Srinagar

Srinagar, arguably a city that embodies romance & beauty, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir; perfectly placed in the center of the Kashmir Valley is aptly called the Venice of the East. Srinagar literally meaning 'the city of wealth & abundance' in Sanskrit, was founded around 150 AD by King Pravarasen II. Situated on the banks of the river Jhelum, Srinagar is surrounded by beautiful lakes like Dal, Nagin and Anchar, whose glittering waters reflecting the rays of the sun is a sight to behold. 

Irrespective of the season, Srinagar attracts tourists throughout the year to enjoy its snow clad mountains, colors of fall & greenery of the summers. 

Sightseeing in Srinagar -

Dal Lake:  Dal Lake, the largest lake, spread across 26 sq.km is home to the maximum number of houseboats & Shikara's. No trip to Kashmir is complete without a stay on one of its luxurious house boats & a boat ride on a 'Shikara' along the pristine lake. 

Mughal Gardens: Mughal Gardens, as the name suggests, built in the Mughal period is a marvel located around 13 km from Srinagar. These gardens are the major attractions for tourists coming to Jammu and Kashmir. These gardens are a fine example of the Mughal style of architecture & design. The Mughal Gardens is combination of three renowned gardens namely the Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Gardens and Chashm-e-shahi. These gardens are every travelers delight with beautifully laid out manicured gardens, with vibrant flowerbeds, terraced lawns and well long stretches of cascading fountains.

Nishat Bagh: meaning the 'The garden of joy'.This garden placed on the banks of the beautiful Dal Lake in the backdrop of the amazing the Zabarwan hills, is complete with fountains, flower beds and impressive lawns. The garden with rare species of flowering plants and long avenues of chinar & cypress trees, has 12 terraces out of which the second terrace is considered the most impressive with 23 niches provided in its arched recess, just behind the cascade.

Shalimar Bagh: Constructed by the great Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1616 for his beloved wife Nurjahan, the sprawling garden with four terraces, imposing fountains, well laid out manicured gardens, tall trees & fresh mountain air is one of the must visit places while in Srinagar. Located 15 km from the city the easiest way to reach the gardens is by taking a Shikara ride from Dal Lake. 

Chashm-e- Shahi: This garden, also known as Royal Spring. It is believed that the fresh water spring in the garden has medicinal value. The garden provides splendid views of verdant greens, majestic mountain ranges and views of the Dal Lake. Pari Mahal and Char Chinar are few nearby attractions that are worth visiting.

Pari Mahal: Pari Mahal (House of Fairies) also known as Quntilon, is a historic monument placed above the beautiful Chashma Shahi Gardens near Srinagar. The ancient monument brings out the architectural brilliance of the fore gone age. A well-laid spacious garden surrounds this structure, which was once a Buddhist monastery and later served as a school of astrology promoted by the eldest son of Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh. 

Hazrat Bal Mosque: Also known as Dargah Sharif, Assar-e-Sharif and Madinat-Us-Sani, the Hazratbal Mosque on the western banks of the majestic Dal Lake is considered to be one of the most important shrines for Muslims. With the impressive Nishat Bagh in the vicinity, this enchanting white marble mosque offers great views of the Lake in the back drop of the majestic Himalayas.

Jamia Masjid: An ancient mosque, which was destroyed and restored several times over the centuries, Jamia Masjid is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The present mosque, an impressive building without an opped dome, was built in 1674. Situated at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city, the mosque’s main attraction is the prayer hall, which contains 370 wooden pillars; each one made with a single piece of deodar trunk. 

Shankracharya Temple: Shankaracharya Temple, known to be built by Jaluka, the son of Emperor Ashoka around 200 BC, is an ancient shrine located on the Shankaracharya Hill (Takht-e-Suleiman) in Srinagar. This sacred site, situated at a height of about 1100 feet on the south-east of the city, offers splendid views of the valley and the snow clad mountains of the Pir Panjal range. Local folks tell a story that saint Shankaracharya spent some of his time at this site during his visit to Kashmir to revitalize Sanatan Dharma. 

Dastgir Saheb Dargah: A relatively calm & peaceful mosque, the Dastgir Sahib dargah is situated in old part of Srinagar city. Communal harmony and syncretism have been the features of this mosque for many centuries. The delicate white & green exteriors & glorious interiors covered with 'Papier-Mache' scroll work, Arabic scriptures & floral motifs make this mosque a beautiful place to visit. The intricately carved panels & the Aytal Kursi which hang at the door are the highlights of this mosque. 

Shopping - Other than its captivating natural beauty, the city of Srinagar is a shopaholics delight. Some of the must buys while in this city is the quintessential Pashmina Shawls & stoles (to warm up those chilly winter nights), intricately hand crafted Kashmiri carpets, exquisitely carved wood carving products made of Walnut wood & one of the most delicately crafted products made of Papier Machie which is unique to the region. 

How to reach -

By Air: Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India. Regular flights are operated between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Shimla. International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport, which is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

By Train: Jammu is the nearest railway station to Srinagar, which is at a distance of 290 km. Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail. Direct train services are available from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum. 

By Bus: Many tourist bus service providers arrange deluxe luxurious bus package tours from many neighboring cities to Srinagar.