Location : Srinagar is
located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the extreme north of India.
Tourist Attractions : Nagin Lake, Dal Lake, Mughal
Gardens: Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Nehru Garden, Char Chinar, Floating
Gardens, Cheshma Sahai, Shankaracharya Temple.
Best Buys : Kashmiri shawls, kashmiri carpets, Tibetan
handicraft items.
Best Hangouts : The Dal lake, the Mughal gardens
Best Activity : Houseboat Ride on the Dal Lake.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi
(876 km), Jammu (298 km), Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
When to Visit : April and June
About Srinagar
Located in the Kashmir valley, Srinagar (1,768 meters) is in the western
part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India.
Settled on both the sides of River Jhelum, Srinagar is the summer capital of
the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is the pride of the beautiful valley of
Kashmir. Famous for its lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating
on them, the charming city is also known for its traditional Kashmiri
handicrafts and dry fruits.
Srinagar with is appealing surroundings is rightly called the Pride of the
Kashmir Valley. 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).
Major Tourist Attractions in Srinagar
The Dal Lake
The Dal Lake is a prime tourist attraction of Srinagar. It is located on
the eastern end of the city. The Dal Lake consists 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.
Tourists coming to this place can enjoy taking a ride on traditional
Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways of
this lake.
The Mughal Gardens
The well laid Mughal gardens are another major attractions of Srinagar in
Jammu & Kashmir. 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 through these green and attractive gardens and enjoy the beautiful
waterworks within them.
The Temple of Shankaracharya
The temple of Shankaracharya is another important place to visit in
Srinagar. Jaluka, the son of emperor Ashoka, built this temple in the 3rd
century BC.
Getting There
Air : Srinagar is well connected by air with Delhi. There is a daily
flight to Delhi via Jammu by Indian airlines. There are weekly flights
operated by Indian Airlines for Leh from Srinagar.
Rail : Srinagar does not have a railway station and the nearest
railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is 305 km from Srinagar.
Road : Srinagar is well connected by road to important places like
Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876 km), Jammu (298 km), Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg,
Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
Accommodation
Accommodations are plenty here. You may take your pick from a range of
luxury and budget hotels and lodges in Srinagar besides the star categorised
accommodation hotels around the landmarks of Srinagar offer excellent view
of the landmarks through their suites. Most of the places to stay in
Srinagar are strategically located in the tourist centers.
