Dal Lake’s Shikaras Become Floating Galleries Celebrating Kashmir

Forty traditional boats on Kashmir’s Dal Lake have been painted with colorful artworks.

The project is called Aks-e-Kashmir.

Different boats show stories about Kashmir’s crafts, buildings, nature and traditions.

The boats still look and function like traditional shikaras.

Visitors are stopping to admire and photograph them.

Boatmen hope the attractive boats will bring more customers.

Painting and maintaining a shikara can be expensive for boat owners.

The organizers want art to be seen in everyday places, not only inside galleries.

They also hope the project helps protect Kashmir’s cultural heritage and supports tourism.