How would you describe a perfect vacation in Srinagar? With bountiful nature surrounded by heavenly sights, Srinagar offers you amazing choices, be it River Jhelum, Lakes, Gardens, or Historical Monuments. A list will undoubtedly help you to prioritize your selections. So here they are:
Take a Shikara ride or go angling near the lakes The most popular attractions are Dal Lake and the adjacent Mughal Gardens. The enthralling beauty of this lake prompted the Mughals to build their getaways around it. During the Mughal era, historians estimate that roughly 777 gardens were built in Srinagar.
The exquisite houseboats draw art enthusiasts beginning with the Dalgate, which marks the lake's initial gate. Their English names allude to their ties to the English language. More than a hundred houseboats create a beeline inside the 2 km-long lake, built with a rare, more sturdy type of wood and ornamented with wood carvings.
Tourists flock to Dal Lake to visit the unusual floating vegetable vendors. Hundreds of farmers gathered in one spot for the business in the early hours of the morning. The produce is harvested from a floating land area of roughly 10,000 Kanals (1250 acres) within the lake. The uniqueness of this market is that all the vegetables are organic. This market is the only such market in South Asia and the second to famous Mekong Delta floating markets like Damnoen Saduak near Bangkok in Thailand and Phong Dien floating market near Can Tho in Vietnam.
Walk along the Bund
The Jhelum River plays an important role in the life of Srinagar residents. It has been used for travel, trade, and communication since the dawn of mankind. Without a doubt, the lifeline of this region, which keeps the gorgeous surroundings alive, is nothing but magnificent. Tourists and locals alike enjoy walking along the Bund on Jhelum, even in the blazing heat.
The stroll on the Bund has remained memorable for tourists from Kashmir's Resident Days.
The mighty Chinars, classic British-era structures, and ambiance speak a class of their own. The Bund is also historically significant. It was considered an honor to walk on the Bund. It was built as a nature trail/path by British visitors and officers during the Dogra rule, who preferred to stay largely in houseboats anchored along the walkway. Gradually it became a hub for handicrafts, carpets, jewelry, and fishing equipment.
This river originates in South Kashmir, flows through the city, via Baramulla, and finally to Uri in North Kashmir, where it joins the Sindhu River (originating from Sonamarg). Both rivers meet and confluence at Shadipora, 17 kilometers northwest of Srinagar, before passing through the rest of Kashmir, presently Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
A drive down the river reveals concrete stairwells, ghats, stations, and roads connecting several cities. The majority of historical establishments, such as the age-old photography showroom, Mahattas, Suffering Moses, Post Office, and others, are located on the Bund side of the River. These commercial structures all have extensive lawns in front of them, surrounded by paneled wood fencing.
The Emporium building, which runs parallel to the Bund, was originally a British Residency in Srinagar, covering the area between the Amira Kadal Bridge and Ram Munshi Bagh. Then, between The Bund and Shivpora, there were European Quarters, which were also used by Britishers.
The Bund's mesmerizing beauty included fragrant flowers, attractive trees, and clay tiles that were so popular that some Britishers preferred to be buried near the bund. In his book, 'Cashmere Misgovernment,' Robert Thorp, a British Army officer, wrote about the plight of the Kashmiri people. He was buried in one of these graveyards, at Sheikh Bagh.
Tour the houseboats of Nigeen Lake The main tourist attraction, Lake Nigeen, is located east of Srinagar and is known for its crystal clear waters, as opposed to Dal Lake. On the margins, there are some willow and poplar trees. Nigeen Lake gets its name from the midnight blue water that flows from Dal Lake.
Anchar Lake is worth a visitAnchar Lake, previously a source of safe drinking water is on the verge of becoming a dead lake. The lake's deterioration is due to illegal construction and other harmful activities that pollute the water. Traveling to a lovely site is only heaven when it is kept undisturbed, thus one should visit the lake for this reason as well.
Take a walk through the Mughal GardensSrinagar's Mughal-era gardens have been well-preserved in all their splendor until this day. A walk in the park, surrounded by brilliant flowers with their scent filling the air, is enough to transport one into a romantic reverie. Set against the backdrop of Dal Lake, the tiered lawns with fountains and vibrant flower beds create a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.
Mughal Gardens found here are Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi, and Naseem Bagh. All the former three gardens were built on the Persian architectural principle mainly by Emperor Jahangir and his son Shah Jahan. They have their own Charbagh style, which is characterized by a square plan with four evenly divided portions and a center water channel that runs across the space.
Nishat BaghNishat Bagh in Srinagar is the second biggest Mughal garden in Kashmir, and is known as the "Garden of Gladness," "Garden of Bliss," or "Garden of Joy." Nishat Garden is located on the eastern side of the Dal lake, on its banks, with the Zabarwan mountains as a backdrop. Built by Asif Khan, elder brother of Mughal Empress Nur Jehan, in 1633, it is a 12 terraced garden, each representing a zodiac sign, bracketed by many Chinar and Cypress trees adorned with roses, lilies, and other exotic flowers. The Bagh was originally a unique private recreational zone for royals, comprising 46 acres. Roses, geraniums, asters, tall zinnias, and fluffy pink and white cosmos burn brightly in the flowerbeds.
Shalimar GardenThe construction of Shalimar Bagh began in the second century, under the reign of Pravarasena II, who also established the city of Srinagar from AD 79 to AD 139. He had built a cottage at the northeastern corner of Dal Lake and named it Shalimar. Many centuries later, King Zain ul Abidin built a canal and a dam there.
