This summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir is in the wish list of many travellers, who want to see the beauty that Kashmir stands for. A paradise on earth, Srinagar was under the dark veil of militancy for over 15 years that ensured not many people visit this region. Srinagar was once the popular location for filming romantic Bollywood songs. Fortunately the paradise is not lost and travellers are coming back to take in the views of a city, which is scenically stunning and is steeped in history and culture.
Srinagar is believed to have been established by King Pravarasena – II some 2000 years ago. Its history dates back to the times of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka, the Maurya King introduced Buddhism in the region but with the coming of the Muslim rulers in the 14th ce
+ more about SrinagarThis summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir is in the wish list of many travellers, who want to see the beauty that Kashmir stands for. A paradise on earth, Srinagar was under the dark veil of militancy for over 15 years that ensured not many people visit this region. Srinagar was once the popular location for filming romantic Bollywood songs. Fortunately the paradise is not lost and travellers are coming back to take in the views of a city, which is scenically stunning and is steeped in history and culture.
Srinagar is believed to have been established by King Pravarasena – II some 2000 years ago. Its history dates back to the times of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka, the Maurya King introduced Buddhism in the region but with the coming of the Muslim rulers in the 14th century, Islam became the main religion in the area. The Hindu and Buddhist rule of Srinagar lasted till 14th centuries.
Srinagar lies in Kashmir Valley and is located on the banks of the Jhelum. Srinagar is about 300 km north of Jammu, the winter capital of the state. The city is located at an altitude of 1730 meters above sea level. The very mention of the word Srinagar brings images of the Dal Lake, house boats, dry fruits and Kashmiri carpets. The word Srinagar has come from two Sanskrit words – Sri (meaning abundance & wealth) and Nagar (meaning a city). Thus Srinagar etymologically signifies a place of wealth.
Srinagar occupies an important place in the tourism map of the state. The city is the gateway to other lovely destinations in the Kashmir valley. The beautiful hill station and popular ski resort – Gulmarg - is just 50 km from the city. There are beautiful lakes and gardens that draw travellers from different parts of the country and the world. The Dal and Nagin lakes are two popular lakes in the city. Just outside Srinagar are beautiful gardens founded by Mughal Emperors, which include Chasma Shahi, Pari Mahal, Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh. Asia’s largest Tulip Garden opened recently by Sonia Gandhi is another popular attraction on the outskirts of the city.
There is an interesting story about how the houseboats were introduced in Kashmir. Officers of the Indian Civil Services used to come for holiday in Srinagar but they were not permitted to build permanent homes because of the then Maharaja’s suspicion of a British presence in Srinagar. Thus they started living in houseboats. The first such boat named – Victory – was designed by M T Kenhard in 1888. Today, staying in a houseboat is an integral part of any trip to Srinagar.
- hide more about SrinagarWhat was truly a site worth seeing in Srinagar was how the city center has changed over the years. Driving through the old city center called ''Zainekdal'' or ''Khanyaar'' was like driving through a ghost town. The taxi driver informed us that people had moved out of this part of town to safer parts of the city. The steep sloping roofs, wooden construction and narrow streets all have stories to tell. Moving to the current city center, called Lal Chowk you see the crowds. This is where you see the progress being made by the city. However, the disparity and unbalanced growth which has become a characteristic of all modern Indian cities is clearly present in Srinagar as well. It was heartening to see atleast 3 cleaning boats working to make the Dal lake cleaner.