Facts & Figures :
| Area |
: |
468 sq. km |
| Population |
: |
725,000 |
| Languages |
: |
Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, and English |
| Best time to visit |
: |
April–June |
| STD Code |
: |
0194 |
INTRODUCTION....Srinagar is the
summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is the pride of the
beautiful valley of Kashmir. Srinagar is famous for its lakes and the
charming rows of houseboats floating on them. It is also known for
traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits.
SRINAGAR
LOCATION.... 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.
SRINAGAR
HISTORY.... The history of the Kashmir valley has been turbulent.
In the 3rd century bc, it was a part of the great Mauryan Empire. Later on,
this region flourished under the rule of the Kushans in the 1st century ad.
It was an important Buddhist center around this time. In the 6th century, it
was a part of the kingdom of Vikramaditya, the ruler of Ujjain. Local Hindu
rulers ruled it until the 14th century, after which Muslims invaded and
ruled it. Srinagar was a part of the Mughal Empire in the medieval period.
However, with the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rule of the Pathans,
the fortunes of the area gradually dwindled. In 1814, it became a part of
the Sikh empire, when Ranjit Singh defeated the Pathans. However, the
British defeated Ranjit Singh and according to the treaty of Lahore in 1846,
they installed Gulab Singh as the independent ruler of Kashmir. The
descendents of Gulab Singh ruled Kashmir under the vigilance of the British
till 1947. Hari Singh, the great grandson of Gulab Singh, merged this
princely state into India in 1948, when Pathan marauders from Pakistan tried
to overrun this state.
CLIMATE.... The
best time to visit Srinagar is during summers between April and June.
SITES
TO VISIT IN SRINAGAR..... The valley of Kashmir, in which Srinagar
is located, is also referred to as being a heaven on earth. The Mughal
emperor Jahangir was so captivated by the beauty of this valley that he
exclaimed “Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin
asto” (If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here,
it’s here). There are a number of tourist places in and around
Srinagar.
The Dal Lake is an important tourist attraction of
Srinagar. It is located on the eastern end of the city. The Dal Lake
comprises of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 km from the
city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains surrounding
Srinagar from this lake. Travelers can enjoy taking a ride on traditional
Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways of
this lake. The other major attractions of Srinagar city are the well laid
out Mughal styled gardens. The Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh are
beautiful gardens located to the far eastern side of the Dal Lake. One can
take a stroll amongst these green and attractive gardens and enjoy the
waterworks within them.
The temple of Shankaracharya is another important place to
visit in Srinagar. Jaluka, the son of emperor Ashoka, built it in the 3rd
century bc.
SHOPPING IN SRINAGAR.... Srinagar
is famous for its traditional Kashmiri handicrafts. Craft items from
Srinagar make good souvenirs. There are also a number of utilitarian items
of daily use. Woolen and silk carpets from Srinagar are a specialty; they
are not only known for their highly intricate decorations and patterns,
which show a strong Islamic/Persian influence, they are also renowned for
their durability and subtle colors.
Chain-stitch carpets from
Srinagar are also popular craft items. Travelers can purchase exquisite
papier-mâché items such as boxes, vases, replicas of samovar
(metal container used for heating water for tea), houseboat models, etc., in
all shapes and having bright colors and designs.
The handicrafts
repertoire of Kashmir is incomplete without woolen shawls and woodcarving.
Travelers can purchase richly embroidered woolen shawls in all colors and
intricate designs in Srinagar. Apart from regular woolen shawls, one can
also buy Pashmina shawls made from the hair of ibex, which are highly valued
shawls made in Kashmir. As Kashmir is the only state in India where walnut
trees grow, craftsmen here create intricate carvings on walnut wood to make
items like tables, chairs, stools, fruit bowls, partitions, etc., that have
rich floral and trellis patterns carved on them.
HOW
TO REACH SRINAGAR..... Srinagar is well connected by air with
Delhi. There is a daily flight to Delhi via Jammu by Indian airlines (Ph.
452328, 450257). There are weekly flights operated by Indian Airlines for
Leh from Srinagar. Srinagar does not have a railway station and the nearest
railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is 305 km from Srinagar. However, it is well
connected by road to important places like Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876
km), Jammu (298 km), Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. The main
bus station is at Lal Chowk, which is the city center. Travelers can use
auto-rickshaws and mini-buses to move around the city.
