Houseboat Nanga Parbat

I had the pleasure of staying on the Nonga Parbat houseboat on Lake Dal for four nights and three days. We were picked up from the mainland by our two wonderful servers, Manzoor and Archad in two separate shickaras. This is the mode of transportation on and across Lake Dal as the houseboats are stationery. Some highlights from staying on the Nonga Parbat include watching the sun go down from the rooftop terrace coloring the sky a brilliant orange. As dark comes on, the lights on surrounding boats come on and color reflections on the water. Seeing the moon rise and then lights ***** the edge of the mountain tops come on only adds to the magic of this experience. A cold can of Kingfisher beer didn't hurt either. I was up early to enjoy hot coffee or tea either on the front porch or up on the roof in the mornings. Watching the bird activity was a real treat. The kingfisher here, are a striking neon blue. They would hover above water like a helicopter before diving straight into water. My one regret of this part of the trip was not getting to spend a whole day just watching the lake activities from the boat. After a freshly prepared breakfast of eggs three ways, toast and fruits, my group was off sight seeing. My favorite side trip, while on the boat, was to Gulmarg, for hiking. We saw shepherds herding goats and sheep on foot and horseback. The surrounding mountains were beautiful. We returned to our houseboat for dinner in the ornately carved and decorated dining room. Food was always fresh and they catered to my request for, "not too spicy." The owner of this boat was our guide for almost two weeks of our trip. He has a big heart and always strives to improve the trips experience. He is a great story teller and wonderful at sharing the history not only of Nanga Parbat houseboat, but all the places we visited. From the moment you step off the shikara onto the house boat, you are able to explore the beauty of the carvings and furnishings of this historical home. It is filled with antiques as one would expect. I found it warm, cozy and inviting. If you are planning a trip to Lake Dal, I highly recommend this unique boat and its servers. You won't be disappointed.

Terribly Bad experience Had the misfortune of staying in this houseboat for two nights and it was a terrible experience. Nothing went right from the beginning. The overall condition of the houseboat was dilipated and poor. Wooden railings and floor boards were broken or missing at many places, creating a safety hazard, especially for children. Shabby and dingy toilet with constant foul smell without any ventilation was a big irritant. Cramped room for four persons with a single table fan in one corner and absolutely no ventilation added to the woes. The AC never worked- initially we were told because of power issues, however other appliances worked just fine inexplicably. Subsequently, on asking the caretaker, we were informed that there were instructions not to run the AC. When contacted, the owner of the property was unexpectedly rude and shockingly hostile. Apparently, the concept of hospitality and decency was alien to him. He insisted that the booking didn’t mention AC when in fact the booking did include air conditioning as one of the amenities. Paying over 7000 rupees per night for a room without AC was a new experience for us. The biggest reason for the hostility on the part of the owner was probably the fact that we opted to have our meals outside because our kids were not keen on having the very limited fare available for meals. In fact it was good that we skipped the meals. The breakfast, which was part of the package, consisted of just 6 slices of soggy toasted bread with a lump of butter for four persons. Nothing else!! After raising concerns about it, the next morning upgradation involved adding poha to the above mentioned fare. Transportation to and from the houseboat to boarding point involved a series of phone calls and lot of patient waiting. Any extra visit was charged with no leeway in choosing your destination. The views from the terrace were admittedly good but that was hardly any solace for the terribly disappointing experience that we had overall. I would strongly recommend to skip this property and save yourself some money and the harrowing experience.

The service staff were on the ball. It’s indeed a heritage houseboat, exquisitely furnished (there’s even a kidney table used by political personalities of the past). Chairs and decorations indicates it was once (and still is) grand. Boatman did an excellent job with the Shikara ride, especially to the backwaters. Situated at the corner, it was peaceful at night and the 2nd floor room gave view of stars. View was stunning and unobstructed. 4 stars as the electricity was intermittent. It got very cold in march, though the heated bedsheet gave some respite; the room heater AC wasn’t of much help. Food was decent and homely. Toilet was clean and shower had heater.

I visited house boat nanga parbat on jan 10 and 11 it was a very comfortable stay, cosy and clean ambience. It is located on Dal lake with a spectacular view. The gentlemen who attended to us , Manzoor bhai was extremely kind and courteous. He made sure we were as comfortable as possible. The food was very nice and homely. The houseboat was very well equipped with all the facilities. Wonderful experience for us in Srinagar. Plus they arranged a shikara ride at our convenience at the gorgeous Dal lake.. 10/10 experience for us. Highly recommended

The staff is extremely courteous and helpful. the food is delicious. The house boat is a vintage but well maintained. The terrace room has a balcony which is really good for a photo shoot or a barbeque.