Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

      Srinagar is the capital city of Jammu & Kashmir. It is situated at an altitude of 1,730 m. Srinagar's population size is 725,000. It receives over 650 mm rainfall per annum. More than 50% of this is due to western disturbances. Srinagar is located around a number of lakes, of which Dal lake is the best known. The city is divided into two by the river Jhelum.

Climate: The daily average maximum temperature is 31 degree Celsius in July and 4 degree in January.
Summers: Temperatures can rise to 37 degree.

Winters: Temperatures can rise to -11 degree.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Srinagar is between May and September.

Accomodations:

• Hotel Centaur Lake View
  Chashma Shahi.
• Hotel Shahansha
• Hotel Palace.
• Dal or Nagin Lakes's houseboats, these are divided into five categories - deluxe, A, B, C and D - available at fixed prices. The deluxe houseboats are more luxurious than a hotel of similar standard.

How to reach:
Srinagar is 293 km from Jammu, 52 km from Gulmarg, 96 km from Pahalgam, 87 km from Sonamarg, 204 km from Kargil, 434 km from Leh, 876 km from Delhi, 519 km from Amritsar and 630 km from Chandigarh. 

Air: Civil airport Humhama is 15 km from the city centre. Indian Airlines and Alliance Air (a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian Airlines) flights connects Srinagar with Jammu, Delhi, and Leh. Jet Airways connect Srinagar with Delhi and Jammu. Private taxi service is available for Rs 300. The Indian Airlines Office is at Tourist Reception Centre and is open from 10 am to 4 pm. 

Rail: The nearest rail head is Jammu Tawi and there's no railway line to Srinagar, but train reservations can be made at the railway booking office at the Tourist Reception Centre for train departures from Jammu. 

Road: Srinagar is situated on National Highway-1A, which connects to all parts of the country. Buses of Jammu & Kashmir Road State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) and STRCs of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh run to Jammu from major northern cities like Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar. Some continue to Srinagar, while there are many connections from Jammu. 

Local Transport: A bus service covering all parts of the city provides an economical mode of communication. A parallel service of mini-buses also operates to most areas. The Main Bus Stand at Lal Chowk is the originating terminal for these bus services. Auto-rickshaws are also available. The rates are negotiable. Besides tourist taxis can be hires through all major hotels and travel agencies.

What to see:
Hari Parbat Fort: To the west of Dal Lake and on top of Sharika hill is the fort, which was built during reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Most of the present construction dates from 18th century. It is now occupied by Army. To enter the fort, permission from the Archaeological Department in Lal Mandi is required. On the western slope of the hill is a Parvati temple and on the southern face is the muslim shrine of Khwaja Makhdoom Sahib and the mosque of the scholar Akhund Mullah Shah .

Chatti Padshahi: It is an historic sikh Gurudwara, which commemorates the visit of Guru Hargobind to Kashmir.  

Tomb of Zain-ul-Abidin: This tomb of King Zain-ul-Abidin situated between the Zaina Kadal and Ali Kadal bridges, shows a clear Persian influence in it's domed construction and glazed tiles. 

Shankaracharya Hill: This hill was once known as Takht-i-Sulaiman, the throne of Solomon. A temple is a said to have first built here by Ashoka's son around 200 BC, but the present Hindu temple dates from Jehangir's time. From the top, one can have a fine view of Dal Lake. The Srinagar TV tower is also here. 

Pandrethan Temple: This small Siva temple dates from 900 AD and is in military cantonment area on the Jammu road out of Srinagar. 

Shah-i-Hamdan Mosque: The original mosque which was built in 1395, was destroyed by a fire in 1479 and again in 1731. The present mosque is situated on one bank of the Jhelum, shaped like a cube with a pyramidal roof rising to a spire. Access to non-muslims and women is limited. 

Pather Masjid: Situated on opposite bank of Jhelum river is the unused Pather Masjid. It was built by Nur Jahan, wife of emperor Jahangir, in 1623. 

Jami Masjid: This is one of the largest mosques in Kashmir. This wooden mosque has 300 plus pillars supporting the roof and each of them made from a single deodar trunk. It had to be rebuilt time and again due to destruction caused by fire at different point of times. 

Hazratbal Mosque: This mosque is situated on the north-west shore of Dal Lake and enshrines a hair of the prophet. The mosque is set very beautifully on shores of the lake with snowcapped peaks as backdrop. 

