|
Population :
725,000
Languages : Hindi, Urdu,
Kashmiri, and English
Best Time to Visit : April, June
STD : 0194
THE
PRIDE OF KASHMIR VALLEY
Srinagar is the summer capital of
the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is
the pride of the beautiful valley of
Kashmir. Srinagar is famous for its
lakes and the charming rows of
houseboats floating on them. It is also
known for traditional Kashmiri
handicrafts and dry fruits
LOCATION
Srinagar is located in the western
part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir,
in the northern region of India. It is
located in the Kashmir valley. River
Jhelum passes through Srinagar city.
Srinagar is 876 km north of Delhi. The
weather in Srinagar is alpine. Summers
(April-June) are mild and winters are
cold (November-February). It experiences
heavy snowfall in December-February.
VISITING
TIME
The best time to visit Srinagar is
during summers between April and June.
THE PAST
 The
history of the Kashmir valley has been
turbulent. In the 3rd century bc, it was
a part of the great Mauryan Empire.
Later on, this region flourished under
the rule of the Kushans in the 1st
century ad. It was an important Buddhist
center around this time. In the 6th
century, it was a part of the kingdom of
Vikramaditya, the ruler of Ujjain. Local
Hindu rulers ruled it until the 14th
century, after which Muslims invaded and
ruled it. Srinagar was a part of the
Mughal Empire in the medieval period.
However, with the decline of the Mughal
Empire and the rule of the Pathans, the
fortunes of the area gradually dwindled.
In 1814, it became a part of the Sikh
empire, when Ranjit Singh defeated the
Pathans. However, the British defeated
Ranjit Singh and according to the treaty
of Lahore in 1846, they installed Gulab
Singh as the independent ruler of
Kashmir. The descendents of Gulab Singh
ruled Kashmir under the vigilance of the
British till 1947. Hari Singh, the great
grandson of Gulab Singh, merged this
princely state into India in 1948, when
Pathan marauders from Pakistan tried to
overrun this state.
TOURIST SPOTS
The valley of Kashmir, in which
Srinagar is located, is also referred to
as being a heaven on earth. The Mughal
emperor Jahangir was so captivated by
the beauty of this valley that he
exclaimed, Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast,
hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto. (If
there is a heaven on earth, it' s here,
it' s here, it' s here). There are a
number of tourist places in and around
Srinagar.
The Dal Lake is an important tourist
attraction of Srinagar. It is located on
the eastern end of the city. The Dal
Lake comprises of a series of lakes,
including the Nagin Lake some 8 km from
the city center. One can enjoy the
panoramic view of the mountains
surrounding Srinagar from this lake.
Travelers can enjoy taking a ride on
traditional Kashmiri boats or the
Shikaras to explore the intricate maze
of waterways of this lake.
The other major attractions of Srinagar
city are the well laid out Mughal styled
gardens. The Shalimar Bagh and the
Nishat Bagh are beautiful gardens
located to the far eastern side of the
Dal Lake. One can take a stroll amongst
these green and attractive gardens and
enjoy the waterworks within them.
The temple of Shankaracharya is another
important place to visit in Srinagar.
Jaluka, the son of emperor Ashoka, built
it in the 3rd century bc.
SITES NEARBY
There are number of interesting
places to visit near Srinagar. Most of
these places are located amongst
picturesque settings of the mighty
Himalayas. Apart from natural beauty,
they offer a number of adventure
activities to the traveler.
Gulmarg is 52 km southeast of Srinagar
and is located at an altitude of 2730 m
above sea level. In summers, the meadows
of Gulmarg are laden with flowers. In
winters, the snow-covered slopes of
Gulmarg turn into a skiing resort, which
attracts the traveler seeking adventure
and thrill. It is a popular trekking
destination and boasts of the world. s
highest golf course.
Sonamarg is 80 km northeast of Srinagar
and is located at an altitude of 2740 m.
It is set in a valley amongst glaciers
and placid lakes. The flower-laden
meadows, panoramic view of the lofty
snow-covered Himalayan peaks, and a
number of trekking and hiking trails
have made Sonamarg a popular tourist
destination.
Pahalgam is 95 km east of Srinagar and
is located in the quiet Liddar valley,
at a height of 2130 m. It provides an
ideal setting for activities like
hiking, trekking and fishing. It is also
the starting point of the annual
pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath.
