Srinagar Attraction

Dal Lake:
Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of India and the second largest in the state. Its three sides are surrounded by majestic mountains and a large number of gardens and orchards have been laid along the shores.. Dal Lake is unique in having hundreds of houseboats, which afford an opportunity for tourists to reside on the lake in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Nageen Lake:
Nageen lake is located just a small distance away from Dal Lake. In fact both the water bodies are interconnected by a small water channel. In summer time the water is pleasantly cool. The lake is one of the best ions, which you can enjoy a captivating round of boating. Even in the middle of the lake you can experience the thrill of shopping.

Wular & Manasbal Lake:
It is difficult to describe in mere words the beguiling beauty of Wular Lake. For one, its formidable size - this is one of Asia's largest fresh water lakes - for another, it changes character with every few miles. The drive from Srinagar will take you to the calm waters of Manasbal , where there is no other sound but birdsong.

Manasbal has often been described as the bird watcher's paradise, and as your shikara glides through this mirror of tranquillity, you will experience yet another facet of Kashmir.From Watlab, the Wular Lake stretches away as far as the eye can see, edged by picturesque villages around terraced breeze-rippled fields of paddy, in a riotous burst of colour, the sheer grandeur of the spectacular countryside at leisure.

Shalimar Garden:
Shalimar garden was built by Mughal Emperor Jehangir in the year 1619 AD and called it "Farah Baksh" (the delightful). Eleven years later Zaffer Khan the Governor of Kashmir during Emperor Shah Jahan's reign extended the garden and called it "Faiz Baksh" (the Bountiful). The garden was graded in three sections. The outer garden known as the Diwan-i-Aam, the central portion the Emperor's garden called as the "Diwan-i�Khas" and the uppermost by far the best garden was for the Empress and her ladies. The romantic effect of numerous fountains in large tanks and central water channel, cascades, and monumental pavilions, mighty chinars, lush lawns laden with colour and fragrance speak volumes for the taste of Great Mughal.

Nishat Garden:
Nishat garden, the garden of Delight, is the largest Mughal Garden on Dal-Lake and was laid out by Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jahan, The empress of Mughal India and wife of Jahangir, in the year 1632 A.D. It is located on Dal-Lake about 2.5 Kilometers to the south of Shalimar and commands a magnificent view in the west and with a panoramic back drop of mountains in the East.

The garden had originally 12 terraces. Enchanting central water channel, rippling fountains in large tanks and channels and sparkling cascades amidst bountiful colours, lush lawns and mighty chinars are principal features of this pleasure garden.

Pari Mahal

The name Pari Mahal appears to be a distorted version of "Peer Mahal" built by Prince Dara Shikoh, eldest son of Emperor Shah ]ahan in the year 1640 A.D. for his tutor Peer Mullah Shah. Once the royal observatory, it is a seven terraced garden located on the base of Zabarvan mountain range over-looking city of Srinagar and Dal-Lake. The Mahal built for the meditation and summer residence of Peer Mullah Shah is a replica of typical Mughal architecture in garden layout, water now been restored to its glory with captivating terraced gardens, motorable road up to the garden and wonderful lighring effects which look marvelous and captivating at night.

Tulip Garden:
Tulip garden previously named as Model Floriculture Centre, is located at the base of Zabarwan Hills with partial fromnt view of picturesque Dal Lake. This garden was conceived, conceptualized and created by Mr. Gh. Nabi Azad, the then Chief Minister, J&K in the year 2006-07. Main aim of this garden is to boost floriculture and advance tourism in Kashmir Valley. Over 12 Lakh tulip bulbs of 68 varieties of different colours are said to be blooming here every year

 Cheshma Shahi:
Chashma Shahi is a beautiful garden situated at the distance of almost eight kilometers from the city. It was a natural spring around which a garden was developed by the brother of Nur Jahan, the famous queen of Jahangir, the third Mughal emperor. He was so fascinated with the surroundings that he not only decorated the spring�s surroundings with beautiful floral plants and ornamental trees but also roofed the spring. A reservoir was constructed around the spring from which water gushed through canal network to causing fountains to play day and night, creating a soothing atmosphere during the summers. Among the Mughal gardens of Kashmir Chashma Shahi fascinated Shahjahan, the fourth Mughal emperor, the most owing to the fact that it haunted him with the sweet memories of his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal who always accompanied him during his visit to these gardens.

