An elegant, serene and luxurious houseboat moored on the shores of Srinagar’s famous Dal Lake, Sukoon is blessed with gorgeous interiors, incredible rooftop views and attentive, friendly service.

Moored on a calm but still lively section of Dal Lake, Sukoon has 5 rooms along the length of the houseboat, with a suite at the very end.

Given a luxury makeover 3 years ago, this 40-year-old pinewood boat (which used to go by the somewhat less romantic name ‘Neil Armstrong’) now comes with luxurious cedar-panelled rooms housing beautifully carved walnut furniture and satin-silk furnishings that evoke the textiles and design styles of both Kashmir and Kerala.

One of the highlights of Sukoon is that it draws on its Keralan expertise (the owners run another houseboat in Kerala) as much as its Srinagar location and feels wonderfully soothing on the eyes, especially compared to the standard often-heavy Kashmiri interiors.

Though the boat itself is small, the inclusion of a roof-deck on top gives it an expansive feeling. A good-sized speedboat transports guests back and forth from the pier and the staff can also organise shikhara rides on the lake.