Have you ever visited Dal Lake?

I just visited Kashmir and couldn't believe what I saw - entire villages floating on Dal Lake! It felt like stepping into a dream.

Over 10,000 people actually live in homes built on water. Instead of taking buses, kids row boats to school. Instead of going to grocery stores, families shop at floating markets where vendors sell everything from fruits to handmade crafts right from their boats.

Discovered 5 floating villages connected by water paths
Met dedicated boat riders who row 8-10 hours every day
Saw gorgeous houseboats (worth ₹3 crore!) made from special deodar wood
Watched kids paddling to floating schools each morning
Learned how farmers grow food under the frozen lake in winter

I spent time with boat riders, who've been rowing these waters for 30+ years, families who've lived on the lake for generations, and how they've built this amazing life on water.

What's most amazing is how two different worlds exist right next to each other - regular city life on land, and this centuries-old water community that few outsiders ever get to see.
Through this video, I want to show you how these amazing water communities have survived for hundreds of years by living with nature, not against it. Most people don't get to see these incredible traditions! Let me know in the comments what surprised you most about Kashmir's floating villages!

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Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - Beautiful Shikara ride + Talking to locals
02:45 - Having Kashmir’s famous Kahwa
03:56 - Collab
05:36 - Talking to Shikara rider
06:08 -  Floating market of Dal Lake
08:38 - Floating Sofi Village
11:36 - Morning vegetable market of Dal Lake
13:31 - Farming of Lotus stem + Talking to farmers
16:28 - Houseboats of Dal Lake
18:01 - Pollution in the lake
18:53 - Local traditional heater - Kangri
19:28 - Shikara Ittar shop
20:15 - Shikara making
22:17 - Outro

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Credits:
Host: Kavya
Cameraperson: Ankit Bisht
On-field Producers: Jyotsna Richhariya, Varun Pandey
Editor: Gaurav Mandal (@gurvmndl)
Post-Production Producer and Researcher : Jyotsna Richhariya
Thumbnail Designer: Aanchal Creates
For best Shikara rides- New Mir Palace (+91 70061 23992), Janeman - (+91 6005900964)

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My Gears for shooting this video:
Sony A7s3  - https://amzn.to/3XaeyjE
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 (Lens) - https://amzn.to/44lM4qZ
Sony 16–35mm F2.8 GM II (Lens) - https://amzn.to/47RnWPt
Sony NP-FZ100 (Battery) - https://amzn.to/485RV53
DJI MIC 2 (Mic) - https://amzn.to/3LO4Ktc
DJI MIC 2 (Single) - https://amzn.to/4iaHRw9
Rode Videomic - https://amzn.to/4rYunIl
insta360 X5 (360 Camera) - https://amzn.in/d/fOzTsuI

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About me:
KK Create is a channel run by Kavya Karnatac.
Hi! I was born in Uttarakhand, raised in Delhi, I did my Masters in Mumbai in Media and Cultural Studies.
I dream of making a video about every district of India. ❤️❤️
With the aim of - Bringing Cultures Together!
 
I make geography fun on my Instagram:
Instagram: kk.create
I write about my content creation journey on LinkedIn: LinkedIn: kavya-karnatac

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