The
capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city in the state,
Srinagar is famous for its canals, houseboats and Mughal gardens.
The city itself is quite unlike most other large Indian cities for
here you are much more in Central Asia than on the sub continent.
It's a city full of intriguing alleyways and curious buildings. A
place where it's very easy to spend a few hours simply wandering -
particularly along the old city streets near the Jhelum river. The
city has long been a center of art and leaning. Srinagar is a unique
city because of its lakes - the Dal, Nagin and Anchar. The River
Jhelum also flows through a part of the city.
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Srinagar is
located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in
the northern region of India. It is located in the Kashmir valley.
River Jhelum passes through Srinagar city. Srinagar is 876 km north
of Delhi. The weather in Srinagar is alpine. Summers (April-June)
are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences
heavy snowfall in December-February.
The climatic
conditions in Srinagar are mostly alpine. Summers (April-June) are
gentle and soothing while the winters (November-February) are icy
cold. During December-February it is blessed with heavy snowfall.
Srinagar is best visited during summers between the months of April
and June. You will need to carry heavy woolens while traveling to
Srinagar.
History of SrinagarFounded by the
King Pravarasena II over 2,000 years ago, Srinagar owes its name to
two Sanskrit words, Sri (meaning profusion and wealth) and Nagar,
(meaning a city). Dating back to the 3rd century BC, the city was
formerly a part of the Mauryan Empire, which once happened to be one
of the most important empires of India.
This region
prospered quite well under the rule of the Kushans in the 1st
century AD. During this period, it used to be an important Buddhist
pilgrimage site. In the 6th century, however, it became a part of
the kingdom of Vikramaditya, the ruler of Ujjain. Local Hindu rulers
ruled it until the 14th century, when Muslims rulers invaded and
captured it.
With the downfall of the Mughal Empire the
fortunes of the area swung dramatically. In 1814, it went to the
Sikhs, when Ranjit Singh got the better of the Pathans. However,
ultimately the British defeated Ranjit Singh and in accordance with
the treaty of Lahore in 1846, they appointed Gulab Singh as the
autonomous ruler of Kashmir. Later, Hari Singh, the great grandson
of Gulab Singh, united this huge state into India in 1948, when the
Pathan intruders from Pakistan tried to capture this state.
Tourist
Attractions of Srinagar
- Dal Lake
Srinagar sightseeing loses its meaning
if you have not visited the Dal Lake. With the backdrop of
mountains on three sides, the view of the Dal Lake looks as if
you are watching a photograph. This lake counts amongst the most
splendid lakes in the country. One of the major attractions of
the Dal Lake is the houseboats that stand lining its edges.
- Shankaracharya Temple
Perched on the
Takht-e-Suleiman hill, the Shankaracharya Temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. It is supposed to be the oldest shrine of the
Kashmir valley.
- Nagin Lake
Another popular tourist attraction of
Srinagar is the Nagin Lake. Placid water of the lake, surrounded
with manicured flowerbeds and groves of chinar, poplar and
willow, is enough to capture your heart.
- Mughal Gardens
Situated on the banks of the Dal
Lake, in the backdrop of the majestic hills, these beautiful
gardens commands a magnificent view of the lake. . The Mughal
gardens include Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Chashmeshahi
Bagh.
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How to Reach
- By Air
The domestic airport of Srinagar has
regular flights of Indian Airlines and Jet Airways connecting to
Delhi and Mumbai.
- By Rail
Jammu, at a distance of 290 km, is the
closest railhead from Srinagar. There are regular express trains
to Jammu from cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
- By Road
By road, Srinagar is very well connected
to places like Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876 km), Jammu (290
km), Leh (434 km), Gulmarg (48 km), Sonamarg (88 km) and
Pahalgam (96 km).
