Starting from the booking of houseboats to the sightseeing in Kashmir everything was managed perfectly. Everyone wanted to touch it, see it, ride, if possible own it…Soon, Narayan was flooded with proposals by tempted onlookers, native Indians and foreigners, who always wanted to own a dwelling, a place in the valley but were handcuffed by the valley laws that did not allow any outsider to own a piece of land in Kashmir. Wangnoo Houseboats: First Houseboat and it was thrilling - See 253 traveller reviews, 322 candid photos, and great deals for Wangnoo Houseboats at Tripadvisor. Around year 1881, Rev. The muezzin call to … Younghusband wrote that although houseboat was not indigenous to Kashmir, by the year 1906 the number of houseboats in the valley was already in hundreds. *Geography of the Jammu & Kashmir State  Anand Koul, Prithivi Nath Kaul Bamzai, (1978), first printed 1913). Houseboats in Kashmir The history of Houseboats in Kashmir goes back to the year 1888, when a British Army officer Kennard and a local Kashmiri Pandit Naraindas constructed the first houseboat in Kashmir. Your email address will not be published. Last updated . Required fields are marked *. All the available local crafts of Kashmir were employed… elaborate woolen & silk carpets and woolen Namdas for flooring, intricately carved wooden panels in Walnut wood, seamless Khatambandh ceilings… The spaces were decorated with Walnut wood furniture, copperware and papier-mâché objects, colorful and exquisite drapes of Aari and Sozni for furnishing…and what not…. Doongas are small floating houses with a bedroom, living room and a Kitchen. Thanks so much for uploading the picture of houseboat maker of Kashmir It is located at a distance of 2km from the Lal Chowk city and is one of the most popular Kashmir boat houses. TRAVEL GUIDE & BLOG. Akbar Group Of Heritage Houseboats: First time in houseboat! The cost of hiring a houseboat on a per day basis includes all meals and … 03 February 2015. Share. Houseboats are first Choice of travellers staying at Houseboats in Srinagar Valley rather than Hotels. Arijit Saha. The first houseboat he built and managed was named Kashmir Princess. The story as told by the boatman goes…. Here is a peice of History narriated by my Dad ( Azim Tuman ). The accommodation is fitted with a seating and dining area. A Kashmiri Pandit, Naraindas had a shop that used to cater to the needs of the tourists. 24 January 2020. We have testimonials dating back to 1882. Winter Heating Complementary from 15th November to 15 March. But tragedy stuck when this shop got gutted in fire, a phenomena common at the time given the old world wooden structure of the city buildings. In a nasty old tradition of the land, people nick named him Nav Narayan or Boat Narayan. Buy: Indian Handicrafts Online The Dal lake is often called the “jewel in the crown of Kashmir”, centrally located in Srinagar. Houseboat Pride of kashmir in Srinagar provides accommodation with free WiFi, 650 yards from Nehru Park, 2.2 miles from Lal Chowk Ghantaghar and 5 miles from Pari Mahal. Firstly Darpad Doonga were used to accommodate tourists / colonial officers from 1865 – 1880.It was incident that General Dunlop went through during a cruise on Darpad Doonga. According to  S. N. Pandita’s Western indologists and Sanskrit Savants of Kashmir (2002 ), a third student had the name Pandit Shivnarayan Bhan and that there were only five students in the beginning. Actually the first one of 1882, 1888 and hundreds of them of the later dates. Offering a terrace and views of the mountains,Houseboat Moon of Kashmir is situated in Dal Lake, Srinagar. Shikara Ride in Dal Lake are extra @ 500/- per hour ( maximum 4 pax in 01 shikara) Shikara to and fro Complementary Check-in 12:00 early check-in is subject availability Check-out 11:00 latest 11:30 Children and Extra Beds All children are welcome. So, we can assume that the houseboats were already popular by then. What is the local name for the house boats of Srinagar?? The wood-paneled houses, handicrafts, and a cozy fireplace make the houseboat a prominent option in the Dal Lake. The property is 3.7 miles from Chashme Shahi Garden and 3.7 miles from Hari Parbat. We believe in developing strong and synergetic relationship with our customers, based on … The houseboats resting on the lakes of Srinagar are a part of Kashmir's culture, heritage and history. Not giving up, and coming up with a desperate idea, Naraindas moved his remaining goods to a doonga, a small boat used by hanjis for residential purposes, and moored it at a suitable site. Thereafter, a general Chaan laid the roof. And they needed a place to stay for their long holidays, buying a piece of land and building a house was out of question, Maharaja Ranbir Singh would have none of it. Close to the end of 19th century, Kashmir was opening up to outsiders again. However, Tourism being my proffession and houseboats being my passion, I will fight till the last tooth and nail to keep this legacy afloat. My first time visit to Kashmir ( Nov 2,2019) before heading to New Delhi to continued our journey in India. This is the floating market on boats know as Go-e-dar for vegetables and fresh produce. Cushioned veranda looks out over lake. Amenities. Stories thrilled him… he enjoyed talking to complete strangers without any diffidence… while ferrying them across numerous water ways of Dal. DNA webdesk. Tragedy struck when his shop on the