Hazratbal:
The Hazratbal Mosque is located in a village of the same name on the banks of the Dal. Its pristine white marble elegance is reflected in the waters of the lake. Hazratbal's special significance is derived from the fact that it houses a hair of the prophet Muhammad. This is displayed to the public on religious occasions, usually accompanied by fairs. Apart from these occasions, Friday prayers are offered at Hazratbal and attended by throngs of people. Hazratbal is remarkable for being the only domed mosque in Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs. The shrine � mosque complex is situated on the western shore of the DalLake opposite Nishat Bagh and commands a grand view of the lake and the mountain beyond.
 

Jama Masjid

The Jama Masjid at Nowhatta, in the heart of the old city, is the other important mosque in Srinagar at which thousands of people congregate for the Friday prayers. Of imposing proportions, the mosque is built around a courtyard and is supported by 370 wooden pillars. The hushed quiet of the mosque counterpoints the bustle of the old bazaars surrounding it. Originally built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD, and enlarged by his son, Zain-ul- Abidin, it is a typical example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Destroyed thrice by fire and rebuilt each time, the mosque, as it now stands, was repaired during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh

Shanakaracharya Temple:
The sacred temple of Shankaracharya occupies the top of the The sacred temple of Shankaracharya occupies the top of the hills known as Takht-I-Sulaiman in the south-east of Srinagar. The site dates back to 250BC. The philosopher Shankaracharya stayed at this place when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive Sanatan Dharma

Chatti Padshahi Gurudwara:
The sixth Sikh guru travelled through Kashmir, stopping to preach occasionally. A gurudwara has been built at the exact site of each of these halts. The most important one among these is Chhatti Padshahi gurudwara, situated near the Kathi Darwaza, in Rainawari, Srinagar, which is held in great reverence by devotees of all faiths

Harwan Buddhist Ruins:
Harwan Buddhist Ruins date back to 300 AD ,as recorded in the chronicles, and is situated in North-West of Kashmir from eastern side of Shalimar Mughal Garden. The ruins are famous for Kushan period civilization. These ruins were discovered after excavation in the first quarter of 20th Century. The position of the excavated site reveals that the settlement structures in steps. These ruins are not only unique in India but whole of the World where the habitat and living conditions of Kushan period people are seen. Henrich, an European writer, has stated that Nag Arjun the Budhist was born in the era of Kanishk who had stationed at Harwan. The ancient name of Harwan was Shadara-hadwan meaning woods of six saints. On the tiles discovered from the site the remnants of early civilization are evident. Properly shaped and backed tiles depict the images of such people which look similar to the people of Yarkand or Kashgar and some people are seen wearing Turkish caps and trousers. Two springs are seen closeby which would have been used for drinking water purpose.

Pahalgam is located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India. Situated at an altitude of 2130 meters above sea level and positioned beside the Liddar River, in the Liddar valley, Pahalgam is at a distance of 95 km east of Srinagar. Pahalgam is known for the crystal clear waters of River Lidder which is just before the entry into Pahalgam and is an ideal spot for trekking, picnics and pony rides. Pahalgam is adorned with lush greenery and tall pine trees. Pony rides take you around this whole place. The picturesque location of this place also makes it an ideal spot for movie shootings. Pahalgam is also the starting point to take you to Pilgrimage shrines of Amarnath Caves, which is said to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Every year in July-Aug thousands of Pilgrims approach the caves through here.The Valley of Shepherds as it is called, the mystic land of Pahalgam soaked in the morning dew, looks afresh and is protected by fir and snow capped peaks that forms an ideal destination for the trekking aficionados. A plethora of mountains and glaciers, it offers breathtaking views of the valleys and the surrounding area. In short Pahalgam is rightly called the Jewel of the Liddar Valley.

Aru village & valley:
Aru is a small village which forms the first step to the Kolahoi trek. Situated at the height of 12,729 feet, it lies at a distance of 14 km�s from Pahalgam. The Kolahoi Glacier is 36 Kms from Pahalgam. Tarsar Lake nearby is a beautiful lake, 35 kms ahead.

Baisaran Meadow:
Baisaran lies at a soaring height of 2438 metres above sea level. It is situated at a distance of 5 km�s from Pahalgam and is densely covered with pine forests and snow clad mountains. 11 km�s from Baisaran is the Tulian Lake, placed at an elevation of 3353 metres above the sea level. The region is blanketed by snow for most of the time.

Mamaleshwara Temple:
Mamaleshwara is a small Shiva temple only a km or so downstream from Pahalgam. It is thought to date from the reign of king Jayasima and was built early in the 12th century, or even earlier.

Betaab Valley
Enroute to Amarnath, the Betaab valley has got its name from a Hindi Indian hit movie �BETAAB�. The film was picturised in this beautiful valley. Located at an altitude of 2530 meters above the sea level, this picturesque valley has all that which can attract you to its beauty.

The eye catching sapphire like waters, the green fields, the meadows (The �Deodar trees*�) add to the charming beauty of this heavenly valley.

