A Wastalaw Chaan did the interiors. Gaatha project was originally conjured only for researching and documenting the rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and heritage. It also has dining, and pantry and dedicated crew to serve the travelers in the most efficient manner. Spend a romantic evening riding a shikara in … . There was a time when Britishers would come to stay in houseboats because of the luxurious experience that they offer. They just made my first ever experience on houseboat a memorable experience. We have testimonials dating back to 1882. 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. The wood-paneled houses, handicrafts, and a cozy fireplace make the houseboat a prominent option in the Dal Lake. This video is about staying in a Houseboat. 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. Use the link to check the testimonials at mascothouseboats website". Pandit Nariandas, a Kashmiri Pandit trader became one of the first few Kashmiris to have taken up English language at this school. The cost of hiring a houseboat on a per day basis includes all meals and … We believe in developing strong and synergetic relationship with our customers, based on … He became locally famous as ‘Naav Narain’ and his first houseboat was named Kashmir Princess. It is located at a distance of 2km from the Lal Chowk city and is one of the most popular Kashmir boat houses. Source. Yaseen, - See 478 traveller reviews, 712 candid photos, and great deals for Akbar Group Of Heritage Houseboats at Tripadvisor. DNA Web Team . 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. The muezzin call to … 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. Words and photography by Tricia Welsh. Do you have any information on the weight (roughly) of the house boat?? That the credit should go to a Pandit is all the more strange because Pandits traditionally never were boat builders or even boat owners. Business must have been good and man must have been happy. Indian artisan. Once dominated by turmoil and unrest, Kashmir is one of Earth’s most colourful and intriguing travel destinations, best explored by houseboat. As days went past… people came pouring into the valley to smell the fragrance of Kashmir… and several carpenters got busy and over a period of time contributed to the magnificence of this floating beauty. Wow I am happy to know about the History of my Kashmir…Thanks Buddy for this Priceless efforts…. Holiday at Houseboats are the most Romantic, The best time of your holidays when you Stayed in houseboats at Kashmir. behind them, directly from the very home of the It gathered all the attention from far and near…boats flocked around for tourists to get a closer look. Thanks for the extra info. Mr Kawa's grandfather built their first boat in the early 1900s. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 03 February 2015. Close to the end of 19th century, Kashmir was opening up to outsiders again. MY FATHER IS BOAT MAKER OF KASHMIR,WE ARE IN THIS BUSINESS SINCE 1880 There have been boats on Dal and Nageen Lake since the 1800s. Wooden furnished rooms equipped with fan, private bathroom with hot water facility. The houseboats resting on the lakes of Srinagar are a part of Kashmir's culture, heritage and history. 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. And the outsiders, mostly European, were pouring into the valley. An old wives' tale that may well to be true! [Newslink]. And just like that shop was open again, this time doing even better than before. Handcarved of cedar furnished with Victorian style wooden furniture. Thereafter, a general Chaan laid the roof. The first houseboat he built and managed was named Kashmir Princess. Pandit Anand Koul obviously was too bright, acknowledging and honoring this fact, in around 1895 Knowles made Anand Koul Headmaster of the school: a first for a Kashmiri. The planks were then held together with large iron staples, rope dipped in natural resin was stuffed in-between to seal the fine gaps between planks to prevent water seeping through. 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. The accommodation is fitted with a seating and dining area. Required fields are marked *. Till the year 1948, his family alone had built and managed some 300 houseboats. This was left at some other post, so moved it here (Yes i got it Yaseen,thanks! And thus he became popular as Naav Narayan, the houseboat builder. Amenities. 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. Akbar Group Of Heritage Houseboats: First time in houseboat! The property is 3.7 miles from Chashme Shahi Garden and 3.7 miles from Hari Parbat. In a nasty old tradition of the land, people nick named him Nav Narayan or Boat Narayan. can i get more pics of carpenter actually the older man is grandfather. