Srinagar Tourism

Also known as Aswoun Shahar, this Buddhist city was the capital of King Lalitaditya’s kingdom approximately in the 8th century BC. The monument is located in North Kashmir in Pattan, about 19.8km from Srinagar. Lalitaditya built three major buildings here: Sootopa for religious ceremonies and discussions, the royal court called Rajbihari, and Chatiya, a place where assemblies were heldand important decisionsweretaken. The city and buildings were destroyed in a battle between Lalitaditya and Shivas. Currently, the ruins of these buildings have been declared as a “monument of national importance” by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

This old mosque was built in 1623 by the Mughal Empress NurJahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir. Unlike most wooden structures in the area, this unique building is made of stone and showcases fabulous Mughal architecture. Surrounded by a beautiful garden, this monument attracts a lot of visitors. 

Besides the historical monuments and the lakes, parks and gardens in Srinagar, there are several activities which might interest children. Kids will enjoy zorbing near the Sangin Gate at Hari Parbat. They also might find it interesting to visit one of the willow cricket bat and cricket ball factories in Srinagar to understand how these sports products are manufactured. Another interesting destination for children would be the Nagin Lake where they can take a ride in a fiberglass bottomed boat and see the aquatic flora and fauna in the lake up close. Children may also like camping and trekking on some of the easier circuits in the area. You can take your children on a trip to one of the apple orchards and help them pluck fresh apples from the trees. The Dachigam National Park, 22 km from Srinagar, is another option for kids who wish to see wild animals. 

Hazratbal is one of the most well-known religious spots in Srinagar. This snowy white mosque is famous for a relic stored within: a hair of Prophet Mohammed. The mosque is a revered pilgrimage spot for Muslims and is a must-visit. Set amidst beautiful locales and next to the Dal Lake, the Hazratbal Mosque showcases beautiful Persian architecture and a very tall minaret. The mosque is a heritage symbol for the city of Srinagar. 

Set atop the picturesque Shankaracharya hill, this ancient temple was built in the 11th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The hills are considered sacred since 250 BC. 

A very important pilgrimage spot for Sikhs, the Chatti Patshahi Gurdwara is associated with the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh. The Gurudwara is located near theHari Parbat Fort.

Located about 3.7km away from Srinagar, this shrine is located in the Khanyar district. Thousands of Christian and Muslim devotees visit the shrine every year. This shrine is somewhat controversial as the Christians believe that it is the tomb of Jesus Christ while the Muslims believe that the tomb is of a renowned saint Yuz Asaf. The shrine is extremely old and has been in existence since before the 14th century. 

The mosque was built in the 14th century by SikandarButshikan and is one of themost visited religious places in Srinagar. The mosque has very unique architecture and unlike most mosques which have domes and minarets, this mosque has spires. The mosque is also famous for the 350 wooden pillars which support it. Each pillar is made of a single deodar tree trunk.

This was the mosque where the hair of Prophet Mohammed was kept before it was moved to Hazratbal. This mosque was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and is renowned for its beautiful ceilings and architecture.

Both of these religious spots are located on the Hari Parbat. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Jagdamba Sharika, a manifestation of Goddess Durga with 18 arms. This shrine belongs to the famous Sufi saint Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom and is revered by Muslim pilgrims. 

This Emporium is located in Lal Chowk near the Ghanta Ghar. Although it was built to selland promote Kashmiri handicrafts and the artisans who make them, it beautifully showcases Kashmiri heritage and culture. 

This one-of-its-kind floating post office is actually a large boat moored in the Dal Lake. The post office is operational and also boasts of being one of the finest philatelic museums. It houses one of the most enviable collections of Indian stamps. Beautiful picture postcards are also sold from this post office as souvenirs. 

Also known as the Mughal Gardens, this is a Persian-style garden made by Jahangir for his wife NurJahan in 1619. It is the largest garden in the Kashmir Valley and is linked to the Dal Lake with a channel.

