Chicago Group of Houseboats

Owner helped me with everything that I needed for the itinerary that I suggested by arranging a driver. The staff at the hotel was also excellent to ensure that my stay was comfortable. Highly recommend getting dinners - good home cooked meals for affordable prices.

The staff

Great staff, all amenities available with the most cleanest rooms and yummy food

Nothing to be mentioned

I liked everything about the boat house... Each details done on the boat house, host, Room, Hot water facilities and tasty food. When i requested the host for the shikara ride, he organised it well. Thank you, Chicago groups of house boat for the wonderful and unforgettable memories... I highly recommend this boat house.

Nothing as such

Two female travelers went there, and our experience with owner Ajaz and the caretaker was brilliant. The food was amazing, and as a bonus, the owner was staying right next to the houseboat with his family, which made the place feel very secure. Ajaz made sure we even had a shikara to get from Ghat 9 to the houseboat. I would definitely recommend this place for female travelers looking for an aesthetic vibe with a traditional and beautiful view at the back.

There was nothing unlikeable about the houseboat or their staff. The only negative was the shikara rider. He nearly scammed us in league with another vendor, and we felt very unsafe with him. The way he held us while helping us out of the shikara was inappropriate.

I liked the aesthetics of the place. It was so royal, they offered us free tea in the morning. The staff were so humble. However they charged us for the Shikara rides separately but I guess it was worth it.

The jacuzzi were not working not even AC’s

The people were lovely.

This was fine but would’ve preferred a houseboat out in the open lake.

Sehr hilfsbereites und freundliches Personal

Dünne Wände zu den Nachbarzimmern, lässt sich wahrscheinlich auf einem Hausboot nicht verändern.

The staff was helpful and the owner was very hospitable and friendly. He was easygoing with any of our requests. The location of the Houseboat on the lakeside and facing the lake/mountains were great. We had beautiful morning view. Would definitely recommend this place to other friends.

Because of it's location on the lakeside, we do have to depend on the boatman to take us if we want to go into the city at any time. Although the owner said we can do that anytime, there is still need to have some planning because it's not just put on your shoes and go off.

The drawing room

No service

The views are absolutely beautiful especially at sun set. It was such a peaceful and relaxing stay. The food was plentiful and really delicious, and everyone working there was so friendly, helpful and attentive. Ajaz, the owner, was always around and happy to help with anything we needed, which made the stay even more enjoyable. I would 100% recommend this boathouse. We definitely hope to come back again! 😊

Nothing

Location Staff Shikara facility available

Jacuzzi cleanliness

Perfect location on Dal Lake. Owner was very helpful in setting up tours in J&K. Food was great and staff were incredible. Highly recommend in every way.

We spent a beautiful time in Chicago boathouse. The room was confortable and we had a sense of living in a fairytale. Ajaz, the owner, together with his team were very hospitable and kind, welcoming us with the warmest feeling. Rafik, the boat captain gave us an amazing tour in the lake, providing us with information and stories about the place. In general, the personnel was very kind and the dinner was super delicious! Ajaz also proposed to us a very skillful driver, Riaz, who took us all the way to Leh safely and in style! Highly recommended!!

Nothing

Wonderful location in front of the lake, the mountains and all the Shikara traffic. Tremendous hospitality and we did the day guide with a ricshaw around the Mughal Gardens. Superb veg curry for dinner.

Das Hausboot ist sehr komfortabel und vor allem die Mitarbeiter sind sehr hilfsbereit nicht aufdringlich und freundlich. Besonders Herr Kon Jaja ist hervorzuheben, er half uns immer und war sehr freundlich. Wie machten eine Bootsfahrt für zwei Stunden die sehe schön war und wir konnten viele Vögel beobachten, sogar Kingfisher konnten wir sehen. Das Frühstück ist sehr gut und sehr viel wir konnten es fast nicht zusammenessen. Der Transport vom Flughafen war kostenlos und funktionierte einwandfrei. Auch der Transfer von Ghat nr.9 funktioniert sehr gut auch die bootfahrer sind hilfsbereit, der Transfer ist immer kostenlos was auch gut ist. Die Aussicht vom Boot ist auch super.

