Srinagar – Full Circuit Tour Package – Budget – Houseboat on Dal Lake

Srinagar – Full Circuit Tour Packages – Budget – 02 nights/03 days

Did you ever dream of sleeping on the water or strolling in a garden of the Mughal era in a one mile high city?

We make your dreams come true in Srinagar! Srinagar is the farthest northern city with over a million inhabitants in India. It is also the summer capital of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir – and it is approximately 1600 meters (1 mile) above sea level.

Definitely unique are the houseboats, which are found close to the shore of its also famous Dal or Nigeen Lake. So don’t worry you’re not going to sleep literally on the water, there’s something in between, which will make your overnight stay really special and comfy.

By the way – there’s so much more to discover there: let’s go!

Day 01: Houseboat, Shikara, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Pari Mahal

We recommend you to plan to arrive at Srinagar International Airport (SXR) in the morning because flights sometimes get cancelled due to whether, and then you could still get another one later in the day.

You will be picked up by taxi and brought to your houseboat on Srinagar’s Dal Lake. The first adventure awaits you: a short trip with a traditional boat, locally called “Shikara”, from a lake’s pier (named: Ghat) to your houseboat. Usually up to around 4 people would share one boat. Depending on how many pieces of luggage you have, maybe 2 people are appropriate.

Upon reaching your houseboat, make yourself comfortable and enjoy a welcome cold/warm drink of your choice alongside a fruit or snack.

After a little break, you may want to have a lunch first before you pack your basic needs for the rest of the day for your first go-round Srinagar trip: the Mughal gardens.

We recommend you either buy your lunch directly on your houseboat or plan a stop-over at one of the many restaurants in walking distance opposite the lake (at Boulevard Road).

Your houseboat will arrange a Shikara for your to drop you at the nearest Ghat at Boulevard Road.

After your lunch your first destination is “Shalimar Garden/Bagh”.

Get either your personal rickshaw (also called “auto”) to drop you there or a “Sumo” (shared taxi). For the latter one, you may want to go back to “Dalgate” where most of them depart, but they may also stop anywhere else if seats are available. This trip will take you about 30-45 minutes.

Reaching Shalimar Garden/Bagh, pay your driver and proceed to the ticket booth, right near the entry gate.

Would you build a garden or house (out of love) for your wife? Well, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, did just that in 1619, and you’re about to discover this beautiful garden with its terraces, pavilions, fountains and flowerbeds (seasonal).

Hungry for an in-between snack? You may have discovered that opposite the garden there are plenty of opportunities in this regard.

These you will find also at your next destination: Nishat Garden/Bagh.

You actually passed it already on your way to Shalimar Garden/Bagh. So find again the transport of your choice and make sure it will drop you at “Nishat Garden/Bagh” – about 10 minutes away.

Nishat Garden/Bagh is another must see among the Mughal Gardens in Srinagar, in our opinion. Again, get your entry tickets, right near the entry gate.

This is Srinagar’s largest Mughal Garden built only a little later than Shalimar Bagh, namely in 1633. The two gardens are not only close together in distance, but also relationship wise: Asif Khan who let built Nishat Bagh, was the brother in law of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir (Shalimar Bagh). Compared to Shalimar Bagh, this one has many more terraces. Once you reach the very end and look back toward Dal Lake, you are rewarded with an amazing overview of the garden.

Outside Nishat Bagh (about 30 Meters left side), you should find again some stalls to satisfy your hunger or a rickshaw to lift you to our next chosen must see location: Pari Mahal.

This place is located on a hilltop and in order to reach there, a normal Sumo will not work. So when arranging for your rickshaw, it is highly recommended to tell your driver to wait at the entrance until you come back. The other option is to walk: Junction Boulevard Road/Cheshma Shahi Road toward Pari Mahal is about 3,5 km and due to the steep ascent it may take almost an hour to reach. Be prepared: one your way to Pari Mahal, there is a checkpoint. Usually you are requested to exit the vehicle, walk a short distance behind the barrier and enter your vehicle again.

