The living room of Ramzan Mirza's houseboat, moored on Kashmir's famous Dal Lake, is a delight - the walnut writing bureau, embroidered rugs, papier mache lamps and chintz sofas embody the best of Kashmiri craftsmanship.
Personal butlers walk in with trays of kahwa, the aromatic local tea made with saffron. Outside, though, the smell is nasty - a result of the three en suite toilets spewing raw sewage straight into the lake.
Mr Mirza is not the sole culprit but one among the 1,400 owners of Kashmir's renowned houseboats - sometimes called palaces on water - that have hosted tourists since the days of the British Raj.
Now, in an attempt to curb Dal Lake's horrific pollution, the high court has ordered houseboat owners to shut shop until they have proper sewage systems in place. The owners complain that they are being unfairly singled out by the February 26 ruling.
'Everyone's sewage in this city goes into the lake - from the hotels, cafes, shops. If the authorities can't provide adequate sewage facilities for everyone, why should we alone be held responsible?' Mr Mirza asked.
After protests by environmentalists, the authorities set up two sewage-treatment plants recently. But untreated sewage continues to pour into the lake from the huge number of people who live and work nearby.
The lake is a jewel for all Indians. Located in the capital, Srinagar, it is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, meadows, cherry orchards and saffron fields.