Nichts alles war wirklich gut

Everything...right from location to people to food, as we had planned for one day stay but ended up staying for 4 nights...this talks about our love for this place, big suggestion for all to visit kashmir and stay here to experience both place and real kashmiri people's warmth, I am coming back for sure.

House boat vraiment très bien placé (2ème ligne, vue dégagée sur le lac et la montagne, très calme). Belle décoration dans le plus pur esprit houseboat. Personnel très sympathique, bons petits déjeuners. Le patron est à votre disposition pour toute demande d'informations, de taxis et autres arrangements touristiques sans être pour autant insistant. À noter : le service de shikara (pirogue pour faire la navette avec le boulevard - ghat 9) est gratuit et à votre disposition aussi souvent que nécessaire. Le conducteur de la shikara est de plus très sympathique. Bref un séjour très agréable pour un rapport qualité prix imbattable. Merci ! (Photos prises sur le bateau)

Rien

The staff and owner were very courteous and provided great service. The location of the house boat was great with good views. Place was quiet and the interiors were excellent.

We liked the overall experience, the tea provided was awesome.

We booked chicago houseboat, but when some foreigners arrived, they were given accomodation in Chicago houseboat and we were allotted rooms in nearby Persian Gulf houseboat. This was very unprofessional. The staff kept saying both are same but didn't let us compare both the boats and then decide.

Everything..the hosts..the ambience..the home cooked feel food..location..all superb

Place is centric

The place is very centric

Its very uncomfortable to be in soo much of power cut its due to government but overall I think foreigners might feel stressed.

Good Hospitality

Nothing

The property looks good. The host is welcoming and makes you feel at home. Breakfast is very good, Rooms are quite big and comfortable. We have to reach the house boat after taking a Shikara, it was managed by the houseboat itself and altough there is no proper schedule for these Shikara, it was quite a pleasant and peaceful ride to the hotel.

Terrible wifi. One afternoon there was no electricity and the property care taker refused to turn on the generator, so we were stuck in 30+ degrees without a fan, this was really bad. We were not aware that prepaid sims do not work in Srinagar so we were there without any network. I was nervousalways to contact the property owner using someones phone to send the Shikara to help us get back to houseboat, but the owner never picked any of the calls so we were left stranded sometimes for 30+ minutes. Several people gave this feedback that the owner does not accepts calls and that was very unprofessional of him.

Chicago group of houseboats is a houseboat where I have stayed twice and both times the feeling was good and satisfactory. AC room, power backup , geyser for hot water , neat and clean room and washroom. Beautiful dining hall and sitting area and sunrise and sunset view from the common balcony - front side of the boathouse. Comfortable bed and mattress . They have 2-3 houseboat attached to each other and each having average 3 rooms, hence also making it perfect for big groups to come and stay here. Both staff were there in 2021 also when I visited and 2026 also , serving us and taking care of all our needs. If you are staying in a houseboat, make sure to book breakfast and dinner , because constant mobility to the main road can be limited. Every houseboat have complementary in-house shikhara boats that will give you pickup- drop service ( dal lake designated gate to the boathouse - to and fro). At chichago boathouse, both breakfast and dinner was good. For breakfast, we specifically told them to give at 7:15 am as we would leave by 8 am for our day trips. If you want any suggestions for travel related or itinerary related or transportation, you can contact owner. Pro tip : Avoid taking main road facing boathouse because it doesn't give you excellent views and you can hear traffic and honking and lot of garbage can be seen in water from road facing houseboat. Overall, highly suggested. ✅ Clean and spacious rooms. ✅ Great hospitality ✅ Clean washrooms ✅ Power backup available ✅ AC and geyser available. ✅ Beautiful 10 mins serene shikhara ride everytime you do gate 9- boathouse transportation. ✅ Complimentary kahwa tea ( double check at your end) ✅ Toilitries provided - soap, towel and shower gel( shower cap not there) ✅ Washroom slippers given ✅ Beautiful sunset on sunny days Only drawback is there is no view from the bedroom window.

No view from the bedroom

Amazing place, probably the best of all these house boats! Perfect location - quiet with amazing view over a main canal with all the boats floating by, great food, clean and beautiful room, friendly and helpful staff and a host who can organize basically everything!