There is no dearth of restaurants in Srinagar. There is something for all tastes and budgets. Mughal Darbar on Residency Road is one the best restaurants in Srinagar. You may also try Adhoos (Residency Road), Lhasa Restaurant (Boulevard Road), Solomon’s Barbeque (Durganag Road), Café De Linz (Court Road) and Café Arabica (M A Road).

Kashmiri cuisine is very rich and flavoursome and has prominent earthy and tangy flavours. You must try dishes like Roganjosh, Kashur Gaad, Gushtaba, Dum Olu and Tekh, which is a local mutton dish. For your sweet tooth try Shufta, Modur Pulao and Phirun. While in Srinagar, do drink the local beverage,Kahwa, which is a spiced tea with saffron and almonds, and Nun Chai, a pink, salty tea. 

There are no discotheques in Srinagar. However, you can use the dance floor in the Zaiqa Restaurant in Batamaloo. 

The Dal Bar in The Lalit Grand Palace and Undress in Hotel Broadway, Link Road are some popular bars in Srinagar. Also, Lounge Seven is a popular pub at Munawar Abad.

Srinagar has a very famous flea market on Sundays called the Sunday Market. The market is in Lal Chowk, Munshi Bagh. It is a hub for Kashmiri handicrafts, jewellery, spices and other goods.

Given the fact that Grindelwald is a winter sports centre, most of the shops in the area cater to sporting needs. Here, visitors can pick from a range of sporting goods, some affordable and some from premium North American and European brands. Apart from this, the shops in Grindelwald also support seasonal local economy, selling everything from trinkets to memorabilia. These shops often last only during tourist seasons and are taken apart during the rest of the year. Those looking to shop for a little more luxury should visit the Casa Grande, Beim Bahnhof, a store with genuine Swiss watches as well as jewellery.

There are several street markets in Srinagar. The most famous market is Lal Chowk in Munshi Nagar. There is also Residency Road, Sonwar Main Bazar, Polo View Market, Badshah Chowk Market and Central Market near the airport. A must visit is the Floating Vegetable Market in the Dal Lake.

Kashmiri music is very popular and most Kashmiris are ardent fans of music and dance. While in Kashmir, you must catch a cultural program which features one or many of the performing arts of Kashmir such as Rouf, Ladishah, Sufi dances and Qawwalis. 

There are several places in and around Srinagar which offer quality spa services to relax and rejuvenate. Most of the spas are in luxury hotels. The most popular ones are the Rejuve Spa in The Lalit Grand Palace and the spa in Vivanta by Taj. At a distance of 50km in Gulmarg is the Khyber Spa by L’Occitane located in The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa. The most popular standalone spa is the Health Bay Fitness and Spa Café in the Mir Mall on Municipal Road. 

Activities in Grindelwald range from the adrenaline pumping winter sports to relaxing spas and wellness centres. Here, folks looking for exhilarating experiences should either hit the slopes during the winter season or set off on a hike or a long walk down Grindelwald’s scenic trails. Either way, each of these excursions is worth experiencing and is memorable to say the least.

Located about 24km away from Srinagar, these ruins are 4,500 years old. The ruins are actual remnants of an ancient human settlement in the valley. Many Neolithic relics like tools, earthenware and carvings etc. were excavated at this site. The site would be of great interest to anyone who is involved in archaeology.

The best way to soak in the beauty of Kashmir and feel connected with nature is to take a Shikara ride on the Dal Lake or stay in a houseboat. Besides, there are several campsites around Srinagar which would give you the opportunity to experience nature at its best. You can also go for nature walks in one of the beautiful gardens or bird watch.

Besides the architectural monuments, natural landmarks, markets and gardens, Srinagar’s most famous landmark is the Government Silk Weaving Factory. This ancient factory was established in 1938 and is still operational. There are also some popular clubs in Srinagar such as the Kashmir Golf Club.

Srinagar is famous throughout the world for its fine culture and handicrafts. Most of the population follows Islam and a minority of the people are Hindus, Sikhs and Tibetans. There are also tribes like the Dogras and the Gujjars in Srinagar. As a result, the state has a diversified cultural heritage. There are various types of folk music like Chakri, Ladishah, Sufi and Rouf, and folk dances like Bhand Pather, Hafizaand Bhand Jashan are popular. The Dogra tribes are famous for their beautiful jewellery. 

