Srinagar

There are plenty of tourist attractions in Srinagar. You may cover the major ones in maximum two days. Some of the temples are outside the city for which you might need a separate day. You can also manage it by getting up early to visit the temples first. If you have a pre booked taxi, then you do not need to worry or else you may even take a local auto to visit these places. We have provided an itinerary to help you plan your trip here. The important ones are as under:

Dal Lake :

This iconic lake is termed as “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel“. The perimeter stretches a vast 15.5 kilometers with an area of 18 square kilometers. It offers a stunning view from all around. It forms part of a larger wetland divided into four basins. There is a small island, the famous “Char Chinari“, in one of the four basins called “Lokut-dal“. Well, you can see only one prominent chinar tree currently. Three of them dried up. The Mughal era gardens are located beside the lake and offer scenic views of the lake.

The prominent feature of this famous lake are the houseboats and shikaras that adorn the view. A number of colourful house-boats lining the boulevard give the lake a lively look. There are fountains located on the sides in the lake. You should take a shikara ride for 1 or 2 hours to explore the beauty of Dal Lake and the attached Nigeen Lake. It might cost you somewhere around 600-700 per person. You will also find floating markets which are very popular among tourists. A ride along the boulevard road would offer you excellent views of Dal Lake even without taking a shikara. Although most of the things are dilapidated, the vastness of the lake and scenic beauty all around is worth in itself. The lake is an important source of commercial operations.

Mughal Gardens

The famous Mughal gardens built in the Mughal era by Emperor Jehangir, provide a calm beauty to the valley city of Srinagar. Nishat Bagh (terraced garden) and Shalimar Bagh (largest) are located around the Dal lake. Chashme Shahi garden is located at the start of the hill to Pari Mahal. You can enjoy the clouds descending on the hills around while taking a stroll through the gardens. Very well maintained and growing seasonal flowers along with huge chinar trees, they are a must visit for any tourist.

Temples

There are a few very historical temples in Kashmir. Most popular being the Shankaracharya temple and Shree Kheer Bhawani temple. While Shankaracharya temple is located on a hilltop in Srinagar overlooking the city of Srinagar, Kheer Bhawani temple is located amidst a spring in the Ganderbal district around 35 km.

Lal Chowk

This is a symbolic landmark of Srinagar. The lal chowk is a local market area. It has the centrally located clock tower made of red bricks. You will find a number of shops lined on the both sides of the road. A must visit place for shopping Kashmiri fabrics, shawls, winter wear and of course, dry fruits. You can get scarves, boots, gloves, socks, sweaters, jackets etc. from the flea market in this area. They prices are reasonable as well.

Pari Mahal

Quite close to the Chashme Shahi garden Pari Mahal is also a terraced garden monument that served as a library and resting place for Dara Shikoh, the Mughal emperor who had it built. It offers a great view of the Dal lake and the city of Srinagar.

Hari Parbat Fort

It is a beautiful fort located in downtown area of Srinagar. You may arrive by the taxi. It was known as Kooh e Maran and was rebuilt by Afghan governor Atta Mohammad Khan. To reach the main premise from the entrance you have to climb 150 odd stairs. One interesting fact of the fort is that it houses a mosque, a gurudwara, a shrine and a temple as well. There are ponds inside the fort too. Historians say that this fort was used by emperor Akbar when in Kashmir. Due to lack of proper upkeep, the fort is dilapidated. Although, restoration work is going on.

Jamia Masjid

This Masjid is located in old city or the downtown as they call it. It has structure unlike most dome shaped mosques we find in India. I was fascinated by its unique architecture. Covering an area of about 13,600 square meters, its walls are made of burned bricks. It has lawns and fountains in its courtyard. It has 4 huge entrances. There are local shops all around its enclosure selling almost everything. You can get a glimpse of Hari Parbat also from its campus. It is one of the largest mosques in Kashmir and is a prime tourist attraction.

Downtown Srinagar

Downtown Srinagar is the old city of Srinagar. This area is resplendent with houses as old as 200 years. It is a busy area with shops lining the narrow streets. There is a different life to this place. You will find shops selling masalas and dried vegetables along with plenty of food stalls. All traditional Kashmiri food is available in these stalls and restaurants. You should try the juicy kebabs available here.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

This is the most famous garden of Srinagar. Its major attraction are the colourful tulips that are grown here. This is the largest tulip garden in Asia. This is also a terraced garden which has daffodils, hyacinths and ranunculus apart from tulips. But, if you want to see the tulips you will have to visit Srinagar in April as a tulip festival is organized here in late March or April for visitors. You will get a feel of Netherlands here.