banks of Jhelum got gutted in fire. However, we soon learnt from the artisans themselves that need was not to do research alone, but to restore ‘pride and serious commercial opportunity’ in their ecosystem. Lighthouse Group Of Houseboats: An Excellent Stay! Doxey, Pandit Naraindas. Dal Lake. The best experience me and family had encountered.Mr Lattef had arrange our travels plan throughout the visit which truly appreciated. These researches are important because just like Industrial goods sell on ‘features’, crafts sell on the processes / stories / heritage that go into making them. ), "Dear Vinayak, keeping a update of your interesting blog all the time.. Updated: Dec 17, 2020, 07:57 PM IST. The British colonialists were the first people to use the houseboats in Kashmir as hotels after foreigners were prohibited from purchasing land to build resorts. A newspaper article from year 2004 about his great-grandson, Suresh Kilam, building giant houseboats in Delhi. Beauty is meaningless without love…So is Kashmir without its people… A storyteller, the boatman who since birth lived on boats, grew up and chose to be a shikara haenz. Soon, he began to improve his shop by replacing its wagoo matted walls and roof with planks and shingles. The origin of the houseboat lies in the chapters of Kashmir’s history. John Smith Doxey against much odds opened a missionary school in Kashmir. Wooden furnished rooms equipped with fan, private bathroom with hot water facility. Gaatha project was originally conjured only for researching and documenting the rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and heritage. The first impression of a Kashmir Houseboat I must say a disclaimer here that we were heading towards the end of our journey and the next morning we were flying back to Kolkata. The House boat offers two shikara rides free for the day. It also has dining, and pantry and dedicated crew to serve the travelers in the most efficient manner. As a result, they built their residences on water. One owner of a houseboat called The Flower Garden, Mr Abdul Karim Goosani still clings onto the proud memory of when actress Joanna Lumley, who was born in Kashmir, stayed for three weeks in the 80s on the boat his grandfather built. *  In around 1883, the working of the school was taken over by Rev. Although this was my first experience of the house boat but I suspect it was one of the better one's considering the horror stories of smelly and ill maintained boats. A day in a houseboat is similar to a day in paradise which one can never forget forever in their lifetime. Then these natural floats are covered with thin mud, which gradually sinks into the mass of matted stems, roots binding them together. $1,000+ Suitability. Soon he began to improve his shop by replacing its matted walls and roof with planks and shingles. No outsider could buy land in Kashmir, no outsider still can. you have collected a great information on Kashmir thank you for providing such information. The interest however was triggered about the stories that I have heard about families in old times travelling to Tulamulla in doonga via the river route, taking days, sometimes braving waves. Use the link to check the testimonials at mascothouseboats website". The story goes that in around 1885, just when his cousin Pandit Anand was helping Knowles write a book, Pandit Naraindas had a shop that used to cater to the needs of the foreigners. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In year 1897, some night of September or October, Anand held dinner in honor of Swami Vivekananda who was visiting Kashmir at the time hoping to find a suitable place for his ashram. The credit for initiating the trend of living in a houseboat in Kashmir goes to the British residents who were prohibited to own land by the Maharaja of Kashmir. It is said that after building his houseboat, Naraindas was approached for sale by a European who had taken fancy to his boat. It’s the crack of dawn on Kashmir’s Dal Lake. Your recent post of Houseboats seems to be little conflicting / contradicting of the knowledge / documents I have about houseboats (Since I belong to Housboat Community – Hanji). The first houseboat he built and managed was named Kashmir Princess. ** Jammu and Kashmir by Somnath Dhar (1999). So he became a boat-builder, and a houseboat builder at that. Naraindas without losing hope moved his remaining goods to a Doonga… moored it at a suitable site along the banks of Jhelum and the shop was open again. Gaatha brings to you, traditional handicrafts and the culture Till the year 1948, his family alone had built and managed some 300 houseboats. Close to the end of 19th century, Kashmir was opening up to outsiders again. Kennard which places the origin around 1883. - See 478 traveller reviews, 712 candid photos, and great deals for Akbar Group Of Heritage Houseboats at Tripadvisor. Peacock Group of Houseboats have deluxe (3 star) Houseboats on Nigeen Lake, the most beautiful, cleanest lake in Kashmir. The mystique of Kashmir by houseboat. It is said that the native kings had forbidden foreign visitors, especially the British from constructing houses in the region and this gave rise to the concept of a houseboat. NAZIR AHMED NAJAR ALIAS KAWADAREE, Can you tell me the origin of house boats and shikara, Your email address will not be published. 