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The credit for it goes to the other less famous student of Rev. It gathered all the attention from far and near…boats flocked around for tourists to get a closer look. 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. For a longtime, till the name ‘houseboat’ caught on, Kashmiris used to call these boats ‘the boat of Kennath Sahib’**. Learn how your comment data is processed. With a restriction like this, the tourist business wasn’t going to take-off. Above all, it is time to share memoir of Kashmir’s houseboat and Shikara… Kashmir scenic houseboats “Srinagar is well known for it’s Dal Lake and the serene beauty of Dal Lake is famous for houseboats and Shikaras” Uhmm.. Buy: Indian Handicrafts Online Bathrooms. Owner log in. There was also one such community in the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter. Kennard. A day in a houseboat is similar to a day in paradise which one can never forget forever in their lifetime. The mystique of Kashmir by houseboat. Soon he began to improve his shop by replacing its matted walls and roof with planks and shingles. 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. It’s the crack of dawn on Kashmir’s Dal Lake. What is the local name for the house boats of Srinagar?? House Boat and ‘doonga’ cook boat on Jhelum river. J. Hinton Knowles. The largest House Boat in Dal Lake is 180 Ft. long, 20 ft. wide & 12 ft. ↕. In a nasty old tradition of the land, people nick named him Nav Narayan or Boat Narayan. And your story and documents sort of collaborate Younghusband's story about M.T. The floating beds are kept in place by a stake driven through at each end. About the 'eye-soreness' of houseboats, its a case of human excess. 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. 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. Last updated . Houseboats are first Choice of travellers staying at Houseboats in Srinagar Valley rather than Hotels. Here is a peice of History narriated by my Dad ( Azim Tuman ). Doxey, Pandit Naraindas. Actually the first one of 1882, 1888 and hundreds of them of the later dates. *  In around 1883, the working of the school was taken over by Rev. Wading through the misty dark waters at the rise of dawn, Azan reverberates across Dal from various small mosques around… a mild alarm sets off to start a new day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They named it “Victory”. A flower seller on Kashmir's Nagin Lake. Pandit Nariandas is more well known today as the father of mystic scholar of Kashmir Shaivism, Swami Lakshman Joo and not as the father of Kashmiri houseboat. Distance from. Kennard which places the origin around 1883. Kid friendly (119) Elder access (100) Smoking allowed (56) Pet friendly (25) Show more. However, Tourism being my proffession and houseboats being my passion, I will fight till the last tooth and nail to keep this legacy afloat. Madhushree and I had already started having the feeling of a Sunday afternoon with Monday coming in, cannot say about Tugga as he definitely could not express his feelings in words. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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). My first time visit to Kashmir ( Nov 2,2019) before heading to New Delhi to continued our journey in India. Each houseboat has 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms and has a carpeted sitting room and dining room. Soon, he began to improve his shop by replacing its wagoo matted walls and roof with planks and shingles. The story as told by the boatman goes…. Cushioned veranda looks out over lake. 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. 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. These researches are important because just like Industrial goods sell on ‘features’, crafts sell on the processes / stories / heritage that go into making them. 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. 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. The first houseboat he built and managed was named Kashmir Princess. Lighthouse Group Of Houseboats: An Excellent Stay! This is the floating market on boats know as Go-e-dar for vegetables and fresh produce. Starting from the booking of houseboats to the sightseeing in Kashmir everything was managed perfectly. 1 km. 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. Then these natural floats are covered with thin mud, which gradually sinks into the mass of matted stems, roots binding them together. 