FAMOUS PLACES
Explore The Opulent Beauty of Kashmir
Mesmerising Dal Lake
When you think of Srinagar, the prime tourist destination that comes to mind is Dal Lake. This beautiful lake in the heart of Srinagar is the perfect place to start your trip. The water of this lake is crystal clear, and it reflects the Pir Pangal mountains surrounding you.
You can even live on this lake in houseboats, which is a unique experience that you must try when visiting Dal Lake in Srinagar. The magnificent Dal Lake is located just 7 km from the city centre of Srinagar
Shikara Rides at Dal Lake
Dal Lake is such an amazing spot among Srinagar places to visit; there is a lot you can do and experience before you have seen/done everything. Staying on houseboats on Dal Lake is an experience. However, you can also go on scenic Shikara rides on the lake. Among things to do in Srinagar, this is a must.
The Shikharas that resemble the gondolas of Venice are the best way for you to do a quick tour of the lake and unabashedly take in its incredible natural beauty. The best time for you to go on these rides would be in the morning or close to sunset.
Tulip Garden
Located close to the mesmerising Dal lake, this beautiful garden is also a must-visit tourist spot in Srinagar. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the largest Tulip garden in Asia. If you can visit it here during the annual Tulip Festival, you will be absolutely astounded by the beauty of this garden.
The best part is this garden is located at the base of the Zabarwan mountains range, where you can see these beautiful flowers as long as your eyes can see during bloom. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is located close to Dal Lake and just 8 km from the city centre of Srinagar.
Shalimar Bagh
There are three Mughal-era gardens located in Srinagar, the biggest of which is the Shalimar Bagh. A beautiful combination of natural beauty combined with human architecture, this garden is a fantastic tourist spot for both nature and history lovers. The beauty of this garden is such that it is considered the crown of Srinagar.
From beautiful greenery to waterfalls, fountains and Chinar trees, there is a lot you can find in this garden. So make sure you visit them on your next trip to Srinagar. The Shalimar Bagh is located just 10 km from the city centre of Srinagar. You can conveniently travel to this tourist spot using public transport available from the city centre.
Nishat Bagh
Nishat Bagh, also known popularly as the garden of pleasures, is the second-largest Mughal-era garden in Srinagar. This 11-terraced garden is well designed, featuring beautiful walkways and fountains. The tall Chinar trees on each side, and the central waterway creates the mesmerising look of these gardens, which were built sometime in the late 17th century.
You can learn a lot about ancient history when you visit these gardens, so make sure to add/put these gardens on your list of places to visit in Srinagar on your next trip. The Nishat Bagh is located close to the Shalimar Bagh and even closer to the city centre with a distance of only 9 km.
Chashme Shahi Bagh
Completing the series with the third and final Mughal-era garden in Srinagar, the Chasme Shahi Bagh is a beautiful garden that was built over 300 years ago. Even though this garden is the smallest compared to the other two mentioned previously, the natural views you can find in these gardens are unparalleled. With dotted walkways, fountains, pools, and a variety of plants, there is no shortage of spectacles for you to enjoy in these gardens.
This garden also features a natural spring known as Rupa Bhawani, which is a unique natural phenomenon that you must see when you visit these gardens. The Chasme Shahi Bagh is the closest to you when you are travelling from the city centre of Srinagar as it is located just 8 km away. You can take a trip to all these three Mughal-era gardens on a day’s trip using local public transport.
Pari Mahal
Located above the Chasme Shahi Bagh, the Pari Mahal is a magnificent palace with a long lineage of history. The palace, which once served as a Buddhist Monastery, was then promoted into an Astrology school by the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh.
This beautiful palace is surrounded by an equally beautiful and well-maintained garden. This is an impressive historical monument that has stood tall for hundreds of years and is sure to surprise and wonder you with its mesmerising beauty. The Pari Mahal is located just 7 km from the city centre of Srinagar.
Hari Parbat
The Hari Parbat Fort is an exceptional example of human architecture. Built on top of the Hari Parbat hill by the Durrani dynasty over 200 years ago, visiting this fort can be one of the highlights of your Srinagar trip. You can see an aerial view of the entire city of Srinagar from this fort.
You can also see the majestic Himalayas behind you, with the Sheen Myean peak of Gulmarg towering over you. It is an incredible viewpoint and tourist spot that you simply can not miss. The Hari Parbat Fort is located very close to the city centre of Srinagar at a distance of only 3 km from Srinagar.
Wular Lake
The Wular lake in Srinagar is the largest freshwater lake in India. It is an amazing place for animal lovers as hundreds of birds and animals can be seen close to the lake. Apart from the natural beauty of the Wular lake, you can also enjoy a lot of adventurous activities here, such as water skiing, boating, and other water sports.
Even though Dal lake gets most of the recognition as the premier lake to visit in Srinagar, Wular lake will also surprise you. So make sure you visit Wular lake on your next trip to Srinagar. Wular Lake is located at a distance of only 37 km from the city centre of Srinagar.
