Srinagar earns the monikers “city of lakes” and “Venice of the East”, fascinating tourists for centuries with its beautiful picturesque Himalayan backdrop, glittering lakes surrounded by houseboats and Shikaras, and the majesty of Mughal architecture. Here are the top places in Srinagar to explore:
Badshah Tomb
It marks the final resting place of the mother of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin. This unusual five domed brick structure is a peculiar piece of architecture dating back to 15th century AD as it is antonymous to the traditional wooden Shahmiri architectures.
Dachigam National Park
The Dachigam National Park, spread over an area of 141 sq. kms, is located 22 kilometers from Srinagar. The park has a huge variation in altitude ranging from 5500 ft to 14000 ft above mean sea level. The park is home to the elusive snow leopard, marten, ibex, musk deer and other animals of the Himalayas.The best time to visit the park is from May to November. Snow covers the park and makes it inaccessible from November until May.
Dal Lake
A jewel in the crown that Srinagar beholds, it lies on the foot of Mount Shridhara. Dal Lake is one the top places in Srinagar to explore Dal. The lake, shimmering on the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the Pir Panjal Mountains, divides into four parts by causeways. The floating gardens on which the lotuses blossom during July and August are to look for.
Chashme Shahi
This Royal Spring is located on the south-eastern side of the Dal Lake and is the smallest of the tastefully laid out Mughal gardens. Initially planned and laid out by Jahangir, it was extended by Shah Jahan in 1632. The garden surrounds a tranquil spring with symmetrical hedges.
Pari Mahal
Located on a nearby spur of the Zabarwan mountain range, stands the ancient monument Pari Mahal, also known as the House of Fairies. Planned out by Dara Shikoh as a Sufi school, it is surrounded by seven terraced gardens. Outside Srinagar, it casts its shadow on the Dal Lake and is famous for the saffron that grows here from September to October.
Hari Parbat Fort
Built in the 18th century and now occupied by the Indian Army, it was developed by an Afghan Governor named Atta Mohammed Khan. On the western slope of the hill is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Parvati while on the southern face is the venerated Muslim Shrine of Khawaja Makhdoom Sahib, a famous Sufi saint revered by people of all faiths.
Wular Lake
The largest natural fresh-water lake in India, Wular Lake attracts visitors for its beguiling beauty. The lake is known for rich avian population and can take you in an awe of it. Houseboats and dongas can be hired to cruise along the moors. Savor the colorful and delightful aquatic life in the lake and enjoy the silence of the surrounding mountains.
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Shalimar Bagh
Shalimar Bagh is one of the Mughal Garden and one of the Top places in Srinagar to explore.Jahangir laid out the Shalimar gardens for Noor Jahan, making it the largest and most famous of the Mughal gardens in Kashmir. A garden of immense beauty with wonderful vistas and shallow terraces is worth all of Hindustan. It is 539 by 132 meters wide and occupies the space at the far end of Dal Lake. The Persian lilacs are still a huge tourist draw in summers, preceded by the flowering of the cherry trees. The stepping stones across the stream are a delight to use.
Shah I Hamadan Mosque
Situated on the banks of the river Jhelum in the center of the city this is one of the oldest mosques. Sultan Sikander built the mosque around 1400 using timber and constructing it without any nails. The mosque features painted papier-mâché reliefs covering both the frontage and interiors.The building stands on the site of one of Kashmir’s first mosques, founded by Persian saint Mir Sayed Ali Hamadani, and it’s likely that his retinue introduced Kashmiris to the Persian art of fine carpet-making.
Yusmarg
Yusmarg is famous for its grassy pastures, dense forest with a backdrop of snow peaked mountains and is a perfect place for picnic. The river Dudh Ganga earns its name from the milk white foam formed as it treks down the mountain slopes.A little further away is a captivating lake, Nilnag, cradled amongst the hills. For serious trekkers, Tata Kuti and Sang Safed are two of the several peaks standing, a day away from Yusmarg. Tourists can hire ponies from the local tourist office.
Floating Vegetable Market
The Dal Lake in Srinagar is also famous for its ‘floating vegetable market’, the only one of its kind in India and only the second in the world. The dawn-time floating vegetable market on the Dal is an excellent photogenic visit. It first attracted international attention in 1960, when a Japanese photographer featured it in a tourist guide from Japan. Vendors throng to this market with Shikaras laden with vegetables and the market last only a couple of hours from around 5 AM till 8 AM.
Nagin Lake
The Nagin Lake derives its name from the Hindi word ‘Nageena’. People know this small and beautiful blue lake as the ‘Jewel in the Ring’. It has causeways, mostly suitable for walkers and bicycles only so they make a very pleasant way of seeing the lake without having to worry about traffic. Visitors can enjoy various water activities such as swimming and water skiing here, amidst the mesmerizing scenery of popular trees.
Nishat Bagh
Asif Khan, the elder brother of Empress Noor Jahan, built Nishat Bagh, and it opened in the year 1633 AD. Situated on the eastern side of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, it is a terraced Mughal Garden. The beautiful garden spans over 12 terraces representing the zodiac signs. It offers splendid views of the Dal Lake and the mountain range of Pir Panjal. Nishat Bagh covers an area of 46 acres and it is the second largest garden next to the Shalimar Bagh. The layout of the garden is 548m length and 338m width. It is a rectangular layout in Persian style garden architecture from East to West direction housing a few Mughal buildings.
Pampore
Surrounded by fields of saffron plantations and filled with the aroma of spices, this tiny village is one of the lesser-known but most exotic tourist destinations. Just around half an hour’s ride away from the state’s capital Srinagar, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway. You can see the gardens of saffron in the month of October.
Shankaracharya Temple
Rising up behind the boulevard, beside Dal Lake, the hill was once known as Takht-i-Sulaiman, the throne of Solomon. The philosopher Shankaracharya stayed at this place when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive ’Sanatan Dharma’. The builders dedicated the Shiv temple on the hill to Lord Shiva and constructed it on a high octagonal plinth that can be approached by a flight of steps.
Tulip Garden
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden, previously Model Floriculture Center, is a tulip garden in Srinagar, India. The largest tulip garden in Asia, spread over an area of about 30 hectares and opens during the months of March and April.
Hazrat Bal Mosque
Men of religion with diverse cultural backgrounds interact and synthesize at this place. Situated on the left bank of the Dal Lake opposite Nishat Bagh. It is one of the holiest of the Muslim pilgrimage destinations in Kashmir and Commands the reverence of the people beyond measure.
Sri Pratap Singh Museum
Sri Pratap Singh Museum is notable mainly for the grand collection of handicrafts and archaeological artifacts from across the state. The outlook of the museum talks about royal panache. The interior displays abundant antique objects collected from Baltistan, Gilgit, and from different corners of Kashmir.
These were Top places in Srinagar to explore according to us.
(Data collected via incredible india.org)
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