Upon reaching the hilltop where Pari Mahal is located, (there is another Mughal Garden in between, Chashme Shahi), you would find again the ticket booth right near the entrance.

The garden itself is actually much more than a garden, or let’s say it has been designed also for other purposes: as a library and residence for former Mughal Prince named Dara Shikoh. The construction dates back to the 1650s. Please take your time to ascend/descend the terraces: the stairs are steep and you should act with caution when using them. Each terrace has its own charm and design, and of course fantastic (over)view to Dal Lake. You should be able to spot also two other hilltops: one to your right hosting a 5 star hotel, the Vivanta Dal View, and one to your left hosting the Hari Parbat Fort, a destination you would aim for tomorrow.

Depending on the time and your stomach situation, you could let yourself drop by a restaurant for dinner or you could ask your driver to drop you somewhere at the Boulevard Road and squeeze in a stroll along the waterfront toward the houseboats.

For dinner you can again choose one of the many restaurants along the boulevard road like Delhi Di Rassol or Pincer Vegetarian Food. For meat dishes we would recommend Lhasa, a multicuisine restaurant, accessible through a side street, opposite Ghat No 4.

Since everything is closeby we recommend an unhurried stroll back after dinner to the Ghat nearest your houseboat.

A Shikara will bring you back to your houseboat for an enjoyable evening and for a good night’s rest – which you definitely deserve by now!

Day 02: Jamia Masjid, Hari Parbat Fort, Hazratbal Shrine, Shikara Boat Roundtrip

For breakfast we recommend to try the tasty fresh baked lavaas or girda, a “must-try” while in Kashmir. Some even put butter on it to make it more yummie and some even the little locally made surprise you may have discovered this morning at your breakfast. Enjoy!

After breakfast get ready for the day as the Shikara will take you again to the nearest Ghat where your day trip will focus on some unique, must see buildings in Srinagar.

We recommend not to leave later than 10am in order to have enough time for each location today.

Your first destination: Jamia Masjid. We request kindly to dress modestly and ladies in addition to have a head covering handy. You can get there by rickshaw, bus/sumo. For the latter two, we recommend to wait for them at Dalgate, direction towards Jamia Masjid. The distance from Dalgate to Jamia Masjid is about 3km.

Once you reach, go/ask for the main entrance, there, an entrance fee may be collected.

This is definitely Kashmir’s largest mosque and an architectural jewel. It was completed in 1402 and can host over 30000 worshippers with a square size area of almost 116 by 117 meters. The center of the courtyard hosts a beautiful fountain.

You should not have any difficulties to find a rickshaw outside the Jamia Masjid, which we recommend to reach your next destination: Hari Parbat Fort.

To get there, we recommend you to take a rickshaw. Think ahead, if you want your driver to wait for you, or drop you only. If you let him wait, estimate at least 1 hour (we recommend 2 hrs), as there is another about 500 meter long foot path uphill you need to manage to reach the main area of the fort. Dropping means, you need to either have his number to call him to pick you up again to continue your trip, or you walk down (about 2km) to the “Badam Waari” Park where you may find a rickshaw again.

Hari Parbat Fort has more limited opening hours compared to other sights: Daily 10am to 3pm, Fridays closed. You would reach this place via driving through a part of an old city wall’s gate, called “Kathi Darwaza” (or “Kashmir Journey”). As mentioned earlier, the fort lies on a hilltop, however, the entry fee is collected just before you ascend at a big iron gate.

Upon reaching the main fort entry, you need to have a valid ID proof ready and your entry ticket. Your name etc. is recorded into a visitor’s book and your bag checked before entry.

In order to reach the main part of the fort you basically walk around a big water tank and then keep following the steep path uphill. Enjoy the magnificent outlook and overview of Srinagar city which reaches its climax if you manage to climb up one of the small towers at the massive wall.