Gulmarg - Land of the Snows

Gulmarg�s legendry beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country. Originally called Gaurimarg by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favorite haunt of Emperor Jehangir, who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. From Gulmarg a picturesque view of the Himalayas is visible from each and every corner of Gulmarg.

The sight of the snow capped peaks, glaciers and fir woods in Gulmarg leave you speechless at the very first glimpse. The drive to Gulmarg takes around 2-3 hrs by road and is located at a height of 2650 meters above sea level. The journey to Gulmarg is fascinating as it gives a pretty view of flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with small hamlets, and rigid avenues of poplar. Depending on the season, nature�s colors could be translucent green in spring, summer�s rich emerald or autumns golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides. At one point, known simply as View Point, travelers generally stop their vehicles for a few minutes and look out a spectacle of snow � covered mountains almost within touching distance.

 Khilanmarg
This smaller valley is about a 6-km walk from the Gulmarg. The meadow, carpeted with flowers in the spring, is the site for Gulmarg�s winter ski runs and offers a fine view of the surrounding peaks and over the Kashmir Valley.

It�s a 600-metre ascent from Gulmarg to Khilanmarg and during the early spring, as the snow melts, it can be a very muddy hour�s climb up the hill. The effort is rewarded, if it�s clear, with a sweeping view of the great Himalayas from Nanga Parbat to the twin 7,100-metre peaks of Nun and Kun to the southeast

Mount Apharwat and Gulmarg Gondola:
Gulmarg boasts Asia's highest and longest cable car project, the Gulmarg Gondola. The two-stage ropeway ferries about 600 people per hour to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdori valley.

The second stage of the ropeway, which has 36 cabins and 18 towers, takes skiers to a height of 3,747 m (12,293 ft) on Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak.

Alpather Lake
Beyond Khilanmarg, 13-km from Gulmarg at the foot of the twin 4, 511 metre Apharwat peaks, this lake is frozen until mid-June and even later in the year one can see lumps of ice floating in its cold waters. The walk from Gulmarg follows a well-graded Pony track over the 3, 810 metre Apharwat ridge, separating it from Khilanmarg, and then up the valley to the lake at 3,843 metres. The more adventurous trekkers can climb straight up the boulder-strewn slope of the ridge and descend the other side to the path. For horse riding aficionados, Alpather Lake makes an exciting day's excursion, starting early morning and returning late evening.

Yusmarg is a small meadow set in the heart of mountains to the south-west of Srinagar. It is an ideal picnic spot and the Nilnag Lake can be visited from here. A two hour drive from Srinagar ( 47 kms ) will take you to acres upon acres of grassy meadow ringed by forests of pine, and towering beyond them, awesome and majestic snow clad mountains. Yusmarg has several important mountain peaks to boast and the most famous amongst them are Tatta Kutti and Sang Safed. Here in Yusmarg are walks of every sort - a leisurely amble along flower-strewn meadows or away to where a mighty river froths and crashes its way over rocks, its mild white foam earning it the name of Dudh Ganga. The word �Yus� is said to be the short form of Youza or Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him) who according to a popular belief is said to have passed though this valley while traveling to Kashmir.

 Tomb of Sheikh Noor-ud-din-Noorani
The tomb of Alamdar-e-Kashmir is situated 28 Kms in southwest of Srinagar at Chrar-e- Sharif in Budgam District. The shrine on the burial site was constructed by the then ruler of Kashmir Zain ul Abideen. Sheikh Noor-ud-din was born in Kaimoh and his ancestors belonged to Kishtwar. He was a pious soul and travelled throughout Kashmir to spread the message of his religion. He meditated for 12 years inside a cave. Four centuries after his death Afghan governor Atta Mohd. Khan issued coins in his name. The shrine alongwith Khanqah was gutted in a devatating fire in 1995. A new shrine is planned to be constructed in its place.

Sonamarg literally meaning � The Meadow of Gold� lies in the heart of a beautiful valley carved by the river Sindh. At a magical height of 3000 meters, the beautiful mountain resort is surrounded by towering mountains that glow once the sun sets its eyes upon them. Rich forests of silver, intermingled with Sycamore and fringed on their upper borders with silver birch clothe the mountain sides Sonamarg boasts of colorful valleys with grand rocky cliffs and white glaciers. Situated 80 km�s northeast of Srinagar, the road that runs to Sonamarg is the beginning of an enchanted journey into a natural wonderland.