SHOPPING
Srinagar is famous for its
traditional Kashmiri handicrafts. Craft
items from Srinagar make good souvenirs.
There are also a number of utilitarian
items of daily use. Woolen and silk
carpets from Srinagar are a specialty;
they are not only known for their highly
intricate decorations and patterns,
which show a strong Islamic/Persian
influence, they are also renowned for
their durability and subtle colors.
Chain-stitch carpets from Srinagar are
also popular craft items. Travelers can
purchase exquisite papier-mâché items
such as boxes, vases, replicas of
samovar (metal container used for
heating water for tea), houseboat
models, etc., in all shapes and having
bright colors and designs.
The
handicrafts repertoire of Kashmir is
incomplete without woolen shawls and
woodcarving. Travelers can purchase
richly embroidered woolen shawls in all
colors and intricate designs in
Srinagar. Apart from regular woolen
shawls, one can also buy Pashmina shawls
(made from the hair of ibex) and
shahtoosh shawls (made from the hair of
the Tibetan antelope), which are highly
valued shawls made in Kashmir. As
Kashmir is the only state in India where
walnut trees grow, craftsmen here create
intricate carvings on walnut wood to
make items like tables, chairs, stools,
fruit bowls, partitions, etc., that have
rich floral and trellis patterns carved
on them.
HOW TO REACH
Srinagar is well connected by air
with Delhi. There is a daily flight to
Delhi via Jammu by Indian airlines (Ph.
452328, 450257). There are weekly
flights operated by Indian Airlines for
Leh from Srinagar. Srinagar does not
have a railway station and the nearest
railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is 305 km
from Srinagar. However, it is well
connected by road to important places
like Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876
km), Jammu (298 km), Leh, Kargil,
Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. The
main bus station is at Lal Chowk, which
is the city center. Travelers can use
auto-rickshaws and mini-buses to move
around the city.
DELICACIES
Kashmir is famous for its cuisine.
Kashmiri cuisine can be divided into
Brahmin and Muslim styles. While the
former is restricted mainly to
households, most restaurants in Srinagar
serve the latter. One can savor the
traditional wazwan, an elaborate meal
consisting of meat dishes, vegetables,
rice, and dessert. Gushtaba (meatballs
made of mutton), badam pasand (meat with
almonds), and Kashmiri pulao with
saffron are some of the main Kashmiri
dishes. The Kashmiri people are fond of
tea. A cup of kahwah, or green tea
flavored with spices, can be used to
refresh a tired body.
Srinagar is popular among
tourists for its Lakes
and the charming rows of
Houseboats floating on them. It
is also known for traditional
Kashmiri Handicrafts and dry
fruits. The best time to visit Srinagar
is from June to early November in summer
and from December to February in winter.
Other interesting tourist attractions
are the Hazratbal Mosque and
Hari Parbat Fort.
The commonly spoken languages in the
Kashmir Valley are Hindi, Urdu,
Kashmiri, and English. The people of
Srinagar are tall and fair and the sight
of rosy-cheeked children going to school
or rowing small boats on the Dal Lake is
a picturesque sight. Srinagar is popular
among tourists for its Lakes,
Scenic Beauty and Mughal Gardens.
The Nishat and Shalimar Gardens
are popular venues for picnics in
Srinagar. The area around Dal
Lake is also a favorite place
for visitors who sit on the banks of the
Dal Lake and watch boats float by, or
venture out on a boat ride.
 Srinagar basically has an alpine
weather, as the summers are mild and
winters are cold. In winter the local
people, wear thick loose coats called
Phirans. They carry a small basket
within which a clay pot is kept. The
clay pot has burning coal which is kept
alight by feeding it small twigs and
leaves of the Chinar tree. This device
called the Kangri is carried under the
phiran like a portable heater by
Kashmiris as they go out on work every
day. It is the traditional method of
coping with the winter in Kashmir.
Srinagar is known for its shops where
fine Kashmiri Furnture and Wood
Carvings are sold.
Kashmiri Embroidery is a
favorite of tourists who buy phirans,
kurtas and shawls decorated with
intricate embroidery. Designs such as
the paisley motif, lotuses, chinar
leaves, birds and flowers are stitched
by hand in fine silk threads on woolen
garments and shawls.
