Hello, my name is Wiktor Stadniczenko, I am a photographer, writer, and painter. I was born in Poland. My passion is an art and traveling. That is why I fulfill myself by writing my journal.
I photograph and describe places that are underestimated or less known to the wider community.
Such a place is the jewel in the crown of Kashmir, the city of Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir in northern India.
It is here during the British colonies that the British left a beautiful trail in the wetlands of Dal Lake.
Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir in the northernmost part of India with the urban lake 'Dal Lake'. and it was in its waters during colonial times that the British sought refuge from the hot summer in the center of India's big cities and commissioned the construction of exclusive houseboats in the capital city of Kashmir, the city of Srinagar.
So they developed the Dal area of Srinagar with its extensive gardens and Mughal pavilions as their future recreational resorts so that they could enjoy a healthy and cool climate in a beautiful setting.
Attracted by the cool climate of the Kashmir valley, among the majestic snow-covered ranges of the Himalayas, the British chose Srinagar as a holiday and leisure destination and started to build beautiful and iconic houseboats here.
Boats are an indelible element of the scenery of Kashmir and Dal Lake. This is the visiting card of Srinagar. Houses on the water like Gypsy caravans, full of colors and Kashmiri folklore, each boat attracts people to live.
It calls out to you and tells a separate story full of ornaments carved in wood.
Today, "houses on the water" is said to "every little bit of England rises to the Dal."
Ever since the British left Srinagar in 1947 when India became an independent country, the Kashmir region is still in conflict for an independent state to this day. Kashmiris do not accept belonging to India or Pakistan.
It is the longest such conflict in human history.
More pictures from Kashmir and not only on my website stadnichenko.com
The picturesque shoreline of the lake is about 15.5 km along with magical views; botanical gardens, colorful houseboats, fountains and boulevards. Set against the calm waters of Dal, they are surrounded on three sides by snow-capped mountains and with a close border with Pakistan and China to the east. The lake is part of a natural wetland, has five pools and many canals that are well connected with each other, in addition, the entire 21 square km of the lake and wetlands are blooming with lotus flowers.
Inside House boat in pure Kashmiri style
at the present time there is a total lack of tourists here, which is a great blow to the owners of English palaces. India still does not issue a Tourist Visa due to the global situation. Local Kashmiris often have to take on other jobs such as riksha driver or fishing, which is the second largest industry in the region, which apart from tourism for many people living on the edge of the lake gives them a livelihood.
Each of the owners has their own "Shikara" a wooden boat with a canopy serves as a taxi and is often the only transport to the `` palace on the water ''
