Houseboats

Kashmir's houseboats originated in the Victorian era as superbly British solution to a tricky political problem. The British loved to escape from the heat and dust of summer on the plain India. However, the Maharajah wouldn't allow them to own property. Boats of various types had been a regular part of life in Kashmir for centuries, and to get around their dilemma, the British took to the water themselves.

In 1888 Mr T Kehard had the first houseboat built and the concept soon caught on. They are great escape from the noise and hassle which Indian cities seem to have an over-supply of. As soon as you get out on the water the traffic and confusion fades away.
Houseboats simply offer great entertainment - just sit on the verandah of your boat or laze on the roof and life passes by in front of you. A flock of ducks, children barely old enough to walk (but quite adept at paddling), hookah smoking shikara wallahs, fat Indian ladies in saris, and travellers (who are usually paddling themselves in circles) - they all pass by. You don't have to go the shops as the shops come to you.
In the early morning you can see ravens and hawks swooping on the lake to catch fish. Late in the afternoon the garden boats, laden with produce from the floating gardens.