Maggi’s floating Dal Lake kiosk sparks buzz and debate online
Nestlé India's floating Maggi kiosk on Srinagar's Dal Lake has gone viral, offering tourists noodles from a branded shikara. While many praised the unique experience, others questioned the appropriateness of commercial branding in an ecologically sensitive and heritage-rich location.
Hyderabad: Maggi has taken its iconic ‘2-minute noodles’ experience to an unusual new setting, right in the middle of Srinagar’s Dal Lake in Kashmir, where a floating kiosk now serves hot bowls of instant noodles on a traditional shikara.
Launched by Nestlé India and promoted through Maggi’s official social media platforms, the setup is designed as a branded shikara painted in the familiar yellow and red colours. Tourists can hire a boat, glide across the lake, and stop at the floating point to order a freshly made bowl of Maggi while surrounded by mountain views and calm waters.
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While the idea has quickly gone viral, it has also triggered a mixed response online. Some users have embraced the novelty of eating Maggi on water, calling it a memorable travel experience. “Just saw this in Dal, yummy Maggi,” wrote one user, while a house boat page commented, “Dal Lake just got a whole lot cozier… welcome to our floating neighbourhood, Maggi.”
However, the campaign has also faced criticism, with some questioning whether commercial branding belongs in a heritage and ecologically sensitive site like Dal Lake. Comments on social media described the concept as “repulsive” and “disgusting marketing,” with concerns raised about adding more commercial activity to a space already struggling with pollution and waste.
In response to environmental sensitivities, the kiosk carries a visible message urging visitors not to litter Dal Lake, reading: “Enjoy your favourite masala taste with a view. Do not litter Dal Lake.”
Critics, however, argue that awareness messages may not be enough, with some even suggesting the need for “floating dustbins” alongside such activations.
Despite the debate, the floating Maggi point has become a talking point among tourists and social media users, blending nostalgia, novelty and controversy in equal measure all over a simple bowl of noodles.
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