Srinagar is rightly referred to as the ‘Land of Lakes and Gardens’. This beautiful place also boasts being one of the dream travel destinations in India for honeymooners and family vacationers.
The summer capital of J&K union territory, Srinagar is one of the most popular holiday destinations in India that impresses vacationers primarily with its unique experiences of a shikara ride and houseboat stay on Dal and Nigeen lakes. Another experience to relish is witnessing one of its kind Floating Vegetable Market on Dal Lake.
Srinagar’s top tourist attractions for sightseeing tours include the beautiful Mughal Gardens which include Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Garden and Chashme Shahi Garden, each spectacular in its own way. If you are on a family tour, you can enjoy a day picnic at these beautiful gardens. Srinagar is also home to Asia's largest Tulip gardens. If you visit during the months of March and April, you can enjoy witnessing over 40 species of Tulips.
For history lovers, important places of interest in Srinagar are the 6th century Hari Parbat Fort or Kooh-e-Maran, the exquisite Pari Mahal, and the 18th-century mosque, the Khanqah Shah -i-Hamadan, which is considered to be the most beautiful mosque in Srinagar. The culture lovers can roam around the city, dine in the many restaurants and cafes in Srinagar, try the famous Kashmiri delicacy, "Wazwan", and enjoy shopping for embroidered clothes, leather goods, woodcraft, and carpets.
Major Attractions
Dal Lake is one of the most picturesque lakes in the country. This second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir is divided into four parts by causeways and are named Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin Lake. Nagin Lake is the most lovely part of this water body. Divided by a causeway from Dal Lake, Nagin Lake is often considered a separate lake. These water bodies also serve as major fishing destinations of the city. The lake is full of Shikaras giving rides to people from the banks to the house boats in the lake. Several ferrymen can also be seen floating in the Dal Lake selling products like soft drinks, handicrafts etc.
Another attribute of the city is the Mughal Gardens. These ancient gardens, situated on the eastern side of the Dal Lake, are still well maintained along with their terraced gardens, maple trees, refreshing fountains and blooming flowers. Shalimar Bagh, Nishant Bagh and Chashmashahi are the most popular gardens in Srinagar. With countless flowers, these gardens are the real treats to tourists' eyes.
The ancient temple of Shankaracharya draws lakhs of pilgrims from all over the world to Srinagar district. Built in around 250 BC, the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva, and is named after the legendary philosopher Sri Shankaracharya. People believe that he stayed here during his visit to Kashmir to spread Sanatan Dharma. The temple, built on a hill called Takht-i-Suleiman, holds a great religious as well as architectural importance.
A heaven for the wildlife lovers, Dachigam National Park is situated 22 km from Srinagar and covers an area of about 141 sq. km. Dachigam is home to more than 20 species of mammals including Leopards, Himalayan brown bears, Langurs, and Hanguls (an endangered species of red deer) and more than 150 species of beautiful birds like Golden Oriole, Golden Eagle, Black Bulbul, Bearded Vulture etc. The park remains closed between January and April.
Handicrafts
The visit to Srinagar is incomplete without having a glimpse of the local traditional market. Srinagar, in fact the whole Kashmir, is known for woolen shawls, Pashmina shawls (made from the hair of ibex) and shahtoosh shawls (made from the hair of the Tibetan antelope). The artisans of Kashmir are expert in woodcarving. They use walnut wood to make items like tables, chairs, stools, fruit bowls, partitions, etc. with rich floral and trellis patterns.
How To Reach
By Air: Srinagar is well connected to all the major cities of India by air.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi (305 km), which is easily accessible by bus or taxi.
By Road: Srinagar is well connected to all the major parts of the country via NH 1.