Wangnoo Paradise Heritage Houseboats

We had an excellent stay at Wangnoo Paradise boathouse on Nageen Lake for 5 nights in mid-September, an year after big flood of 2014. Wangnoo Paradise is run by a quite and decent Hindi, English, French, and German speaking gentleman Mr. Ghulam Wangnoo, a fourth generation boathouse owner, while other Wangnoo boathouses are run by extended Wangnoo family. We wanted to stay on Nageen Lake because we had heard Dal Lake boathouses were crowded in a location bit away from the central lake location. We chose Mr. Ghulam's Wangnoo Paradise based on pictures of the boat interior and reviews of other folks. Both were probably best decisions we made for the trip to Srinagar. With wonderfully spacious relaxing room, dining room, bedrooms, walnut furniture, carpeting, and clean dry bathrooms, Wangnoo Paradise is located on the western side of Nageen Lake with a beautiful view of the entire lake and the Srinagar Mountains with spectacular sunrises, surrounded by water lilies, duck chicks, which dive underwater for what seems to be eternity, and ducks. Wangnoo Paradise is served by shikara from Dock 1 near Nageen Park on the east side of Nageen Lake. Unfortunately as you cannot get rental cars, we didn't have transportation to the usual touristy spots close to Srinagar. Mr. Ghulam arranged for it with a pleasant and careful driver, who spoke Hindi and English. Please find out the rates and bargain before you do anything at the tourist spots as they are government sanctioned swindle fests. The weather was very good and there was little dirt snow/ice on ground - September in Srinagar is probably not a good idea if you want snow. But it was beautiful for horseback ridding, hiking or multi-day trekking trips with a light rain jacket and running shoes. Our recommend you stay at Wangnoo Paradise boathouse when you visit Srinagar and enjoy your conversations with Mr. Ghulam about his trips to Europe. If you are in the market for the famous authentic Pashminas stoles/scarfs, ask Mr. Ghulam about them as he works with local weavers to produce high quality Pashminas and wool products for his stores. And don't forget to ask for pakora and Khasmiri Kahwa for the relaxed evening on the boathouse before you take off for the spectacular sunset shikara rid on Nageen and Dal lakes.

We were looked after personally by Mr. Ghulam Wangnoo who was so kind and caring. He made sure that everything was perfect. The staff were attentive and looked after us very well. The view of the lake and the snow capped mountains is mesmerizing and seeing the blue king fishers, pond herons and fishing eagles is a naturalists delight. The early morning flowers sold by shikara by Mr.; BulBul was a refreshing sight. We loved the shikara crossings to the other side and the trip to the Dal Lake by shikara showed us how farming was done on the lake ! The water lilies were beautiful and we saw vegetables and tomatoes growing on the lake too.The boat is well furnished with ornate carved Kashmiri furniture which makes the experience royal. We stayed for 5 days and enjoyed Gushtaba , Rishta, Kashmiri Kahwa and Kashmiri vegetables too ! Mr. Wangnoo efficiently arranged our day trips to Sonmarg and Gulmarg. The driver was very helpful and courteous. There were also no mosquitoes and it was very clean and well maintained.

It is not only a review but also an effort to pay my heartful and grateful thanks to WANGNOO-JI,the owner of the houseboat in which I stayed for two nights, for their behaviour and approach, while stepping in the houseboat for the first time. I was served with WELCOME tea & tiffin items. The room provided to me [I was alone in this journey] was very nice. The houseboat has seperate drawing cum sitting room with LED TV ,dining room with wash room with basin & running water AND a balcony with seating arrangements . It is situated in a very very peaceful area away from the crowd and on the NIGEEN LAKE. The VIEW, in the night from the balcony of the HOUSEBOAT was a charming, mesmerising & delightful. The bathroom in the hotel was neat &clean with bath-tub on the floor. Shikara service was also good on the lake With collective memories of srinagar I wish to meet wangnooji again. THANKS.

After reading the good reviews, I booked the houseboat for four night and five days and had a very great time. Cool and peaceful location. The staff and owner it self behaves like a family member. I have no words to say thanks to Mr Gulam Wangnoo (Owner of the houseboat) and his son Muzafar Wangnoo, both became my trip wonderful. Both are very polite and down to worth, He prepared his staff to feel us at home. Almost everyday i met with them and had a great talk. They have group off houseboat in nigeen lake. I was lucky i got a chance to stayed in brand new houseboat. Everything was brand new like rooms, interiors, bathroom, Dining room etc. I would like to give five star for cleanness and behaviour of the staff. Finally its my hearful thanks to Mr Gulam Wangnoo and his son Muzafar made my trip heavenly.