Srinagar has several tourist
attractions; some of these are the
Dal Lake, Nagin Lake,
Shankaracharya Hill, Hari Parbat Hill
that is situated on top of the Sharika
Hill and the Charar-e-Shareif shrine,
which is situated on the way to Yusmarg.
The Dachigam National Park
is situated at some distance from
Srinagar. There are several travel
packages for those interested in
visiting Srinagar. Srinagar also offers
Adventure Sports
facilities for tourists to Kashmir.
 The
Dal Lake is one of the
most Famous Lakes in India.
It lies in the heart of the city of
Srinagar, the summer capital of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir.It is located
on the eastern end of the city. The Dal
Lake comprises of a series of lakes,
including the Nagin Lake some 8 km from
the city center. One can enjoy the
panoramic view of the mountains
surrounding Srinagar from this lake.
Travelers can enjoy taking a ride on
traditional Kashmiri boats or the
Shikaras to explore the intricate maze
of waterways of this lake
Dal
Lake::
The Dal Lake is a beautiful lake near
Srinagar. It is the flood-lung of the
Jhelum. The famous Mughal gardens are
situated around it. Floating
Gardens are found in this lake
where a large variety of vegetables is
grown.
 The
The Dal lake has two parts, the
Small Dal and Big Dal,
separated by a swampy bund. The road
round the lake is called Boulevard.
There are two artificial islands in the
lake, Rupalank and Sonalank, built by
Mughal Emperors. Nehru Park is the
western terminus of the lake. The lake
is a spot of great attraction for
visitors, who enjoy staying in
house-boats in the lake. Parts of the
Dal Lake are used for sports like
Water Skiing. The lake
is an ideal place for swimming and
sailing in Shikaras and motorboats. A
Shikara Ride through
this lake is thought to be a very
enjoyable experiences.
This lake is the chief beauty of
Srinagar. On it's east there are famous
Moghul gardens like Shalimar,
Nishat, Chasma Shahi and on its
west side there is Naseem Bagh
and the white marble shrine of Hazratbal.
Nagin Lake ::
 Known
as the 'Jewel In The Ring',
Nagin is generally held to be the most
beautiful of the Dal lakes. Its name
comes from the many trees, which
encircle the small, deep blue lake.
Nagin is only separated from the Larer
Dal lakes by a narrow causeway and it
also has a number of houseboats moored
around its perimeter.
A Nice Getaway
If one wants to really get away from the
chaotic city life all then Nagin is a
good place to find a house boat and do
it the surroundings are much more serene
and isolated than on Dal Lake. One can
rent rowboats from the camping site here
- either to simply row around the lake
or to look around for a houseboat.
Amusements
Since the water in Nagin is deeper and
less polluted it's also good for
swimming and there are fiberglass
sailing boats available for hire and
water skiing facilities. Motorboats are
rather low powered for skiing although
they make a valiant attempt. If one
wants to try water skiing keep a wary
eye out for swimmers. Likewise, if one
is swimming watch out for the boat
drivers.
The Nagin club, on the bank of the lake,
has a bar and a tea pavilion. It is a
branch of the Srinagar club and
temporary membership is available to
visitors.
Wullur Lake ::
 The
tourist destination of Wullar Lake lies
at a distance of 60 kilometers from
Srinagar, Kashmir. This lake draws water
from the northern river, Jhelum. This
lake is the Largest Fresh Water
Lake in India. This lake has a
width of 10 kilometers and it has a
length of 24 kilometers. The shores of
this lake are not clearly defined.
Several small streams, viz. Harbuji, the
Aarah, Erin and Pohru. The Harbuji,
Aarah, Erin and Pohru streams flow into
the Wullar Lake. Tours and travel to the
Wullar Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, India
includes a visit to the town of
Bandipora that lies near the
Wullar Lake.
MyKashmir Tours attempts to make your
travel to the picturesque Wullar Lake a
memorable one by offering you all
information about this beautiful and
peaceful tourist destination. Tours to
the Wullar Lake involve a visit to a
number of tourist spots around the
Wullar Lake. Bandipora is a popular
tourist attraction. This township is
situated on the eastern bank of the
Wullar Lake. It is popular for its
woolen blankets.
Tours to Wullar Lake usually involves a
visit to the Nal Sarovar Bird
Sanctuary that is situated near
the Lake. This is also an important
tourist destination. |
