Srinagar
Area : 105 sq kmsAltitude : 1730 meters
Temperature : Summer – 29.5 C to 10.6 C
Winter – 7.3 C to -1.9 C
Rainfall : 52.9 cms
Population : 930136 (2001 Census)
Best season : Summer
Clothing
Spring : Light Woolens.
Autumn : Light Woolens.
Summer : Cotton.
Winter : Heavy woolens.
Languages : Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, English.
Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.
Today Srinagar is a resort for the tourist who can experience, at first hand, the peculiar beauty of the valley that has attracted the Chinese, the Mughals and the British to it.
Its waterways with their own quaint lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming gardens, water sports activities, shopping for lovingly handcrafted souvenirs and the nearby resorts make it a cherished spot among those looking for a memorable holiday.
Accommodation in Srinagar
Many tourists are attracted to Srinagar by the charm of staying on a Houseboat, which provides the unique experience of living on the water in a cedar-paneled elegant bedroom, with all the conveniences of a luxury hotel. In Srinagar's thousand of houseboats are moored along sections of the Dal and Nagin Lakes and river Jhelum, all decorated fancifully and named
romantically and even whimsically. Like hotels, houseboats also vary in degree of luxury and have been accordingly graded. A luxury houseboat, like a luxury hotel has fine furniture, good carpets and modern bathroom fittings. Like hotels too, houseboats vary widely in their locations. Some overlook the main road, others look out onto lotus gardens and yet others face tiny local markets and villages, all right in the middle of the lake! All houseboats, regardless of category, have highly personalized service. Not only there always a "houseboy" for every boat, but the owner and his family are never far away you Apart from this you also have a choice of Hotels from Tourist class to Luxury of 5*.
Places to visit in and around Srinagar
The Mughal Gardens
With terraced lawns, cascading fountains, paint-box-bright flowerbeds with the panorama of the Dal in front of them - the three Mughal Gardens of Chesmashahi , Nishat and Shalimar are the Mughal Emperors' concept of paradise and are today very popular among the tourist.
Chashmashahi is a tastefully laid garden in terraces, which commands a magnificent view of the Dal Lake below and surrounding mountain ranges. The cool water of the spring is highly refreshing and digestive. The original garden was laid out by Shah Jehan in 1632 AD.
Nishat Bagh-'Garden of bliss' situated on the banks of the Dal Lake, with the Zabarwan Mountains as its backdrop, commands a magnificent view of the lake and the snow capped Pir Panjal mountain range which stands far away to the west of the valley. Nishat was designed in 1633 AD by Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jehan.
Shalimar Bagh built by Emperor Jehangir for his wife Nur Jehan is a beautiful garden with sweeping vistas over gardens and lakes, and shallow terraces. The garden is 539 m by 182 m and has four terraces, rising one above the other. A canal lined with polished stones and supplied with water from Harwan runs through the middle of the garden. The fourth terrace, by far the best, was once reserved for royal ladies.
Hazratbal Mosque
Hazratbal Mosque is located in a village of the same name on the banks of the Dal Lake.Hazratbal's special significance is derived from the fact that it houses a hair of the prophet Muhammad. Which is displayed to the public on religious occasions. Apart from these occasions, Friday prayers are offered at Hazratbal and attended by large number of people. Hazratbal is remarkable for being the only domed mosque in Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs. This mosque complex is situated on the western shore of the Dal Lake opposite of Nishat Bagh and commands a grand view of the lake and the mountain beyond it.
Shankaracharya Temple
This sacred temple is situated on top of a hill known as Takht-I-Sulaiman in the south-east of Srinagar. This place dates back to 250BC. The philosopher Shankaracharya stayed at this place when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive Sanatan Dharma. Built on a high octagonal plinth and approached by a flight of steps with side walls that once bore inscriptions, the main surviving shrine consists of a circular cell. It overlooks the Valley and can be approached by a motorable road.
Jama Masjid Mosque
It is situated at Nowhatta, in the heart of the old city. The mosque is built around a courtyard and is supported by 370 wooden pillars. 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.
Pari Mahal
Once the royal observatory has a charmingly laid out garden and is a five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi. A Buddhist monastery at one time. It is situated on the spur of a mountain overlooking the Dal Lake, the ancient monument, with a well-laid spacious garden in front, is connected to Cheshmashahi by road. It is illuminated at night.
Excursions from Srinagar
Wullar Lake
Wullar Lake located 60 Kms from Srinagar is one of Asia's largest fresh water lakes – and also its changes character with every few miles. Driving through the town of Bandipora, which has a delightfully laid out Mughal Garden, the Wular will always be to your left. 30 Kms from drive from Srinagar will take you to the calm waters of Manasbal Lake, 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 tranquility, you will experience yet another facet of Kashmir.
