Kashmir houseboat owners prepare for tourism season
By ANIThursday, March 25, 2010
SRINAGAR - Houseboat owners in the Kashmir Valley are busy renovating and cleaning their houseboats ahead of the tourist season.
The ’shikaras’, or houseboats have been the main attraction of the Valley.
Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, a beauteous town set amid snow-capped mountains, pine forests and verdant meadows.
Houseboat-owners who have been busy mending and beautifying the houseboats after the winter season are ready to welcome tourists on board their boats that have been carpeted and embellished like any five-star hotel.
“In the month of March, we decorate our houseboats like brides. We expect to welcome the tourists as per our age-old traditions. This tradition continues. However, due to some unfavourable situations, it came to a halt but now we have started the renovation work once again,” said Tariq Ahmad, a houseboat owner.
The chairman of the House Boats Owners Association, Manzoor Wangnoo, expects good business during the tourist season this year.
“This year we have high expectations. We have received lot of enquiries in our association from domestic as well as foreign tourists. From April, we are hoping to have a boost in tourism here,” said Wangnoo. (ANI)
