by: Aadil Mukhtar
If you've longed for the delights of a houseboat holiday, now is the time to try one out.
Srinagar is a unique city because of its lakes - the Dal, Nigeen and Anchar. The River Jehlum also flows through a part of the city.
The Dal, Srinagar's largest lake, has the most number of houseboats, followed by the Nigeen and the Jehlum.
As a general rule, houseboats in the Dal are of all categories, from deluxe through to D class, while those in the Nigeen are largely luxury class and those in the Jehlum largely economy class. This, however, is a generalization.
Most houseboats on the Nigeen and the Jehlum are situated on the banks of the lake, and can be accessed directly from land without the help of a shikara, while all those on the Dal require a shikara to get to and from them.
Most houseboats on the Dal are situated in long straggling rows; some face the Boulevard, Srinagar's most exciting address, while others are situated singly or in groups of two and three. The location of a houseboat tells us nothing about its class, but before checking into one, there are a few factors which you may like to consider.
A honeymoon couple may want to be away from it all, and may choose a houseboat with few, if any, close neighbors. To them, it will be an advantage to stay in the interior of the lake, accessible by a half hour long shikara ride. A family with young children on the other hand may find themselves better served in an area which overlooks the Boulevard where a crossing takes just five minutes.
When your houseboat is in a busy area of the Dal, it is enjoyable just to sit on balcony and watch the world row by.
Each houseboat has anything between two and four bedrooms in it with attached bathrooms and a common sitting and dining room. The charges of a houseboat always include all meals and a certain number of, crossings by shikara to and from the houseboat.
Houseboats offer far more personalized service than hotels because of the far higher host:guest ratio. On the other hand, fellow guests at the same house- boat tend to interact much more than if they were staying at the same hotel.
This is why houseboats are ideal for a large group of eight or more adults.
The Dal is famous not only for its beauty, but for its vibrance, because it sustains within its periphery, a life that is unique anywhere in the World. The houseboat and shikara communities have lived for centuries on the Dal, and so complete is their infrastructure on the lake, that they never have to step on land! Doctors, tailors, bakers - you'll see them all in tiny wooden shops on the lake, near picturesque vegetable gardens and acres of lotus gardens.
A shikara ride is one of the most soothing, relaxing aspects of a holiday in Kashmir. It can be an hour long ride to see the sights of the Dal; a shopping- by-shikara expedition to visit handicraft shops within the periphery of the lake; or a whole day trip to visit important city landmarks.
Because the Dal is so central to the landscape of Srinagar, many places of tourist interest have, over the ages, been built in its vicinity. Nishat and Shalimar gardens as well as Hazratbal mosque is directly accessible by shikra.
About The Author
Aadil Mukhtar Is the writer of more than 1300 articles about kashmir and has his blog www.ilovekashmir.blogspot.com.
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Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
by: Christopher Panduro
The crystal clear waters of Lake Garda are perfect for swimming and many popular sports such as windsurfing and sailing. The local climate is softened by the presence of this large body of water, which makes it comfortable for exploring the towns and villages on and close to the lake towns such as Garda, Lazise, Sirmione, Torri del Benaco Bardolino, Limone and Peschiera which are wonderful places to visit with a great choice of hotels, villas and Holiday homes or just for wandering around the cobbled streets filled with shops, hotels and restaurants and are home to bustling lakeside markets.
Do visit the old port of Torbole, the charming old streets of Limone and the castle and Roman Villa in Sirmione.From Malcesine you can take a cable car onto Monte Baldo for some mountain walking and superb views. Walks on the lake shore from Lazie or Bardolino also help to work up an appetite.On the southern...
Beautiful Lake Garda Italy
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On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
by: Andrew Muigai
Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation. These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and have a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that this is one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the world. The game aside, the spectacularly diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for many a visitor.
The stars of the Northern Circuit are the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, very dear to the hearts of nature lovers. But no less sparkling and indeed complementing...
On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
Lake tahoe > On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
by: Andrew Muigai
Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation. These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and have a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that this is one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the world. The game aside, the spectacularly diverse cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for many a visitor.
The stars of the Northern Circuit are the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, very dear to the hearts of nature lovers. But no less sparkling and indeed complementing...
On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
Lake tahoe > On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
Exploring Downtown Orlando - A Beautiful Walk Around Lake Eola
Exploring Downtown Orlando - A Beautiful Walk Around Lake Eola
by: Susanne Pacher
After our interesting visits to the Orange County Regional History Center and the Well's Built Museum of African-American Culture and History, we decided to continue our explorations of downtown Orlando and its surrounding historic neighbourhoods. After driving through beautiful residential areas, framed by majestic oak trees adorned by Spanish Moss, we decided to take a stroll around beautiful Lake Eola, which is just minutes from downtown's Heritage Square, home of the Orange County Regional History Center, and every second, third and fourth Saturday of the month is also home to a lively farmer's market. By this time, the sun was starting to set and Lake Eola and the surrounding highrises were bathed in the golden hues of sunset.
Lake Eola is one of Orlando's more than 300 lakes and is surrounded by established residential areas and highrises ringing the downtown...
Exploring Downtown Orlando - A Beautiful Walk Around Lake Eola
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YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
by: Susanne Pacher
After my rather quaint and leisurely scenic boat ride through Winter Park, a rather different boating experience was in store for me: a high speed airboat ride through Lake Tohopekaliga, provided by Boggy Creek Airboat Rides.
We got started early in the morning and took the first tour out. The temperature must have been about 45 degrees Fahrenheit or so, and in wise anticpation we both wore our Canadian winter jackets. Good thing, because it gets pretty darn cold zooming along at high speed on the airboats.
We were the first ride out of the gate, and fortunately we were provided with white blankets which kept us reasonably warm. Off we went on our 6-passenger airboat, exploring the coastline of Lake Tohopekaliga, getting a glimpse at various types of wetland birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, egrets and cranes...
YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
Lake tahoe > YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
Family Canoeing Vacation
Family Canoeing Vacation
by: Peter Shannon
Canoeing is a wonderful vacation idea. It can be a real family-type adventure that is challenging yet not too difficult. Besides being a distinctly fun activity, it is also a form of travel. With a canoe you have the means to safely access wilderness areas that otherwise might not be possible for a family. In more touristy places you have the means to slip off across the river or lake for more private family fun.
If you have your own canoe, great. It is easily carried on your car to where you will be using it. Or you can rent a canoe for long excursions or for as little as a few hours. This is a very flexible way to travel and explore.
Canoeing as a family is a slow paced activity which provides the opportunity to really get close to nature. The kids are involved not just as spectators but as an active part of the effort. This can be an exceptionally rewarding and confidence building experience...
Family Canoeing Vacation
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Monsters And Other Creatures
Monsters And Other Creatures
by: Kenneth J. McCormick
What was it, that legend states, that was killed by two cowboys in Arizona in 1890? According to the local stories, a creature was in the desert in Arizona when a couple of cow pokes happened to come across it. At first they were frozen with fear because the creature was like nothing they had ever seen before. It was a huge creature and it could fly. It's body looked more like a snake than a bird and it had fearsome claws. The face of the creature looked like that of an alligator or crocodile and it's wings were huge. This was definitely a case of shoot first and ask what it was later. To give you an idea of the size of the creature, it is said that the wingspan was over 160 ft. I am sure that this measurement grew as the years passed as these things often do.
So why has this story flourished to this day? Could it have been because a photo was supposedly published of the monster, in the Tombstone...
Monsters And Other Creatures
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