Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

Quick answer: A shikara ride on Dal Lake costs from Rs 800 per shikara for about an hour with Happy Jacks, and one boat seats up to four adults comfortably. The classic hour circles the houseboat lanes, Nehru Park and the lotus and floating gardens; a 2 to 3 hour ride adds Char Chinar island and the old Mir Bahri channels. Go at sunrise for the floating vegetable market or at sunset for the light behind the Zabarwan hills.

Glide across Srinagar's Dal Lake in a shikara, the hand-paddled wooden boat that defines Kashmir. You will drift past houseboats, floating vegetable gardens and the lotus beds, with tea and kahwa vendors rowing up alongside. Cushioned canopy seating keeps you comfortable for the hour. Our boatmen are local, licensed and know the quiet channels away from the crowds. Life jackets are available on request, making this a relaxed outing suitable for families, couples and elders alike.

Duration: 1 hour | Best time: April to October, with early morning and sunset the most scenic | Price: Rs. 800 per shikara

Which shikara route should you choose?

• 1 hour: houseboat lanes, Nehru Park and the open lake in front of the Boulevard. Ideal on an arrival evening.
• 2 hours: adds Char Chinar, the island with four chinar trees, and the lotus beds (lotus bloom July and August).
• 3 hours or more: the inner channels towards Mir Bahri and Rainawari, the floating gardens where farmers grow vegetables on reed beds, and Kabootar Khana.
• Floating market: at first light, roughly 5:00 to 7:00 in summer, vegetable sellers trade boat to boat near Mir Bahri. You need to be at the ghat before sunrise.

How much does a shikara ride cost?

Our shikara ride starts at Rs 800 per boat for about an hour, with a local boatman we know. Longer rides are priced by the hour. The Tourism Department publishes indicative per-hour shikara rates at the main ghats, and touts on the Boulevard often quote more in peak weeks, so agree the route and time before you sit down. Tea, kahwa and handicraft sellers row up alongside; buying is entirely optional.

Is a shikara ride safe for children and elders?

Yes. Shikaras are flat, stable and slow, with cushioned seats under a canopy. Ask for life jackets for small children, keep hands inside near other boats, and avoid standing up to take photos. In winter carry a blanket or warm layer; the lake is several degrees colder than the town after sunset.

Shikara ride or houseboat stay?

A shikara ride is a one to three hour outing on the lake. A houseboat is where you sleep, moored in the lake, reached by shikara. Many guests do both: a sunset ride on day one and a houseboat night later in the trip. See Dal Lake houseboat booking and our Srinagar and Dal Lake guide.

How to book with Happy Jacks

We book the shikara with a boatman we use regularly and can add it to any Srinagar day or package, including a pre-dawn floating market ride with pickup from your hotel. Message us on WhatsApp (+91 94192 44962) with your dates and group size, and we confirm the plan and price in writing. Related: Dal Lake houseboat, Kashmir Houseboat Package, All Kashmir activities.

Written and checked by the Happy Jacks Tours and Travels planning team in Srinagar, who run these trips, drive these roads and operate our own Pahalgam hotels and cab fleet. Package prices on this page are read live from our published rates. Updated 16 October 2026.