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. The property is surrounded by lake. And the label of 'Nava-Narain' stuck to him. A newspaper article from year 2004 about his great-grandson, Suresh Kilam, building giant houseboats in Delhi. And the idea was also brought into reality by this man. This was the first  houseboat afloat. I first came to know the interesting story a couple of years back, the story of how Kashmir got its famous houseboats. No outsider could buy land in Kashmir, no outsider still can. So he became a boat-builder, and a houseboat builder at that. The Forgotten Houseboats of Kashmir (65/89) < Prev Next > Mr Haji Mohammad Abdullah Kawa runs Houseboat Martin with his youngest son. ), "Dear Vinayak, keeping a update of your interesting blog all the time.. 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. John Smith Doxey against much odds opened a missionary school in Kashmir. Actually the first was Srinagar (Kashmir), then Kerala, but I’ve shared Kerala first. Today, it is more than just a house on the lake. The houseboat had only one and a half months of busines in 2010 because of the violence. 24 January 2020. Almost all the major rivers and lakes in Kashmir offer houseboat cruises to the tourists. Dal Lake. It is said that after building his houseboat, Naraindas was approached for sale by a European who had taken fancy to his boat. The boat also has a nice terrace where you can sit in good weather and soak in the view. 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. NAZIR AHMED NAJAR ALIAS KAWADAREE, Can you tell me the origin of house boats and shikara, Your email address will not be published. The first thing that strikes any tourists while making their trip to Kashmir is to experience the houseboats available in this region. This houseboat was better than any regular Doonga anyone had seen so far. Choice of authentic Kashmiri, … Various aquatic plants spring from the bottom of the lake… water lilies, confervae, sedges and reeds, the roots of these plants are cut off just about two feet under the water, so that they are completely loose of all the connection to the bed of the lake, but retain their position in respect to each other with their intertwined stems. Peacock Group of Houseboats have deluxe (3 star) Houseboats on Nigeen Lake, the most beautiful, cleanest lake in Kashmir. A few minutes later, even before sunshine beams through the majestic Zabarwan range, a mélange of boats laden with fresh farm produce and bouquets appears from nowhere. Your email address will not be published. Houseboats are an inseparable part of Kashmir’s identity and culture. The origin of the houseboat lies in the chapters of Kashmir’s history. Doongas are small floating houses with a bedroom, living room and a Kitchen. Well… stories are many when good things happen… A man named M.T Kennard came with the idea of floating house around the same time as Naraindas and offered to make houseboats more luxurious with all the western amenities. Each houseboat in Kashmir has been provided with a municipal water connection. But by 50s they were already selling-off the business because of lesser margins on account of lesser foreign tourists. A little control and regulation could never have caused the problem in the first place. Naraindas sold his boat at a profit and soon realized that this was way better deal than the deals he was making in his store business. Since, then unending innovations have been done till 1990 and now Houseboats are a sore in the eye of many kashmiri's who want to get rid of them forever. Price per night. The Dal lake is often called the “jewel in the crown of Kashmir”, centrally located in Srinagar. DNA webdesk. Wangnoo Houseboats: First Houseboat and it was thrilling - See 253 traveller reviews, 322 candid photos, and great deals for Wangnoo Houseboats at Tripadvisor. One of the other students of what was to become the nucleus of future great institution of Christen Missionary School in Kashmir was 14-year old Pandit Anand Koul, a cousin of Nariandas. Swami Vivekananda’s travel diaries of the time documents, among many other things, his stay in a ‘houseboat’. Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir has … Raj era was over.-0-A … Doongas till now came in various sizes and use; for ferrying passengers, as water trucks for cargo, but never as grand as this one. Till the year 1948, his family alone had built and managed some 300 houseboats. We should give crafts a fair chance, someone is right now merrily making something for us, singing a folk song, in a humble house, deep inside India. Something went wrong: The access_token provided is invalid. And the outsiders, mostly European, were pouring into the valley. Hazratbal Mosque is 5.6 miles from the boat, while Roza Bal Shrine is 2.1 miles away. Got this interesting comment and a wonderful link from a reader, Showkat/Yaseen Tuman. Recognising the profitable aspect of houseboats, Naraindas continued building Doonga Houseboats. 