0+ rooms, 2+ guests. Something went wrong: The access_token provided is invalid. Bathrooms. In a nasty old tradition of the land, people nick named him Nav Narayan or Boat Narayan. DNA Web Team . Specialized carpenters like a Ghar-chaan who makes the hull or the super structure made the body of the boat… basic carpentry tools like saws, axe, hammers and chisels were used. Spend a romantic evening riding a shikara in … They named it “Victory”. Check-in — / — / — Check-out — / — / — Guests. Things you should keep in mind while booking a Houseboat. It is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the "Lake of Flowers", "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel". Got this interesting comment and a wonderful link from a reader, Showkat/Yaseen Tuman. The property is surrounded by lake. Actually the first was Srinagar (Kashmir), then Kerala, but I’ve shared Kerala first. Adding to the luxury of a houseboat, the larger Naav was converted into a Shikara, a limo water taxi to ferry visitors to and fro from the houseboat or for a ride around the lake. And the idea was also brought into reality by this man. Pandit Nariandas, a Kashmiri Pandit trader became one of the first few Kashmiris to have taken up English language at this school. For a longtime, till the name ‘houseboat’ caught on, Kashmiris used to call these boats ‘the boat of Kennath Sahib’**. 1 km. General Dunlop was person who changed outlook of Darpad Doonga and designed wooden walls and thus Houseboats came into existence. They just made my first ever experience on houseboat a memorable experience. Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India.It is an urban lake, which is the second largest in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Price per night. What I believe must have happened in all probability that back then Naraindas must have taken houseboats to such a scale that it became a mushrooming business. A loophole allowed the Brits to reside only on the lakes, sparking a boom in houseboat-building among Kashmiris. Italians helped design giant boats in Kashmi on Aurangzeb’s order, Be Aaro | Kashmiri Love Song | New Version, Jammu Census Numbers 1941 and Number Killing 1947, Halmo Halmo Gulaab | Kashmiri Leela | New Version. And the label of 'Nava-Narain' stuck to him. Mr Kawa's grandfather built their first boat in the early 1900s. Sir Francis Younghusband, later in around 1906 was to write that the idea of a  ‘floating house’ was first floated some year between 1883-1888 by a sport loving Englishman named M.T. Raj era was over.-0-A … The largest House Boat in Dal Lake is 180 Ft. long, 20 ft. wide & 12 ft. ↕. can i get more pics of carpenter actually the older man is grandfather. The floating beds are kept in place by a stake driven through at each end. I was having a tough time trying to pinpoint the location where this incredible venture started. GUIDE . List your property. The first thing that strikes any tourists while making their trip to Kashmir is to experience the houseboats available in this region. . Haenz is a tribe of people who live of boats, their humble house is called Doonga. In fact, at the time of writing that post I was think that logically the Hanji's should have the first ones's to offer the services. Once dominated by turmoil and unrest, Kashmir is one of Earth’s most colourful and intriguing travel destinations, best explored by houseboat. Swami Vivekananda’s travel diaries of the time documents, among many other things, his stay in a ‘houseboat’. Today, it is more than just a house on the lake. Each houseboat in Kashmir has been provided with a municipal water connection. Wow I am happy to know about the History of my Kashmir…Thanks Buddy for this Priceless efforts…. There was also one such community in the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter. The floats (Dembe), about two yards in width, stretched to indefinite lengths form avenues one can easily traverse through in a personal Naav and tend to the plants… turnip, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, kashmiri haakh… Some gather water nuts (Singhdre), lotus stems (Nadru), houselotus seeds (Pambach) and many more…. first thanks for the comment! Thanks for the extra info. Choice of authentic Kashmiri, … Indian artisan. Thick planks of deodar wood were cut to shape as per the requirement and were interlocked with structural joints (Stopped-Splayed Wedged Scarf joints) to make seamless long planks. J. Hinton Knowles. This was left at some other post, so moved it here (Yes i got it Yaseen,thanks! Distance from. Here’s a pieced together narrative, an attempt at putting dates to the events. Good news: First Boat Ambulance Service to start at Dal Lake in Srinagar soon The plan to make an emergency services boat was made to treat people who are in desperate need of help in times of an emergency. And your story and documents sort of collaborate Younghusband's story about M.T. The houseboat had only one and a half months of busines in 2010 because of the violence. Kolu group of house boat is an epitome of the family bond and as a result the management through the years are been taken over by the following generations. Jhelum river built and managed was named Kashmir Princess by a European had. Water ways of Dal Tei Typhoon first houseboat of kashmir venture started at Kashmir floating village for! Of Kashmir ’ s first luxury houseboat, and great deals for akbar Group of Heritage houseboats: first visit. 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