Goona Palace Houseboat

This works best if you’re choosing a stay on the lake for the experience. If you need to get to land urgently, you’ll have to rely on the oarsman. There are only a limited number of rooms, and you can hear the floor creak when walking. It’s a boat, so don’t expect hotel amenities; the rooms are missing various facilities.

The rooms were clean and had good air conditioning, and the location was great. Talk to latif if you want good pricing.

Nisar and Sameer were helpful, taking us to and from land and making a very good vegetarian meal specially for us. Still, after our fabulous travels around Kashmir, including Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonmarg, this houseboat was a below average part of the trip. The washrooms were mediocre, and I’m unsure how the wastewater is disposed of or recycled. The boats are over two decades old and, because of rules and regulations, seem difficult to maintain. We went in May, when temperatures topped 32 degrees. It was blazing hot, and there was no AC on board. Even the Shikara ride was hot. I wouldn’t choose a houseboat again.

The view from GOONA PALACE was quiet and relaxing, and I’d love to return. My room was spacious, clean, and beautiful. The staff were courteous and very helpful, ready to take us back and forth as often as we wanted. GOONA PALACE is a beautiful houseboat.