiful garden built in 1632 by Ali Mardan khan. Governor of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Chashma Shahi Garden is located under zabarwan mountains near governor house (Raj Bhavan). Garden open for tourists from March to November best time to visit garden is April.

After visiting chashmashahi drive towards Nishat Garden the most comfortable way to reach Nishat garden would be take same road via Makai Park. (Makai Park is restaurant) You can have lunch in Makai park( Makai park is stop for barbeque restaurant)after having lunch or snacks you have to drive towards Nishat. Reaching Nishat buy tickets from counter and enter.

Nishat bagh is terraced garden eastern side of dal lake it is one of the largest Mughal garden in Kashmir (Nishat bagh means Garden of joy) you can view all dal lake from the last terrace of Nishat Garden.

Nishat Garden market: Snacks, Ice Cream, Cold Drinks, Coffee etc available here in market.Shikara Ride: You can hire Shikara here for shikara ride (shikara is boat in dal lake for ride on water)confirm your rates for shikara ride from your guide. You have to pay per hour for ride eg 400/hour,500/hour.go and get shikara at any point of dal lake. Remember you have to bargain first, bargaining is usually option here in Kashmir. come back to same Ghat, Nishat Ghat after shikara ride.

Ghats: Ghats are location points for houseboat owners like house nose e.g. Ghat no 1, Ghat no 2…..
After coming back to Nishat ghat drive towards foreshore road, circular road around dal lake (foreshore is same like as marine road Mumbai).

Visit Shalimar garden on the way of foreshore road and have some snack buy tickets and enter into Shalimar Garden. Shalimar Garden is linked through a channel to the north east of dal lake also known as Farah Baksh and Faiz Baksh. Shalimar Bagh is referred to as crown of Srinagar, at Shalimar you need to drive towards Hazrat Bal shrine. You are still on foreshore road.

Foreshore starts from Nishat to Hazratbal shrine the entire foreshore road lies on the bank of dal lake enjoy the charming sunset on dal lake anD stay in houseboat for overnight with the help of your tour operator or Guide or travel agent. Always book your tour via travel Agent, Guide, Tour operator and other means. Kashmir is always safe for tourists. We have 0% complaints from tourist so its safe to book via agents here. You can come Kashmir without agents too, booking houseboats in dal lake is easy as buying food.

  • FOOD: Barbque, Fried Fish, Mutton, Beef, Ice Cream, Local Food, Wazwan, Veg, Jain etc.
  • RESTAURANTS: Zabarwan Park, Makai Park, Nehru Park, Dal Gate, Hazratbal.
  • TRANSPORT: Persona-l Cab, Bus, Auto, local sumo, Motor cycle etc.

Yaseen Wani (International Guide)
Leisure valley holidays
Whats app  91 – 9858813811
Phone: 7006807230