This lake is known to be the deepest lake in India and is situated in the Ganderbal district, about 30km from Srinagar. 

The national park is situated 22km from Srinagar. The dense forests and the pastures in the national park are home to rich flora and fauna. There are more than 50 trees and shrubs and 500 varietiesof herbs growing in the park. It is also home to the Kashmiri Stag (Hangul) which is a highly endangered species. The other animals in the national park are Himalayan black bears, leopards, marmots, red foxes, jackals, civets and several birds and reptiles.

Located in the Bandipora district about 59.3km away from Srinagar, the Wular Lake is one of the largest and oldest freshwater lakes in Asia. The lake has rich flora and fauna and is nestled between the scenic Himalayas and green meadows. There are provisions for water sports, boating in shikaras and fishing. 

This lake is situated on the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range near Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya Hill. This lake is famous for its pristine waters and panoramic views. The lake shares an embankment with the Dal Lake. 

This is a major sightseeing tourist attraction in Srinagar. Dal Lake is synonymous with Kashmir and is the second largest lake in the state. This beautiful lake is also known as the ‘Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir’ and is an important location for commercial activities like tourism, fishing and water plant harvesting. The lake is surrounded by lovely gardens like Shalimar Baghand Nishat Bagh. You can also take a shikara or a gondola ride in the lake. In July, the lake is dotted with floating Lotus flowers. There are several houseboats in the lake which provide lodging to the tourists which is an experience of a lifetime. 

There is a lot to things to do in Srinagar, however, if you have some extra time in your hands and would like to visit the places nearby then it would be a good idea to include some popular tourist destinations in the vicinity of Srinagar. The most famous of all in the valley are Gulmarg (50km),Sonmarg(81km), Pahalgam (86.9km) and Yusmarg (47.6km).

This is also a Mughal-style terraced garden near Dal Lake. This is the second largest garden in Kashmir after Shalimar Bagh. There are twelve terraces in the garden and each holds its own importance. The architecture and layout of the garden is stunning. 

This garden was established in 1969 and has many varieties of oak and other ornamental plants. It also houses some rare Kashmiri tropical plants. 

This garden was previously had names such as Chashm-e-Shahi and Siraj Bagh. This garden is the largest tulip garden in Asia. Situated on the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range, it overlooks the magnificent Dal Lake. There are over two million tulip flowers in this garden spread over an area of 12 hectares. 

The museum is a historical building and belongs to the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. This museum was established in the year 1898 and houses some rare artefacts and Buddhist terracotta heads dating back to the 3rd century BC. 

This ancient monument was built by Dara Shikoh, son of Emperor Shah Jahan in the mid-1600s, in honour of his tutor. PariMahal literally means ‘Fairies’ Abode’ and this structure is actually a seven-terraced garden built over the remnants of a Buddhist monastery. In the past, this place was mainly used as an observatory and a location to learn astrology and astronomy.

This is a Durrani fort located on the Hari Parbat hill. The fort was built in 1808 by Shuja Shah Durrani. There are two gateways to the fort called the Kathi Darwazaand the Sangin Darwaza. These gates of are beautifully built and are monuments in their own right. It is said that the first fortification on this hill dates back to 1590 and was carried out by Mughal Emperor Akbar. 

Also known as Aswoun Shahar, this Buddhist city was the capital of King Lalitaditya’s kingdom approximately in the 8th century BC. The monument is located in North Kashmir in Pattan, about 19.8km from Srinagar. Lalitaditya built three major buildings here: Sootopa for religious ceremonies and discussions, the royal court called Rajbihari, and Chatiya, a place where assemblies were heldand important decisionsweretaken. The city and buildings were destroyed in a battle between Lalitaditya and Shivas. Currently, the ruins of these buildings have been declared as a “monument of national importance” by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.