Hari Parbat Fort, as it is today, is said to be built around 1808 during a so called Durrani era. However, the first fortification on this hill would refer back to the Mughal era, in the 1590s.

Your next stop before your go to “Hazratbal Shrine” may be for lunch. There is actually a place to eat opposite the main entrance of Hari Parbat Fort (Location: Milestones / Restaurant: Milestones) with a stunning view, but you do of course also pay for it. Another option is to drive ahead toward Hazratbal Shrine nearby which you will find some eateries like Chiliz The Pizza Shop, Amigo’s Foods, Season 69, etc. The University of Kashmir’s main gate is a good landmark in this regard. From there it is less than 1 km to reach your next must-see location: Hazratbal Shrine. If you do not prefer to walk there, the best option is to take a rickshaw.

This Muslim Shrine is located just at the shore of Dal Lake and is well known because of a relic: it is said to be a strand of Muhammad’s hair. Same with this place: kindly dress modestly with ladies having a head covering handy.

In order to go back to toward your houseboat you have again various options: bus, sumo or rickshaw up to the landmark “Dalgate”. The shortest way is just to return on the same road you came. The longer one would be to go back the so called “Foreshore Road” passing by Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh again. A third option would require plenty of time and probably money, too: finding a Shikara which would take you from Hazratbal Shrine across the lake either directly to your houseboat or to a nearby Ghat. But no doubt this would be a peaceful and special event experiencing the Dal Lake from perspectives only tourists enjoy.

Your houseboat or nearby Ghat is also the starting point for your last suggested experience today in Srinagar: a one hour Shikara boat roundtrip to the floating vegetable garden.

For dinner today, if you prefer rather not to go away too far, think about your houseboat or Boulevard Road at your nearest Ghat. Another place to look at could be the “Residency Road”. About 1.5 km from Dalgate, you could get dropped at “Main GPO” (General Post Office). From there you can find other (fast food) restaurants like Mughal Darbar, Tibetan Bowl, Mummy Please, or KFC and Pizza Hut at the “Walk Mall”. All of these options are in walking distance. Main GPO is easily accessible from Dalgate by bus and rickshaw. A Sumo would drop you at “Walk Mall”.

Upon your return, go again back to your Ghat and let the Shikara drop you at your houseboat: sleep well!

Day 03: Shankaracharya Hill/Temple

After breakfast and before check-out, the last sight awaits you: Shankaracharya Hill/Temple. It does actually look not too far away from your nearest Ghat, but the road toward the sight  is minimum 5 km steep uphill from its Boulevard Road junction (difference in elevation is about 300 m). So we do recommend to take a rickshaw as the other option only is walking or a private taxi. However, there is the option also to check out of your houseboat right after breakfast and have the taxi wait at Shankaracharya Hill/Temple (with your luggage) and afterwards drop you at the Srinagar Airport – much depends on the time of departure of your return flight.

Considering the rickshaw, let it wait for you at the hilltop (we suggest minimum half an hour, depending on your preferences). Expect also a security check before ascending the hill. Unfortunately, no (video)photography permitted on top of the hill/temple.

As mentioned already, Shankaracharya is the name for both a (Hindu) temple and a hill. The latter has a round platform which boasts another fantastic view over Srinagar and Dal Lake. The Hindu temple, dedicated to the Lord Shiva, is said to date back to 200 BC. This place can get very busy during an annual period of a Hindu pilgrimage called Amarnath Yatra.

Expect also to cover over 200 steps leading up to the temple if you intend visiting it.

By the way, its name is dedicated to a famous visitor, Adi Shankara, a Hindu theologian and philosopher whom people also called Shankaracharya.

You will then descend the hill, go back to your houseboat in order to check out, and a taxi will drop you at Srinagar Airport.

We hope you have had a pleasant and relaxing stay – share your memories with your loved ones and recommend us please.