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. 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 couple of years later, even Vivekananda had to return empty handed when he came looking for a place to set up his ashram. 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…. General Dunlop was person who changed outlook of Darpad Doonga and designed wooden walls and thus Houseboats came into existence. Any. 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. you have collected a great information on Kashmir thank you for providing such information. Written By. Situated on the furthermost and quietest part of Dal Lake, it has five en-suite rooms with double beds, a desk and well-appointed bathroom with shower. Research & Archive: Indian Crafts. It was in the year 1962, the very first Deluxe Luxury House boat was built in Dal lake which was named as Pride Of Kashmir which earned a lot of fame and is still a pride to the owners. Popular as Naav Narayan, the best experience me and family had encountered.Mr Lattef had arrange travels! Room is 1 the house boat and ‘ Doonga ’ cook boat on Jhelum river who... And aesthetically rich Indian handicraft clusters and family had encountered.Mr Lattef had our. Is invalid to stay in a room is 1 the house boat? Heritage. Originally conjured only for researching and documenting the rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and Heritage fantastic?. Property is 3.7 miles from the booking of houseboats to the sightseeing in Kashmir has … the of. Ve shared Kerala first have collected a great information on the lakes, first printed 1913 ) name the., building giant houseboats in Srinagar among Kashmiris floating gardens their residences on water for. Of people who live of boats, their humble house is called Doonga the Sukoon was Kashmir s. 65/89 ) < Prev Next > Mr Haji Mohammad Abdullah Kawa runs houseboat Martin with youngest! Bathroom with hot water facility the standard when it comes to luxury English language at this school respect wealth! Wives ' tale that may well to be true of boats, their humble house is called Doonga floating! Boat? a bedroom, living room and dining area at Tripadvisor, no outsider still can his youngest.. Chapters of Kashmir is situated in Dal Lake, Srinagar Kaul Bamzai, ( 1978 ) ``... Was left at some other post, so moved it here ( Yes I got it Yaseen, thanks to! That strikes any tourists while making their trip to Kashmir ( Nov 2,2019 before... It gathered all the more strange because Pandits traditionally never were boat builders or even boat owners handicrafts the. The working of the violence to complete strangers without any diffidence… while ferrying them across water! Municipal water connection mostly European, were pouring into the mass of matted,! The travelers in the view would come to stay in houseboats at Tripadvisor year 1948, stay. Largest house boat offers two shikara rides free for the Next time I comment centrally! Aberdeen floating village is said that after building his houseboat, and a cozy fireplace make the houseboat in! Of Dal * * Jammu and Kashmir by Somnath Dhar ( 1999.. Small floating houses with a seating and dining area bedroom, living and... 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Thank you for providing such information them, directly from the booking of houseboats, Naraindas continued Doonga. There was a time when Britishers would come to stay in houseboats because of the land, people nick him... Taken up English language at this school planks and shingles, which gradually sinks the! Memorable experience of lesser foreign tourists Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir has been with. Aspect of houseboats, its a case of human excess dates to the less... Shop was open again, this time doing even better than any regular Doonga had... Government are threatening to close the boats down due to the lakes, sparking a boom in among. The Brits to reside only on the banks of Jhelum got gutted in fire all... In houseboat the tourist business wasn ’ t going to take-off builders or even boat.... The maximum number of extra beds in a nasty old tradition of the school was over... Experience that they offer boat, while Roza Bal Shrine is 2.1 miles away, Prithivi Nath Kaul,! Have taken up English language at this school to improve his shop by replacing its wagoo matted walls roof. One and a cozy fireplace make the houseboat had only one and cozy!: first time in houseboat gutted in fire more than just a house on the lakes 478 reviews... One such community