Srinagar

Srinagar

Picturesque and enchanting, Srinagar is cradled high within the lofty green Himalayas and hailed everywhere the planet for its incredible natural beauty. Surrounded by mountain peaks, lush green valleys, glistening lakes, temples and spectacular Mughal-era gardens, the town has inspired poets through centuries. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, is situated within the heart of the Kashmir Valley with the Nagin and therefore the Dal Lake adding to its beauty.
Located at an altitude of 1,730 m, this ancient city is crisscrossed by chinar tree-lined roads and quaint wooden bridges; and is home to bustling bazaars, sufi shrines and forts. increase this, the charms of flavourful Kashmiri cuisine and apples and walnuts from the luxurious orchards surrounding the town .

Kalhana, the author of Rajatarangini, a historical chronicle of early India penned in 1148, has written that it had been emperor Ashoka (3rd century BC) who founded the town of Srinagari, which can are situated a touch faraway from the present city of Srinagar.
However, King Pravarasena II of the Vakataka dynasty (400-415 BC) is credited because the founding father of present-day Srinagar. Akbar was the primary Mughal emperor to capture the Kashmir Valley and he built a number of the foremost well-planned gardens and mosques in Srinagar. The city’s beauty was enhanced during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In winter, Srinagar takes on a white glow, covered in soft snow. And in summer, because the snow melts, and therefore the flowers within the meadows bloom, the town resembles an artist’s canvas.

How To Get There

By Air

Srinagar has its own airport, Sheikh-ul-Alam, which is well-connected with all the major cities of India.

By Road

The city is connected to major cities in India through good motorable roads.

By Rail

Jammu Tawi is the nearest railway station that connects Srinagar with other parts of the country.

Attraction

Dal Lake 01

Dal Lake

One of the foremost magnificent and popular attractions in Srinagar is that the Dal Lake. Nestled at the foothills of Mount Shridhara, the glistening waters of this lake are a sight to behold. Set against the cinematic backdrop of the Pir Panjal mountain ranges, the Dal Lake exudes a peaceful vibe and a romantic aura. it’s dotted with elaborate houseboats that are decorated with intricate wood carvings, and vibrant shikaras (narrow wooden boats that resemble the gondolas in Venice).  Visitors can rent these houseboats, a number of which are very luxurious, and luxuriate in a couple of hours of sailing within the lake. confirm to seem out for flower and vegetable vendors on similar boats, selling their wares to tourists. There are many floating restaurants and photography studios also . Around 1200 AD, the lake covered a neighborhood of 75 sq km and at the present , it's cover 21.1 sq km, with a maximum depth of 5.4 m and a shoreline of 15.4 km. Of the entire area, only about 11.4 sq km is open water and therefore the rest is under floating gardens, most of which have settled permanently. The lake features a large mountainous catchment, cover 316 sq km. It also has four interconnected basins Bod Dal, Gagribal, Nagin and Hazratbal with quite 90 per cent water entering the lake from its catchment through a perpetual inflow channel Telbal Nallah. The remaining 10 per cent water is contributed by the springs that rise from the bed of the lake. Through Nallah Amir Khan, the water of the lake gets drained out into River Jhelum's tributary.

Gulmarg 02

Gulmarg

Located only 52 km from Srinagar within the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, the scenic valley of Gulmarg sits at an altitude of two ,730 m above water level . Surrounded by snow-covered peaks of the mighty Pir Panjal range, lush green meadows, deep ravines, pine-forested hills and valleys, Gulmarg has inspired poets and artists over centuries. Literally meaning a meadow of flowers, the valley of Gulmarg has often been compared to paradise on earth.   Gulmarg is an all-weather destination that becomes an adventure sports hub in winter, offering activities like skiing, snow-boarding, hili-skiing, among others. Its slopes are declared the 7th best for skiing in Asia. It offers end of the day , off-piste skiing and snowboarding. Gulmarg is surrounded by mountains, among which the foremost impressive is Apharwat, which is accessible via the Gulmarg Gondola - the second-highest car ride within the world. A ride during this gondola may be a unique experience because it glides over hills and valleys and seems to gets lost in mist and clouds! Gulmarg had earlier been a resort area for royalty and aristocracy. it's said that Sultan Yousuf Shah first spotted this valley, and inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers, named it Gulmarg, meaning a meadow of flowers. it had been also a favorite resort of the Mughal emperor Jehangir. British first established Gulmarg as a resort by fixing the Ski Club of India in 1927. Its beauty has inspired filmmakers and a number of other movies are shot here.

Shalimar Bagh 03

Shalimar Bagh

Constructed by Mughal emperor Jehangir for his wife Noor Jahan in 1619 AD, Shalimar Bagh is that the largest Mughal garden within the Kashmir Valley. The name ‘shalimar’ comes from the Sanskrit language and means the abode of affection . Located on the proper banks of the Dal Lake, the garden features four terraces, rising one above the opposite . the sweetness of this garden is enhanced by the presence of tall chinar trees on the periphery. Persian lilacs and blossoming cherry trees draw an outsized number of tourists here.   Around 2nd century, king Pravarsena II of the Vakataka dynasty (79 AD to 139 AD) constructed a cottage, which was surrounded by a park near the Dal Lake and called it Shalimar. He often visited Saint Sukarma Swami at Harwan and after his meeting, Pravarsena II stayed in Shalimar Cottage. The cottage remained in perfect condition till the king came calling on the saint but then , lack of maintenance ruined it. However, the name remained with the nearby village being called Shalimar. To impress his wife, Noor Jahan, Mughal emperor Jehangir decided to construct a garden in Kashmir and chose Shalimar because the location. In 1619, the old garden was renovated into a royal Mughal garden and named Farah Baksh, meaning the delightful. The king and queen spent summers here and it served because the royal summer residence. Around 10 years later, on the orders of Shah Jahan , the governor of Kashmir, Zafar Khan, extended the garden and called it Faiz Baksh, meaning the bountiful.

Tulip Garden 04

Tulip Garden

Located at the foothills of the Zabarwan range , on the banks of the Dal Lake, Gandhi Tulip Garden may be a beautiful expanse of lush greenery. cover a neighborhood of 30 acre, it’s the most important tulip garden in Asia, and is more commonly referred to as Siraj Bagh. Earlier called Model Floriculture Centre, it had been opened for public in 2007 to spice up tourism and floriculture within the Kashmir Valley. quite 60 sorts of tulips numbering over a couple of lakh are often seen, along side many other species of daffodils, hyacinths and ranunculus. Beginning 2017, a Tulip Festival is organised with the onset of the spring season per annum to showcase a good range of flowers. The festival lasts a fortnight, between April 1 and April 15. the gorgeous garden is surrounded by Dal Lake, Nishat Bagh and Chashma Shahi on three sides.

Pashmina shawls 05

Pashmina shawls

Pashmina shawls are a logo of lavishness and luxury and also the embodiment of the ethereal great thing about Kashmir that’s reflected in their texture. Believed to possess originated in Nepal, Pashmina or cashmere wool is taken into account because the softest within the world and keeps one very warm. The wool that’s wont to make the exquisite Pashmina shawls is obtained from a sort of goat called domestic goat (Chyangra) that’s generally found at an altitude of 12,000 ft where temperatures dip as low as minus 40-degree Centigrade. Pashmina has also been mentioned within the epic Mahabharata where it had been a favorite of the emperors and nobles. The art of creating clothes from Pashmina is believed to be as old as 3000 BC and it’s said to possess graced the house of the many kings and queens like Napoleon and Marie Antoinette .

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