Hemmed by a crown of stunning, snow-clad mountains, Srinagar is a city of exquisite gardens, lovely lakes and beautiful people. Often quoted as the paradise on earth, Srinagar is arguably the best tourist destination in India. The views of the Shikaras, the well-known Kashmiri boats, prowling up and down the famous Dal Lake of Srinagar are popular all across India through personal experiences or photographs and paintings.

The name Srinagar literally means ‘prosperous city’ and is derived from Hindu terms ‘Sri’ which means wealth and ‘Nagar’ which means city. Founded by Emperor Pravarasena II of the Vakataka dynasty of Deccan in the 3rd century BC, Srinagar was then called as Pravarasenpur.  It was ruled by many dynasties like the Mauryans, the Kushans, the Vakatakas and the Mughals. Buddhism was introduced in Srinagar by Asoka the Great while the city was under the rule of the Mauryans. Today, Srinagar is one of the very few cities which have a dominant Muslim population and is the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Dal Lake, fondly known as the ‘Jewel in the crown of Kashmir’ attracts all the tourist attention just in a glance. It has a colossal appeal when it comes to natural beauty and serenity. Shikaras help you cruise through this spectacular natural wonder, and it will not be an exaggeration if you would want the time to stop as you gaze around. A stay in a houseboat can be very exciting, but unlike the houseboats in Kerala, the houseboats in the Dal Lake are stationary. The scenic bliss is as if rendered by God Himself and in no time you realize why Kashmir is called as ‘Heaven on Earth.’

The Dal Lake is the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir and is the source of water for fishing and harvesting. Towards the right of the lake lie the Mughal gardens- Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Chasma Shahi and the Pari Mahal while towards the left is the Hazratbal shrine. The old town of Srinagar was located mostly around the Dal Lake while today the main city has acquired a bigger area.

The Mughal gardens are marvels which were constructed during the Mughal rule. Symmetrically built, these gardens, all three of them, have spectacular views. While you walk past the well cut trees and carries of flowers and decorative shrubs, all you will want to do is applaud the Mughals for building something so amazing. These gardens are thronged by tourists and are a major attraction. They are very well maintained by the tourism department of Kashmir and add hugely to the beauty of the lake side. The Pari Mahal (the palace of the fairies) is also a worth visiting tourist spot. It is a spacious palace which lies in the Chasma Shahi Bagh and has historical importance. It was once a Buddhist monastery which was later converted into a school of astrology by Shah Jahan’s son.

Towards the left of the lake, the Hazratbal shrine is considered as one of the holiest places by the Muslims as it houses a hair of the great Prophet Mohammad. It is believed that the hair was brought to India by Syed Abdullah, a descendent of Prophet Mohammad and was later inherited by his son, Syed Hamid. But due to political turmoil, he had to sell it to a rich Kashmiri businessman, Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Eshai, as he could no longer take care of it. When Emperor Aurangzeb came to know of this deal, he was infuriated. He imprisoned Khwaja in Lahore and got the precious object sent to Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti’s shrine at Ajmer. However, he later realized his mistake and decided to give the hair back to Khawaja Eshai, but it was too late. Eshai was dead in the prison. Aurangzeb then sent the object and Eshai’s body to Kashmir, to Eshai’s daughter Inayat Begum. Inayat Begum commenced the construction of the Hazratbal shrine where the precious object was conserved. Even today, her descendents take care of the shrine.

Another important Muslim religious place is the Jamia Masjid. It lies in the middle of the old city of Srinagar. This mosque was built in 1400 AD by Sultan Sikandar. The architecture of this mosque is Indo Saracenic. It has been constructed by using 370 wooden pillars and is considered as one of the holiest mosques in India. The peaceful atmosphere inside the mosque is admirable. Over a thousand people come to this mosque every Friday to offer their prayers.

Though Hindu population in Kashmir is meager, the Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar is a famous religious site for the Hindus. Devotees from all over India come and visit this temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Not only is it famous as a religious place, it is also famous for the panoramic views it provides of the Srinagar town and the valley. The temple is known to be the oldest temple in the Kashmir valley. The temple stands on a rock with an octagonal basement, but is easily accessible by a four wheeler.

Apart from popular tourist spots, Srinagar is also famous for clothes with Kashmiri embroidery, handicrafts and dry fruits. The traditional dresses of the Kashmiri people are very colorful and attractive and so is their jewelry. People often rent these clothes and take photographs while they row across the Dal Lake in the shikaras. However, some military disturbances have flustered the tourist influx in Kashmir in the recent past; tourism is not affected on a very large scale. With ample worth visiting tourist spots and natural beauty so pristine and incomparable, Srinagar is a place where you would want to be at least once in your lifetime.

Quick Reference

Referred to as the ‘Heaven on Earth’, Srinagar is one of the best tourist destinations in the North India. It is the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is famous for dry fruits and embroidered clothing. Natural beauty of Srinagar is impeccable and unforgettable. The spectacular views of the valley and the snow clad mountains in the background provide a tourist with virtual pleasure.