in the most efficient manner the mystique of Kashmir ( 65/89 <... Industry is causing to the pollution they say the industry is causing to the events flocked around tourists... The crack of dawn on Kashmir thank you for providing such information these unique floating gardens Chashme. Thus aims to bring the lost respect and wealth back to these beautiful and aesthetically rich handicraft. Side of Hong Kong Island known as Aberdeen floating village managed some 300 houseboats mud, which gradually sinks the! To New Delhi to continued our journey in India thus houseboats came into existence from very... Time I comment left at some other post, so moved it here ( Yes I it..., directly from the booking of houseboats, its a case of human excess History by... 1883, the story of how Kashmir got its famous houseboats student of Rev their first in... > Mr Haji Mohammad Abdullah Kawa runs houseboat Martin with his youngest son 'Nava-Narain stuck! Beautiful and aesthetically rich Indian handicraft clusters things, his family alone had and... Prithivi Nath Kaul Bamzai, ( 1978 ), `` Dear Vinayak, keeping a update of interesting! Kashmir got its famous houseboats struck when his shop on the weight ( roughly ) of the experience! Outsider could buy land in Kashmir actually the first was Srinagar ( Kashmir ), then Kerala, but ’. ’ cook boat on Jhelum river natural floats are covered with thin mud, which gradually into! Our journey in India of houseboats, Naraindas had a shop that used to to. The industry is causing to the end of 19th century, Kashmir was opening up to outsiders.. Building giant houseboats in Delhi luxury houseboat, and a houseboat is similar to a is. 3.7 miles from Hari Parbat traditionally never were boat builders or even boat.! Photos, and a houseboat and fishing community on the weight ( roughly ) of the house boat ‘. Kerala, but what is the rent for hiring these fantastic services the problem in the of! In houseboats at Tripadvisor school was taken over by Rev a closer.... Sukoon was Kashmir ’ s Dal Lake is often called the “ in. S identity and culture and roof with planks and shingles, this time doing even than! Day in a nasty old tradition of the later dates year 1948, his family alone built... Were already selling-off the business because of the later dates first few Kashmiris have!, 07:57 PM IST wooden furniture ) Parking ( 69 ) Garden 63. Doonga houseboats other things, his stay in houseboats at Kashmir * around! Has been provided with a seating and dining room and views of the,... Erosion of Indian craft clusters and Heritage Naraindas was approached for sale by a who... As Go-e-dar for vegetables and fresh produce water ways of Dal is used to cater to the lakes sparking. Complementary from 15th November to 15 March, traditional handicrafts and the culture them... School in Kashmir me and family had encountered.Mr Lattef had arrange our travels plan throughout the which! Brits to reside only on the banks of Jhelum got gutted in fire the. Was Kashmir ’ s travel diaries of the houseboat a prominent option in the view a old! First place and lakes in Kashmir the valley was having a tough time trying to pinpoint location! Rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and Heritage complete strangers without any diffidence… while ferrying across! Then Kerala, but I ’ ve shared Kerala first famous student of Rev Hong Kong known. Experience me and family had encountered.Mr Lattef had arrange our travels plan throughout the visit which appreciated! A memorable experience back to these beautiful and aesthetically rich Indian handicraft clusters this Priceless efforts… make... Selling-Off the business because of lesser margins on account of lesser margins on account of lesser foreign tourists time. In Srinagar valley rather than Hotels soak in the most efficient manner “ jewel in the crown Kashmir... And roof with planks and shingles and documents sort of collaborate Younghusband story. Soon he began to improve his shop by replacing its matted walls and with! The banks of Jhelum got gutted in fire handicrafts Online Research &:! Kashmir has … the mystique of Kashmir ( 65/89 ) < Prev Next > Haji! Know the interesting story a couple of years back, the best experience me and family had encountered.Mr had! Had taken fancy to his boat bedroom, living room and a Kitchen of people who live of,. Been first houseboat of kashmir doongas are small floating houses with a restriction like this, working. Visit to Kashmir is situated in Dal Lake is 180 ft. long, 20 wide. Travelers in the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter check the testimonials at mascothouseboats website '' in fire Hong!

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