In AD 1619, Mughal Emperor Jahangir established the Shalimar garden for his wife Noor Jahan. During his reign, he would frequently travel to Srinagar in the summer to escape Delhi's oppressive heat. As a gift to his bride, Noor Jehan, he chose to create a full-fledged royal garden.
In the autumn, the garden's periphery, which is defined by huge Chinars, takes on a golden tint. During the summer, the Persian lilacs are a huge draw. Nishat and Shalimar gardens are also being protected and restored by the JSW Foundation. The local administration is working to have these gardens added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Chashm-e-ShahiChashma-e-shahi, which means royal spring and is called after the natural spring that originates here, is one of the most captivating Mughal gardens. The spring, which was discovered by Rupa Bawani, a prominent female saint of Kashmir, is said to have healing capabilities. In 1632 AD, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan directed his governor, Ali Mardan, to construct a garden for his oldest son, Dara Shikoh, around the spring.
According to local legend, the water from this spring is so pure that it was drunk by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, and his daughter Indira Gandhi. Chashma-e-shahi may be the smallest of all Mughal gardens of Srinagar, but it is rich with beauty and tranquillity. Its magnificent waterfalls, sculpted fountains, manicured lawns, and vibrant flowers are breathtaking. A visit to Kashmir is not complete without a stop at this lovely garden.
Naseem BaghThe oldest Mughal Garden, Naseem Bagh, is located on the northwestern side of Dal Lake and depicts Emperor Akbar's passion for nature and beauty. It was built in 1586 and boasts approximately 12000 Chinar trees that Shah Jahan planted in 1686. The University of Kashmir's authority expanded it further as Chinar Heritage Park. The garden is a popular location for filming because of its unique and brilliant colors, especially during the autumn season.
Attend the Tulip festival at Tulip Garden
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia's largest Tulip garden, is a seven-tiered garden on the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, some 13 kilometers from Srinagar's city center. The garden was previously known as Siraj Bagh. It was renamed after Indira Gandhi, India's first female Prime Minister, in 2007 and quickly became a popular tourist destination.
The seemingly unending green stretch of the Tulip Garden is dotted with 20 lakh flowers, including 40 different species of tulips. The bulbs for these multicolored tulip bulbs came from Amsterdam. Other flowers in the garden include hyacinths, narcissus, roses, ranunculus, and other ornamental plants, in addition to tulips. Visit the garden in March and April to see 2 million tulips blooming at the same time.
Explore the ‘Palace of Fairies’ Pari MahalSitting atop Zabarwan mountains overlooking the serene Dal Lake, Pari Mahal (abode of fairies) lies 13-km from the city center in Srinagar. A seven terraced garden watered by a small spring, Pari Mahal was built by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, Emperor Shah Jahan's eldest son, in 1640.
With undulating hills in the background and glittering water in the distance, this place appears as a spot straight out of a fairy tale. According to the locals, Pari Mahal was not called so for its celestial-like location but for its mythical sightings, legends of princesses who were kept there against their will by evil magicians.
These legends would perhaps be the furthest thing from your mind when you visit the place as its history and heritage will bowl you. Due to its height and unique location, the Pari Mahal was also used as a royal observatory to teach astrology and astronomy.
Visit the Botanical Garden for a Biophilia TourJawaharlal Nehru Botanical Park is a magnificent garden established to memorialize Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, and is set in the folds of the Zabarwan mountain range at a spot known as Mujgund Ghat. The park, which overlooks Dal Lake, features a diverse assortment of flowers and trees, including a grove of oak trees. There is also a medicinal plant nursery on the premises. There are roughly 1.5 million decorative plants in the garden.
It now holds more than 300 flora species, ranging from towering trees to fragrant flowering plants, annual to seasonal herbs, shrubbery to kaleidoscopic flowers, and was established in 1969 to beautify the city and raise awareness about various species of flora. The spectator is drawn in by the lush foliage.
Breathe in the aromatic air of Badamwari Garden Badamwari, noted for its spectacular vista, is located on the foothills of Koh-e-Maran, only 4 km from the city center in Srinagar's Rainawari region. Badamwari, which means almond garden in the local language and spans 300 kanal (8 kanal= 1 acre) of land, lives up to its name with a plethora of almond trees. Badamwari Garden, which was built by Waris Shah, the then-administrator during Akbar's reign, is almost 600 years old.
Badamwari is a sight to behold, with lush grass and green willows creating a lacework of shadows over well-crafted beds of pansies, irises, and daisies. When the garden's highlight, the almond blossoms with their pale pink petals, the entire park appears to be under a big light pink umbrella, the scene becomes even more magnificent.
Explore the ruins of a Buddhist monastery in Harwan.
A lonely spot in the tranquil village of Harwan, 28 kilometers from Srinagar, houses the ruins of a more than 2000-year-old Buddhist monastery. The monastery, which is located in the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains, holds a unique place in the history of Buddhism in South Asia. The Kushan era civilization is represented by the monastery ruins. These ruins are located on the northwest side of Jammu & Kashmir, and can be reached from the Shalimar Bagh on the east side.
According to historical records, the Fourth Buddhist Council was held here between the first and second centuries CE. Emperor Kanishka I of Kushan, a devout Buddhist, called the conference, which drew 500 renowned monks, speakers, and representatives of Buddhism from all over the world. For the first time, two Buddhist sects, Hinayana and Mahayana, formed from this assembly. This conference, which transformed Buddhist philosophy, was attended by Acharya Nagarjuna, the greatest Buddhist scholar, and Asho Ghosh, a famous Buddhist preacher.
