Visit any of Kashmir’s luxurious lakes and you’re sure to see exotically-ornamented houseboats, known as “shikharas,” ringing the shore. Besides being a popular tourist attraction, these boats are an affordable alternative to land housing for many Indians. They range in size from small open fishing boats to larger “floating hotels” with 3 or more bedrooms. The finest examples are found on Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, and the Jhelum River in the city of Srinagar. Here, you’ll find a unique and enticing accommodation experience, which includes a dining area with full pantry, lounge, and a balcony where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and lakes.HouseboatsKashmir.com is one site which makes it easy to book a shikhara vacation. The best part about staying on a houseboat, of course, is that you can go to sleep in one location and wake up in another. To this end, HouseboatsKashmir has a special photography tour, “Capturing the Himalayan Vale”, which takes visitors from the markets of Hazratbal to the shrine of Jama Masjid, the Shankaracharya temple and the ruins of the Pari Mahal hilltop palace. For those looking to stay in more stable (land-based) locations, HouseboatsKashmir also books a Himalayan Jeep Safari, a skiing tour through Gulmarg, and a pilgrimage tour which alternates between houseboats, camping, and even the Sonamarg Nature Resort.When booking your houseboat stay, you can decide how much you want to “rough it” by selecting the appropriate class of houseboats. The boats are graded on a 5-level scale by the Department of Tourism, including Deluxe, A-class, B-class, C-class, and D-class. Obviously, Deluxe is the most luxurious. For those looking for a unique Kashmir stay, any level will fit the bill.