Srinagar travel guide: Conveyance, lodging and attractions

Lake city Srinagar is the summer capital of the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir. It is also known by the name of "The city of Saraswati" and people often call it "Srinagri" which means the city of wealth and beauty. The great King Ashoka is the founder of this ancient city. Once king Ashoka went on a world tour with his daughter, Charumati. The natural beauty of this place left her spellbound and chanted. The emperor built a rest house or vihara at the request of her beloved daughter. Later, this Vihara transformed into Janapada or city. Since this Janapada was blessed with the serenity and beauty of nature, it got its name as Srinagar. It was also once known as Parvasenpur because it was founded by King Parvasena. This fact is also stated in the writings of Hiuen Tsang and Kalhana. The total area of the city is 294 square Kilometers and the official languages spoken here are Kashmiri and Urdu.

How to reach here?

Lodging and food

Attractions

• Shalimar Bagh: The garden was built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan. The area of the rectangular garden is 530X182 meter. It is decorated with different species of beautiful flowers, fountains and springs. There is a nominal entry fee of RS ten to RS 20 for the tourists to enter the garden.


• Nishat Bagh: This garden was built in 1633 by Nur Jahan's brother, Asaf khan.


• Chashme Shahi or the Chashma Shahi: It means the royal spring as it got its name from a spring, near it. The garden was built by Shah Jahan in 1632. This spring water flowing in the garden is special because it helps in digestion and gets relief from weariness. The first prime minister of India.


• Siraj Bagh: In the way of Chashma Shahi, near the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden, Siraj Bagh is situated. The garden is also known as the Tulip Garden. When flowers bloom on more than one lakh flower shrubs, the view becomes fabulous and heart warming. Though this is the biggest Tulip garden in Asia, it remains usually close most of the year. It opens for only 15 days for the visitors when the tulip blooms in a particular season. The entry fee to this garden is five times more than any other gardens of the region. Most of the gardens remain close on Friday.


• Hazratbal Shrine: On the western bank of the Dal Lake, is the most holy relic of the Muslims. More than a thousand years ago, the holy hair of the prophet Hazrat Muhammad brought and preserved here from the Medina. On important days and occasions, it is brought out for the people. Women are not allowed to enter the main area of the shrine.


• Shankaracharya Temple: The temple locates at the top of a hill on the South east of the Srinagar city. One has to climb 243 steps to reach the temple. Mobile, camera, leather belt, cigarettes, match boxes are prohibited. Earlier, the name of this hill was Takht-e-Suleiman which means the throne of the king. A Shiva temple built here by the son of King Ashoka. When Shankaracharya was touring India he came to to this place. He sat in meditation on the top of the hill and from that time the place or hill is known as the Shankaracharya temple.


• Nehru Park: Below the Shankaracharya Mountain, situated around the Dal Lake region in the Gagribal Island is the Nehru Park. In the memory of the first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, this park has been constructed.


• Char Chinar: It is also known by the name of Char Chinari, Rupa Lank. It is an island at the top of Dal lake. Prince Murad Baksh planted four chinar trees at the four corners.


• Harwan Garden: It is in the Harwan village, 19 kilometers away from Srinagar. At the time of Ashoka, the great Buddhist council was held here. The city depends on the water supply from here. Besides, the Dal Lake, Nagin park, Gagribal park lures the tourists here.


• Jamia Masjid: It is in the old city region, Nowhatta. Sultan Sikandar built this mosque which is the hallmark of silence and peace. Every Friday, people gather around the mosque for prayer. It has a big courtyard with 370 pillars. More than 10,000 people could offer prayer here at a time.