Razabal Tomb: It is believed to be the grave of Yuz Asaf or Jesus Christ who, according to legend, is supposed to have survived the cross and come to Kashmir, identified as the home of the lost tribe of Israel.

Shri Pratap Singh Museum: Museum situated just south of Jhelum river in Lal Mandi has an good collection of exhibits relevant to state's Buddhist and Hindu past as well as 200-year old textiles and carpets. It's open everyday from 10.30 am to 4 pm, except on Monday and on Friday it's open between 1 and 2.30 pm. Entry is free. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.

Chasma Shahi (Royal Spring): smallest of mughal gardens at Srinagar, it is situated above the Nehru Memorial Park. The gardens were laid out in 1632 but have been recently extended. These are the only gardens with an admission charge. 

Nishat Bagh (Garden of Gladness): These gardens offers superb views of Pir Panjal mountains. Designed in 1633 by Nur Jahan's brother, these are the largest of Mughals Gardens. The gardens on either side of the water course are planted with tall chinar trees, which are at its best in autumn.  

Shalimar Bagh: These gardens were built for Nur Jahan by her husband, the emperor Jahangir in 1616. These are 15 km away from Srinagar. This garden is most secluded, reached by a tree-lined canal. The central black marble pavilion in the "Zenana" or ladies' garden is surrounded by water and looks out in four directions. Be;ow, in the "Diwan-i-Am", the Hall of Public Audience, the emperor used to sit on a black marble throne above the water. Every evening from May to October there is a Sound & Light show which describes Jahangir's court. As the nearest taxi stand is five kms away it's best to keep a waiting taxi. 

Nasim Bagh: Situated 8 km from Srinagar, these gardens were built by Akbar in 1586 and are the oldest of Kashmir's Mughals Gardens.

Shikara Rides: Shikaras are long boats which crowd the Srinagar lakes. They are used for getting back and forth from the houseboats or for longer tours. It is worth to take a pleasure ride around the lake in shikara.

Dal Lake: The lake is 6.4 km long and 4 km wide and is divided into 3 parts by manmade causeways. Within the lake, are two islands which are popular picnic spots. Around the edges of lake are groves of chinar, poplar and willow. 

Nagin Lake: There are a number of houseboats on this quieter, cleaner lake.

What to shop: 
Major shopping centres are located at Bund, Boulevard, Dalgate, Lal Chowk, Polo View, Maulana Azad road and Sherwani road. Govt Arts Emporium is located on Residency roadn and the Government Central Market at the Exhigition Grounds. The place is famous for handicrafts, carpets, paper-mache articles, leather and furs, woodcarvings, shawls and embroidery, sweaters and cardigans, expensive saffron and high quality honey. The most expensive of the famous woollen shawls are the pashmina and the shahtush. Shahtush is so fine that it can be drawn through a signet ring. Jamawar shawls are covered with delicate embroidery. A familiar pattern is the amchi or mango design, which was copied by British in their country and renamed Paisley. Both shawls and carpets from Kashmir have been prized in Europe fro centuries. There is immense variety of these handknotted carpets on sale. Kashmir tweeds are of good kwality and a useful garment is the loose-fitting Pheran. Some shops are stacked full of splendid copper vessels like samovars, some plain and others with raised designs. Kashmiri craftsmen also produce richly carved furniture using locally grown walnut.

Tourists Info:

• Director of Tourism, J&K Government,
  Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar-190001.
  Tel :- (0194)-472779.
• It is also arrival and departure point for Jammu and Leh buses.

Around the city:
Sangam: 35 km north-east of Srinagar is a centre for production of cricket bats. 

Verinag:  is in extreme south of Kashmir Valley. The spring here is said to be the actual source of Jhelum river. Jehangir built an octagonal stone basin at the spring in 1612 and Shah Jahan laid out a garden around it in 1620. 

Anchar Lake: is 11 km north of Srinagar and is a popular excursion. 

Achhabal: At a height of 1,677 m and 58 km on the old route from Jammu to Srinagar is this garden, which was laid out in 1620 by Shah Jahan's daughter Jahanara. This place was renowned for it's sweet water and was a place of pilgrimage before the garden was laid out. 

Kokernag: 6 km east of Achhabal, it has a botanical garden and springs whose water is said to cure indigestion. Across the enclosure are 5 temples. There are Tourist Huts and Tourist Bungalow. 

Pampore: only 16 km south-east of Srinagar is this place, which is centre of Kashmir's saffron industry. 

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