Ramkot Fort
The fort was built by a Gakkhar, named Sultan Adam Khan Ghakkar, in 16th century. It is located on the edges of the Mangla Dam.
The last known holder of the fort was Sikhs but again after British Government arrived then Ghakkars taken back their fort & basically it was located in village Sultanpure District Jhelum the boundary of Pakistan & Jammu Kashmir.During Mangla Dam construction it was taken by Wapda & it’s land record still in the area of District Jhelum but managed by PoK.
Bangus Valley
One of the relatively unknown areas of Kashmir with vast tourism potential is the valley of Bangus. Lying within the Trans-Himalayan area. Bangus is a unique ecological combination comprising a mountain biome, which includes grassland biome with flora at lower altitudes; and Taiga or Coniferous forest. The valley which lies at an altitude of around 10,000 ft. above sea level is in the northern part of district Kupwara within the Handwara sub District.
The valley is surrounded by Rajwar and Mawar in the east, Shamasabari and Dajlungun Mountains in the west and Chowkibal and Karnah Guli in the north. A smaller valley known as Lokut Bangus (Small Bangus) lies on the north-eastern side of the main valley. Both the valleys have level green meadows surrounded by low-lying mountains covered with dense Coniferous forests (budloo) and a stream flowing through them.
Shri Amarnath Ji
Amarnath Cave is a Hindu shrine located in Mount Amarnath in Pahalgam tehsil of Anantnag district. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft) and is located about 168 km from Anantnag city and 141 km from Srinagar.
The cave is a holy place for Hindu pilgrims, because of its ice content. The ice pillar present inside the cave is also called ice lingham, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Two smaller ice stalagmite represent Parvati, his wife, and Ganesha, his son. The Hindu pilgrims also believe, that the height of the lingham increases and decreases with the phases of the moon. In the month of Shravan, on full moon in August, thousands of Hindus go on a pilgrimage up to the cave. At this time the lingam reaches its biggest size. The temples of Mattan, Martand, Anantnag and Bijbehara which fall enroute are also worth seeing.
Martand Sun Temple
The Martand Sun Temple is a medieval period Hindu shrine near the city of Anantnag. It was devoted to Surya, Hinduism’s greatest solar deity; Surya is also called as Martand in Sanskrit language, hence the name. Sikandar Shah Miri had the temple demolished once.
As per Kalhana, Lalitaditya Muktapida constructed the Martand Sun Temple in the 8th century AD. As per Jonaraja and Hasan Ali, Sikandar Shah Miri (1389-1413) demolished the temple in a bid to Islamize society on the suggestion of a Sufi cleric named Mir Muhammad Hamadani. Multiple earthquakes severely destroyed the remains and relics of the temple.
The Martand temple is located on a plateau with a panoramic view of the whole Kashmir Valley. It was an exceptional example of the Kashmiri style of architecture, which had integrated the Gandharan, Gupta, and Chinese types of architecture, according to the remnants and associated archaeological discoveries. The temple includes a colonnaded courtyard with its main shrine in the middle and 84 lesser shrines around it, extending 220 feet in length and 142 feet wide in total and integrating a former temple.
Sharika Devi Temple
When you think of Srinagar, the prime tourist destination that comes to mind is Dal Lake. This beautiful lake in the heart of Srinagar is the perfect place to start your trip. The water of this lake is crystal clear, and it reflects the Pir Pangal mountains surrounding you.
You can even live on this lake in houseboats, which is a unique experience that you must try when visiting Dal Lake in Srinagar. The magnificent Dal Lake is located just 7 km from the city centre of Srinagar
Ratti Gali Lake
Ratti Gali Lake is an alpine glacial lake which is located in Neelum Valley, PoK. The lake is located at an altitude of 3,683 metres (12,083 ft). The lake is fed by the surrounding glacier waters of the mountains.
Ganga Choti
Ganga Choti is a picturesque mountain located near Sudhan Gali village in Bagh district of PoK. It is a member of the Pir Panjal range and stands at one end of the Pir Mastan National Park. Ganga Peak is a main attraction for tourists visiting PoK.
Mangla Dam
The Mangla Dam (Urdu: منگلا بند) is a multipurpose dam situated on the Jhelum River in the Mirpur District of PoK. It is the sixth-largest dam in the world. The village of Mangla, which sits at the mouth of the dam, serves as its namesake. In November 1961, the project’s selected contractors were revealed; it was announced that Binnie & Partners, a British engineering firm, was going to serve as the lead designers, engineers, and inspectors for the construction of the dam (led by Geoffrey Binnie). The project was undertaken by a consortium known as the Mangla Dam Contractors, which consisted of eight American construction firms sponsored by the Guy F. Atkinson Company based in South San Francisco, California
Mangla Fort
Mangla is the site of the historic Mangla Fort. The fort is situated on a high hill overlooking the Jhelum river, dividing the Mirpur and Jhelum districts. A part of Mangla fort was razed during the construction of the Mangla Dam, however, a large part remains and serves as a public recreation place.