Kashmir guide · Srinagar
A shikara ride on Dal Lake.
An hour in a shikara is the oldest pleasure in Srinagar: past the houseboat rows, the floating gardens and Char Chinar, with the Zabarwan hills behind. Here is what it should cost and how to do it well.
Notified rate
₹700 for the first hour
Each extra hour
₹400
Full day (6 hours)
₹2,700
Charged
Per shikara, not per person
The short answer
A shikara on Dal Lake costs ₹700 for the first hour at the notified rate.
Srinagar’s Tourism Department notified fixed shikara rates for Dal and Nigeen lakes in June 2023: ₹700 for an hour (about 3 km), ₹400 for each extra hour, and ₹2,700 for a six-hour day, per shikara. Fixed fares apply to set routes, such as ₹550 from Ghats 23 to 25 to Char Chinar. The rates may have been revised since; the board at the ghat shows the current ones. Agree the route and the time before you set off.
By Shahid Parvez Khan (Local Operations Lead)·Published by Falcon Trails·Updated
Notified shikara rates
| Ride | Rate per shikara |
|---|---|
| By the hour (about 3 km) | ₹700 |
| Each extra hour | ₹400 |
| Full day (six hours) | ₹2,700 |
| Ghats 23, 24 and 25 to Char Chinar (Sona Lank) | ₹550 |
| Ghats 23, 24 and 25 to Hazratbal (Rup Lank) | ₹1,400 |
| Nehru Park to Char Chinar and back | ₹1,300 |
| Western Foreshore Road ghat to Nehru Park | ₹550 |
| Western Foreshore Road ghat to Char Chinar | ₹1,500 |
Short crossings to the houseboats
Houseboat guests cross from the ghat to their boat by shikara. These short crossings have their own notified rates, per shikara:
| Crossing | Rate |
|---|---|
| To the first row of houseboats | ₹50 |
| Ghats 1 to 12 to Golden Lake | ₹75 |
| Ghats 13 and 17 to the back row of houseboats | ₹100 |
| Ghats 18 and 22 to the Kabutar Khana houseboat row | ₹100 |
Staying on a houseboat? See our houseboat guide and our Dal Lake houseboats.
What you see on a shikara ride
- The houseboat rows along the Boulevard and in the lake behind them.
- Char Chinar, the small island with its chinar trees, in the middle of the lake.
- The floating gardens, where vegetables grow on matted reed beds.
- Floating shops and vendors, who paddle up to sell saffron, shawls, jewellery and kahwa.
- Nehru Park and, on the longer ride north, Hazratbal shrine.
- At dawn, the floating vegetable market, where growers trade from their boats before sunrise.
The best time for a shikara ride
Early morning is the quietest, with mist on the water and the floating market trading around sunrise. Late afternoon into sunset gives the warmest light on the Zabarwan hills and is the most popular time, so the ghats are busiest then. In winter, keep the ride short and wrap up: it is cold on the water once the sun drops.
How not to overpay
- The rate is for the shikara, not per person.
- Check the rate board at the ghat, then agree the route and the time with the shikarawala before you get in.
- Ignore anyone who approaches you on the Boulevard away from the ghats.
- Floating vendors are part of the ride, but you do not have to buy. Saying no politely is normal.
- If your houseboat or hotel arranges the shikara, ask for the price in advance.
Dal or Nigeen?
Nigeen Lake, joined to Dal by a channel, is quieter, with fewer vendors and a calmer feel. The same notified hourly rates apply on both lakes. If you are staying on Nigeen, a ride there and through to Dal is a good way to see both.
Editorial & Ground Verification
Verified by local ground planners
Published by Shahid Parvez Khan
Founder & Lead Planner, Falcon Trails · Operating Kashmir mountain routes since 2010 · shahid.co.in
Ground-checked from our operations desk in Barbarshah / Munawara Abad, Srinagar. Mountain pass access, union taxi rates, and hotel heating conditions are verified directly with local drivers and property managers before guest departures.
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Questions
What people ask us.
How much does a shikara ride cost in Dal Lake?
At the Tourism Department’s notified rates (June 2023), ₹700 for the first hour, ₹400 for each extra hour and ₹2,700 for a six-hour day, per shikara. Check the board at the ghat for current rates.
Is the shikara price per person or per boat?
Per shikara. The whole boat costs the same whether one person rides or a family.
How long should a shikara ride be?
An hour covers the houseboat rows and the near side of the lake. Two to three hours lets you reach Char Chinar, the floating gardens and Nehru Park without rushing.
What is the best time for a shikara ride?
Sunrise for the floating market and quiet water; late afternoon for sunset light. Sunset is the busiest time.
Can you book a shikara ride in advance?
You can hire one at any ghat. If you travel with us, we can arrange it and tell you the price beforehand.
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