Beautiful rooms

The behaviour of khan chacha is so nice and helpful.

Everything..especially the hospitality

Location, interior, breakfast

They have mentioned free airport transfer but there weren't any. When spoken about it they said I need to co-ordinate booking.com. If booking.com never resolved my query. Very disappointed with this scam.

The owner was so helpful and helped arrange guides and anything else that we needed

Location is very good , Mountain View

Great location and hospitality. They pick you up from Ghat and drop you there if you want to explore places. They arrange taxi also at affordable price.

Dinner and breakfast can be improved. Food taste and options were not up to the mark.

I think this property is fine for the price range it operates in, but personally I do not feel the current Booking.com score reflects the actual experience accurately. For me, an 8+ stay usually means a place that feels genuinely memorable in comfort, hospitality, or overall experience, and this did not quite reach that level. The staff was friendly and polite overall, so I do want to acknowledge that. But throughout the stay, there was a consistent feeling of being pushed toward additional spending, especially around shikara rides and related activities. Kashmir usually has a naturally warm and homely hospitality culture, where interactions feel relaxed and sincere. Here, the experience sometimes felt a little too transactional for my liking. There were also some issues with toiletries and small practical details that could definitely be improved.

The houseboat itself is not terrible, and travellers looking for a more budget-oriented stay may still find it acceptable. But there are many houseboats in the same area, and I do think visitors should compare options carefully rather than relying only on the rating score.

They handled everything better than we could have attempted ourselves and were an incredibly welcoming and friendly group. Found us the good artisans to visit, organized our every request in seconds and gave the best recommendation in terms of restaurants and onward travel. The food they prepared for us was incredible we ate over our fill every meal. The property itself is situated away from the city and is host to the most incredible view of the mountains, we couldn’t hear anything from the roads our entire stay. A true cherry on the top, all the boats don’t use motors and the lake is kept clean from all plastic and waste. We went for a swim on our visit as the day was so nice straight from the houseboat and spent hours doing nothing in the afternoon just watching the lake over sunset. I can honestly say this has been our best stay in India from all our trips here. We fully intend to revisit Srinagar and know where we will book next time.

I definitely put on a few kgs because I couldn’t get enough of their food.

View , location, rooms

Nothing

Very nice and helpful people

Location and so clean ,hospitality is very good

Keep variety in breakfast

オーナーがすごく親切でなんでもリクエストにこたえてくれました。スタッフもすごく教育されていました。部屋もきれいで居心地が良く最高でした！ゴンドラのチケットも取ってくれて感謝しかありません。

特に無いです。

Everything was perfect. Absolutely lovely place with the best staff. Thanks a lot to Hassen. Would always come back again.

Nothing

Staying on a houseboat on Dal Lake was easily the highlight of my trip to Srinagar. There’s something incredibly peaceful about being surrounded by calm waters with the mountains in the background—it feels like stepping into a postcard. The houseboat had beautiful traditional wooden interiors, giving it an old-world charm while still being comfortable. The rooms were clean and cozy, and everything was well taken care of. What really stood out was the hospitality—the staff was extremely warm, attentive, and made sure we felt at home throughout the stay. Waking up to the gentle movement of the water and the sound of shikaras passing by was a unique experience. Evenings were just as special—sitting on the deck with a cup of kahwa and watching the sunset over Dal Lake was unforgettable. The food was freshly prepared and delicious, adding to the overall experience. While amenities like Wi-Fi can be a bit inconsistent, it honestly didn’t matter—we were happy to disconnect and soak in the beauty around us. Overall, a houseboat stay on Dal Lake is something I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Srinagar. It’s peaceful, scenic, and offers a truly unique Kashmiri experience that you won’t find in a regular hotel.

The amazing rooms on the fairy tale lake. Clean and comfortable. Helpful staff ready to be at our service. Delicious breakfast based on our choice. Additional services were available with reasonable price.

Not all information from the owner seemed accurate (e.g. the way how to purchase tickets to gondola) and the tendency to up-cale additional services in every occasion was too apparent. Left us with a feeling of being controlled like children.

I love the location of house boat, room , food and staff behaviour.

Low Height of entry point of house boat. Twice my head struck with bar at entry point.I suggest please increase the height.