The road initiates winds under the shadow of the mountains. The journey to Sonamarg passes through peaceful pastoral land with the picturesque snow clad Harmukh range etched against the deep blue of the Himalayan sky. En route Sonamarg, gypsies with their cattle, ponies, buffaloes, sheep's and goats are seen. Mighty mountains of up to 5300 metres, Thajiwas glaciers being its outstanding feature, surround Sonamarg. Thajiwas, pine shaded, with gushing mountain streams. Silver waterfalls and the Thajiwas glacier form a sparkling contrast to the green meadowland. It provides a challenging climb. Sonamarg is a wonderful destination for an intrepid traveler, who is looking for exciting places known for their adventure sports. Apart from valleys, the Sonamarg region also boasts of high altitude lakes only reached via trekking trails.

Thajwass Glacier:
One of the most popular short walks from Sonamarg and a major attraction during the summer months is the 4-km route to Thajiwas, a small valley at the foot of the Sonamarg glacier. A path leads up to the Shakhdar hill, overlooking the glacier from the northeast. It is dangerous to climb the steep slope leading up to the glacier. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier. Often in early summer one will meet groups of Gujar passing through Sonamarg on their way to the alpine meadows for the summer.
 

Gangabal Lake:
The famous Gangabal lake can be reached after a 5 day trek in the upper reaches of the Sonamarg area. En-route to Gangabal, you can take a fascinating trip across the Vishensar Lake (3680m) and Gadsar Lake (3900m) through steep climbs followed by a rapid descent, whereafter the magical Gadsar Lake appears, mostly full of broken glacier masses. A trek of 17 km via Satsar Lake, 3600 m, passes through Gangabal valley, where the view of Harmukh Peak is breathtaking. A few kilometers walk will take you to Gangabal Lake 3570 m at the foot of Harmukh. A plain campsite amidst the valley is an unforgettable experience. From Gangabal, a 17 km descend leads to Naranag ruins. 5 km�s further down is Wangat 2050 m, from where a metal road leads back to Sonmarg via Kangan and to Srinagar.

Bishensar and Krishensar Lakes:
There is a lake in every corner of the Himalayas and there is many at Sonamarg also. The trail proceeds from Sonamarg to Bisansar Lake via Nichinai Pass. Crossing the river at Nichinai Pass stands the Bisansar Lake at an altitude of 4, 084m, with its its lovely natural beauty. Beside the lake is the Krishnasagar Lake at an altitude of 3,801m, popular for Trout fishing.

Khir-Bhawani
The Goddess Ragnya Devi is symbolised as a sacred spring at Tula Mula village, 27 kms from Srinagar. Within the spring is a small marble temple. The devotees of the goddess fast and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon in the month of May when, according to belief, the goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters.

 The temple-spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani because of the thousands of devotees who offer milk and 'kheer' to the sacred spring, which magically changes colours to warn of disaster.

Naranag � Temple Complex:
The Valley of Kashmir is known not only for its lush green meadows, snow-capped mountains but also for its historical and religious places. There is a temple complex called Nara Nag which evokes awe and is a devotee's delight. According to the traditions the water of the spring comes from the Gangabal Lake, as the spring is located at the foot of the Bhutsher or Bhuteshwara, a spur of the Haramukha peaks. There are two groups of temples situated at a distance of about 100 yards from each other. The small tank with perennial water of Nara Nag has refreshing, digestive properties. At a further distance there is a temple dedicated to Bhairva. The western group identified with the temple is dedicated to Lord Siva. Lalitaditya Muktapida eighth century King of Kashmir erected a temple of Lord Shiva here. The King Avantivarman paid a visit and donated a pedestal with a silver conduct for bathing at Bhutsher. The temple of Naranag suffered many misfortunes as mentioned in Khalhana's Rajatarangani during the reign of Sangramaraja (11th century). The temple- was plundered by Bhandesvara, a Minister of the King. For the period of the reign of Uchchala (12th century) a conflagration caused much damage to the building and during the reign of Jayasimha Hayavadava(12th century), a rebel minister also attacked these temples. Nara Nag is the base camp of the Gangabal Lake' it takes 8-10 hour on foot or on horse back to reach the lake.

Baltal
Situated at a distance of 15 km�s from Sonamarg is a side valley famous for its annual pilgrimage base to Amarnath Caves. The meandering trek of 14 km�s starts from here and is an option for those travelers looking for a short holiday and pilgrimage together.

Kullan Village:
This tiny village is located just 16 kilometers below Sonamarg and is famous for its only Four star hotel and a royal Swiss camp located here. Apart from the calmness of this area, The village offers quite hill tours and village walks and also has a small river running past which becomes an anglers paradise as it boasts of the famous trout fish. This place is an ideal base for those who wish to relax in the cool atmosphere as well as take a holy pilgrimage to the annual Amarnath Yatra.