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Reverted 1 edit by 119.155.42.210 (talk) to last revision by HMSLavender

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{{distinguish|shikhara|chikara (disambiguation){{!}}chikara}}
{{other uses}}
{{short description|Type of boat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox convention
| name = Shikar
| image =ShikaraIV2.jpg
| image_size=300px
| caption = Shikara on [[Dal Lake]]
| venue = [[Dal Lake]], [[Srinagar]]
| location = [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| country = [[India]]
}}

The '''shikara''' is a type of wooden [[boat]] found on [[Dal Lake]] and other water bodies of [[Srinagar]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India. Shikaras are of various sizes and are used for multiple purposes, including transportation. A usual shikara seats six people, with the driver paddling at the rear. Like the Venetian [[gondola]]s, they are a cultural symbol of Kashmir. Some shikaras are still used for fishing, harvesting aquatic vegetation (usually for fodder), and transport, while most are covered with tarpaulins and are used by tourists. Some are used as floating homes.<ref>{{cite web| author=Kevin Sites| year=2006| title=Boat People, Unable to afford homes on land, the poorest of Kashmir’s poor live on open fishing boats, where life is always unsteady.| publisher=Yahoo! News| access-date=2006-06-06| url=http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs5224| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720222552/http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs5224| archive-date=20 July 2006| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name= "gaath">{{cite web|title=Shikaras: The Floating versus on sounds of water|url=http://gaatha.com/shikaras-the-floating-verses-on-sounds-of-water/|publisher=Gaatha|access-date=3 February 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Shikara Making a Semi Circle.JPG|right|300px|thumb|shikara making a semi circle]]

[[File:Florists Shikara.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Florist's shikara on Nageen Lake, [[Srinagar]], Kashmir]]

==Construction==
The craft relies on [[Cedrus deodara|deodar]] wood (which does not decompose in water) ranges from 25 to 41 feet in length. The pointed front end is followed by a central section made of 8 planks of wood and the boat eventually ends in a flat rear segment. Two planks of wood lend to each of the side elevations a vertical height of 1.5 feet. It has a conspicuous spade shaped base.<ref name= "gaath"/>

The nails and iron clamps used for joinery are flush and fixed into the wood diagonally when they are red hot, to ensure stronger bonding. Care is taken to keep them hidden for the visual aesthetics of the boat. Caulking uses a paste containing [[populus|poplar]] seed. The boat is created over 10 to 12 days.<ref name= "gaath"/>

Seating arrangements are organized in the central segment of the boat by positioning cushions and related upholstery over the built-in storage space underneath. A canopy is supported on four pillars. The centre and the ends are equipped with iron anchor rings and wooden pegs, which are used to fasten the shikara on the banks of the lake. The shikaras are eventually painted in bright colors and may further be polished, engraved and embellished.<ref name="gaath"/>

==Use==
[[File:Shikara In A Row.JPG|right|300px|thumb|shikara in a row at [[Dal Lake]]]]
The boats are often navigated by two boat men in [[phiran]] and they carry [[kanger|kangris]] (portable heaters) and have cushioned seats and back rests.<ref name="gaath"/>

The long boats crowd the Srinagar lakes. They are used for getting back and forth from the houseboats or for longer tours of Dal Lake. Because the Dal is central to the landscape of Srinagar, many places of tourist interest have been built in its vicinity. Nishat and [[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Shalimar gardens]] as well as the [[Hazratbal shrine]] are directly accessible by shikara.<ref name="J & K Tourism">{{cite web|title=Shikara Ride|url=http://www.jktourism.org/things-to-do/activities/shikara-boat-ride.html|publisher=J & K Tourism|access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> [[White-throated kingfisher]]s, large birds with robust bills can be seen perched on the branches of willow trees. These birds concentrate their hunting on the floating Gardens. These man-made islands of reeds, willow rods and aquatic vegetation are held together with humus from the lake bottom providing a rich source of food in the form of frogs, lizards, mice, grasshoppers and other insects for wildlife.<ref name="J & K Tourism"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Shikara Whoopee setting off on Dal Lake.jpg|thumb|Shikara "Whoopee" setting off on Dal Lake
File:Colorful Shikaras.jpg|Shikars at [[Dal Lake]]
File:A man with his Shikara.JPG|A man with his shikar
File:Shikara, Dal Lake.jpg|Shikar at sunset

File:Shikara 2.jpg|Shikar of [[Dal Lake]]
File:Shikaras of Dal Lake.JPG|Shikar of [[Dal Lake]]
File:Shikaras in Dal Lake.JPG|Shikars of [[Dal Lake]]
File:Shikara in Dal Lake in Kashmir.JPG|Shikars of [[Dal Lake]]
File:Shikara di Tasik Dal.jpg|Shikar of [[Dal Lake]]
File:Srinagar floating market.jpg|The floating vegetable market on [[Dal Lake]]

</gallery>

==References==
<ref>[https://kashmirtravels.com/shikara-ride.html SHIKARA RIDE IN DAL LAKE]</ref>
<ref>[http://kashmirhouseboat.com/dal-lake.html Dal Lake]</ref>
{{Reflist}}nnk

[[Category:Boat types]]
[[Category:Kashmir]]
[[Category:Houseboats]]
[[Category:Transport in Srinagar]]
[[Category:Culture of Jammu and Kashmir]]

Shikara - Revision history

->Girth Summit: Reverted 1 edit by 119.155.42.210 (talk) to last revision by HMSLavender