The food was delicious and view from the house boat amazing

The staff were polite but the service was slightly sluggish though we received everything we as asked for eventually

My experience at the Chicago Group of Houseboats on Dal Lake was truly wonderful. The houseboat itself was beautifully maintained, clean, and very comfortable, with all the necessary amenities like a heater and hot water readily available. The location is absolutely stunning, offering surreal and peaceful views of the lake that make the stay even more special. The staff were warm and welcoming—the helper was attentive, the shikara rider who took us from the ghat to the houseboat was very kind, and the chef prepared excellent meals. The owner is also a genuinely great person who ensures guests have a pleasant experience. Overall, it was a relaxing and memorable stay in a breathtaking setting.

La disponibilité du personnel, le professionnalisme de Ajaz, le talent de cuisiner de Gulzar et son sourire. Tout était parfait. Rachid est un excellent rameur 😉

Awesome view from boat. Rooms were clean and good. No Foul Smell... Food with great taste. Service was good.

Powercut as it happened twice for 1hr each time 1st in afternoon and second midnight while sleeping..

Good dal lae view, clean and friendly staff

Heater should be there full night. The heating system they have is using fire which usually dozes off after a hour or so

All good but

The electricity cut off all day and heater remains shut so it will to much cold

Everything from staff to food location and the services.

Behaviour of owner and staff

It is a very good experience to stay at this house boat. All the staffs and host very cordial and we received a good welcome.Every things are perfect and very much attentive.

Nothing such particular.

Amazing place and helpful service from the staff

All aspects of the house boat experience were very good. the staff be it the boar man , cook or the helper gulzar were extremely friendly and made sure that we were looked after very well. absolutely worth the price. Had a great and a memorable experience

The location is exceptional. And the staffs hands down the best. Especially Gulzaar bhai and the Chaachas. We didnt felt like we are staying away from our home they made us feel at home. It was our first travel with 8 months old baby. They made sure to serve the baby food of our preference on time and the food they prepared for us was top notch. The hospitality we experienced was commendable. Ejaaz bhai helped us plan our travel. We stayed for three nights and four days. Everything was smooth and perfect. Highly recommended.

Excellent host

The shikara ride can be better arranged and tips / service charge may be included in the cost. Sometime the shikara ride person may be too nagging asking for tips, tips and tips and behave violent (e.g. departs the boat when family is getting down half way, hurry too much, smoke etc.) all the time which gives a very ridiculous experience.

The staff and management were the best.

Nothing

Location and hospitality

Breakfast

We recently had the pleasure of staying at Chicago Houseboats in Srinagar, and it was an experience to cherish! From the moment we arrived, the warm hospitality and attention to detail made us feel right at home. The houseboat itself is beautifully maintained, with stunning Kashmiri craftsmanship visible in every corner. The rooms were spacious, clean, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing stay. One of the highlights was waking up to the serene views of Dal Lake. The service was exceptional, with the staff always ready to assist with a smile. They went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. The delicious home-cooked Kashmiri meals were another delightful touch, offering an authentic taste of local cuisine. Overall, our stay at Chicago Houseboats was a blend of luxury, tradition, and tranquility. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Srinagar—it’s an experience you won’t forget!

cooking and food options are very limited , tea coffee are readily available

Boat house is compact and has carpet all around , which needs frequent cleaning and due to this it have got a very unpleasant smell all around

First time we have experienced house boat stay. It was memorable one. All the stuffs & the owner were very helpfull.

Food was okay

The bedsheets and the blankets were all dusty and unhygienic! Bhikhari went off at mid night! The caretaker shuts down the electricity and doesn't on the inverter for bed heating! When we call him to light up the bhukari as we were freezing to death he says the guy to put up the fire in bhukari will come at 7am! We spent Rs. 5600 for freezing to death it felt! Geyser did not work due to powercut and no invertet backup! Pathetic stay.

Great Hospitality, and a great staff and they also provide cab sevices which is so professional and food the serve is awesome. Really loved it!

Nothing

Staffs, management and the amenities. No heater. Bad breakfast. Overated stay.

Wish to revisit. Very good experience.

Rate of Meal could be less.

Excellent

Nothing