Achabal
Achabal (1,677 m) once the pleasure retreat of Empress Nur Jehan, it is located 58 kms from Srinagar, situated at the foot of a hill with a row of majestic chinars framing it. The garden at Achabal is visual delight with their stepped terraces, formal elegance, ornamental shrubs, sparkling fountains and falling water. It was in Kashmir that the Mughal Garden was brought to perfection, and Achabal is one such masterpiece.
Daksum
Situated beyond Achabal amid densely forested gorge at an altitude of 2438 m. This place is a reviving experience -the bracing mountain air, the solitude, the densely clad hills, and beyond them, snow covered mountains, all contribute to Daksum's mystique and makes it walking Paradise and a perfect retreat.
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Gulmarg
60 Kms from Srinagar Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location makes 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 favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a hill station of exceptional beauty- but also for the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country's premier ski resort in the winter. The journey to Gulmarg is almost nearly as enchanting as reaching there-roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season, nature's colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer's rich emerald, or autumn's golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides. At View Point, travellers generally stop their vehicles for a few minutes and look out a glory of snow-covered mountains, almost within touching distance.Skiing & Winter Sport at Gulmarg
Gulmarg, the best ski resort in the Himalayas, was first established by the British in 1927. Gulmarg also holds a position as one of the highest lift-served ski resorts in the world. This is due to setting-up of a Gandola Cable Car Lift from Gulmarg to Apharwat top. Presently, only the first section of the Gandola, from Gulmarg to Kongdori is operational, giving a downhill ski run
of about 3 kms. In addition, three ski lifts and one chair lift also service the resort, which are suitable for beginners and intermediate-level skiing, respectively. The skiing season in Gulmarg usually commences before Christmas (around middle of December) and continues till middle of April. In 1998 the first National Winter Games of India were held at Gulmarg, for which the facilities were enormously improved and upgraded. The resort acquired two Kasse Bohrer snow beating machines used for preparing skiing slopes, and five snowmobiles, which can be made available for going up the mountain. Good quality equipment, including skis, boots, sticks, gloves and goggles are available on hire on the spot from ski shop. There are also trained instructors available for guiding the tourists. Gulmarg is ideally suited for learning skiing, as it is probably the cheapest ski resort in the world.
Hotel at Gulmarg -Gulmarg has some excellent hill resorts with facilities of 4* Hotel. Hotel Grand Mumtaz & Hotel Highland Park are among some of them.
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Pahalgam
Pahalgam 93 Kms for Srinagar is situated at the confluence of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river, Pahalgam (2,130 m) is Kashmir's premier hill resort, cool even during the height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 250C.Around Pahalgam there are many places of interest, it is worth hiring a pony rather than walking. The most beautiful of these is the huge, undulating meadow of Baisaran, surrounded by thickly wooded forests of pine. Hajan, on the way to Chandanwari, Filmgoers will recognize it instantly as it has been the location of several movie scenes. Apart from this Pahalgam is also associated with the annual Amarnath Yatra. Chandanwari (2,895 m), 16 kms from Pahalgam, is the starting point of the yatra that takes place every year in the month of Sawan (July to August).Things to do in Pahalgam
Horse Riding - While in Pahalgam, One can enjoy the tour of lacal places by riding on horse.
Golfing - Pahalgam Club has a 9-hole golf course, which can be used by the tourists.
Fishing - The Lidder River has excellent fishing beats for brown trout. The fishing season stretches from April to September. Permits are issued, for a maximum of three days at a first-come - first-served basis and are charged on a per day per rod basis.
Trekking - The environs of Pahalgam offer exciting trekking opportunities, the best known being: Pahalgam - Chandanwari- Sheshnag- Panchtarni- Amarnath Cave Temple- Sonamarg.
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Sonmarg
The 83 Kms drive from Srinagar to Sonamarg is through the Sindh Valley which presents spectacular facet of countryside in Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 2730 m, Sonamarg (‘The meadow of gold’) has, as its backdrop, snowy mountains against a cerulean sky. The Sindh River that meanders through the valley abounds with trout and mahaseer. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier-snow point, which is a major local attraction during the summer months.Sonamarg is the base of a major trek that passes along several mountain lakes –Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. Sonamarg is also the take off station for the drive to Ladakh across the Zojila, a major pass in the Great Himalayan Range, through which the Srinagar-Leh Road passes.Sonamarg is also a base for undertaking the yatra to the holy Amarnath cave, during Sawan Purnima.
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