by Nawshaba Iqbal
SRINAGAR: Once the lifeline of Kashmir’s tourism, Dal Lake’s shikara owners are now facing an unprecedented crisis. Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, tourism in Kashmir has sharply declined, leaving hundreds of boatmen without work and forcing many to abandon their boats.
Where the lake once bustled with visitors and the rhythmic paddling of shikaras, today only a few boats glide over its still waters. According to Wali Mohammad, president of the Shikara Association, “It has a huge impact. Where once there used to be crowds of tourists, now only 2–3 per cent remain. Earlier, from each ghat, 10–12 shikaras would go out, and nearly 200–300 shikaras operate throughout the day. Now, only two or three boats leave from the ghat.”
Shabir Ahmad, president of Ghat no 17, echoed the same despair. “It has been impacted about 80 per cent, and only 10–20 per cent work remains. Earlier, one shikara used to go out 5–6 times with passengers, but now there are 60–70 shikaras, out of which only 5–10 go out, and even that with great difficulty,” he said.
The sharp fall in tourist arrivals has crippled the livelihoods of these boatmen. “Earlier, a shikara owner could earn Rs 80,000–10,0000, sometimes at least Rs 30,000, but now, even making rupees 100 has become difficult,” Mohammad said.
“At some ghats, where 50–60 shikaras are anchored, only one goes out a day, often carrying local passengers instead of tourists,” he added.
For many, rowing shikaras on Dal Lake was not just an occupation but a family tradition passed down through generations. “My father, and his father before him, rowed shikara on the Dal. I never thought I would end up selling vegetables to get by,” said one shikara owner, his voice trembling, eyes moist.
Manzoor Pakhtoon, president of the Houseboat Association, said the entire tourism economy has been disrupted. “Everyone associated with this directly or indirectly was part of the tourism economy. The money that came through tourism benefited everyone, but now, everything has been affected.”
Pakhtoon added that many houseboat and shikara owners who have taken loans from banks are now struggling to repay their EMIs. “Many shikara owners have shifted to selling vegetables just to sustain their livelihood. This re-shifting happened because they have families to feed.”
The downturn has also severely reduced employment within the houseboat sector. “Earlier, we used to employ many people, but that too has been affected. For instance, in one houseboat, there used to be four employees, but now only two remain, and even those two are uncertain about their jobs,” Pakhtoon explained.
The collapse of tourism has not only eroded incomes but also the social and cultural life around Dal Lake. The once-iconic ‘floating taxis’ that carried generations of travellers are now tied to the banks, gathering dust and algae.
Those who once welcomed tourists with songs and stories now push carts, sell vegetables, or take up odd jobs to survive. “Those who have lost everything are now left with no choice. They must do something, whether it is daily wage work, sell vegetables, or anything else, because at the end of the day they must feed their families,” Pakhtoon lamented.
As the season draws to a close, the future of Dal Lake’s boatmen remains uncertain, anchored between fading memories of a thriving past and the harsh realities of survival.
