Lifestyle,  Travel

Exploring the Scenic Beauty and Cultural Richness of Srinagar

Srinagar, located in the Kashmir Valley, is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It boasts picturesque landscapes, historical landmarks, and a rich culture. The city’s unique position in the valley enhances its appeal to tourists. Whether you’re interested in exploring mountain lakes, touring colourful gardens, or delving into historical sites, Srinagar has it all. For accommodation, book your stay at a Srinagar 5 star hotel to complement your enjoyable visit with luxury and excellent service.

Dal Lake

Boat houses on Dal are believed to be the jewel of Srinagar. This beautiful lake is located in the backdrop of the great Himalayas and is decked up with beautiful houseboats and Shikaras. A romantic boat ride on Dal Lake on a Shikara is a must for the people, as it gives a fantastic ride and shows the floating gardens and markets of the lake. They can mainly be found in Dal Lake and refer to houses built on water, providing tourists with an opportunity to sleep on water.

Mughal Gardens

Srinagar has many Mughal gardens, which underline the history and essence of Mughal horticulture. Some of the popular ones are Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi. These gardens are thoughtfully laid out with lawns that slope down gently, water fountains that dramatically cascade down, and flower beds that are a riot of colours. One can take a walk through any of these gardens and get a small feeling of what it was like to be a Mughal emperor, or just take a break and steer away from the busyness of life and enjoy nature.

Shankaracharya Temple

Situated on Shankaracharya Hill, the Shankaracharya Temple is a very old temple that belongs to a Hindu temple dedicated to God Shiva. From the top of the temple, one can see the entire area of the city, Dal Lake, and even the snow-clad Himalayas. The historical background and the environment of peace make this temple of great relevance in the spiritual and cultural sectors of Srinagar.

Hazratbal Shrine

Hazratbal Maulana Sher Lunch is one of the premier Muslim shrines in Srinagar. Built on the shores of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, this is a beautiful white marble mosque that contains the hair of the Prophet Muhammad. According to the locals, the shrine is considered sacred, and thousands of people go there to worship. It can be observed for its architecture and serenity, as well as for gaining knowledge regarding its role in history and religion.

Pari Mahal

Pari Mahal, popularly known as the House of Fairies, is an ancient monument located on the top of Zabarwan Mountain. Furthermore, it has a garden that was once a monastery of Buddhists but was turned into a garden by Dara Shikoh, the first child of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. The gardens are also terraced and overlook Dal Lake and the surrounding mountains. Pari Mahal is perfect for having a good time photo shooting and also for finding a good place to spend the afternoon without meeting crowds.

Nigeen Lake

While being smaller in size as compared to Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake is calmer and less crowded with tourists. Located further from the Shalimar Garden, Nigeen Lake is a quiet lake located amidst the willow and poplar trees. Compared to houseboats in Dal Lake, houseboats on Nigeen Lake are comparatively private, as they are closer to one another, thus providing intimacy. Some of the common uses may include swimming, kayaking, fishing, and other related water activities because the waters are quite calm.

Jamia Masjid

One of the focal landmarks, Jamia Masjid, is situated in Srinagar’s old city area and is characterised by the style of Indo-Saracenic architecture. This mosque was established by Sultan Sikandar in 1402. It has 378 wooden frames and a calm atmosphere in the courtyard. The built mosque has the deserved capacity to house thousands of devotees and holds an important religious and architectural position in Srinagar. People can look at its large structures, read about the significant events related to the site, and see its religious atmosphere.

Tulip Garden

Tulip Garden, popularly known as Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, is the biggest tulip garden in Asia and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Srinagar, particularly in March or April. Lavished on 30 hectares of territory, the garden blossoms into a flare of colour when millions of tulips come into bloom. The garden goes in tiers and has the Zabarwan Range as the backdrop, thereby making it an ideal place for photography. Visiting the Tulip Garden is quite unforgettable since it brings the guests a totally new and beautifully created sight.

Wular Lake

The famous Wular Lake, the second-largest freshwater lake in Asia, is also nearby at a distance of approximately 40 kilometres. Currently, the lake is enclosed by extraordinarily stunning scenery; hence, it is associated with quietude. This is a suitable destination for bird watching because many birds, especially those that migrate, are found here. Tourism activity at Wular Lake involves boating, which allows an individual to get value for the money paid by enabling one to marvel at the serenity of the place.

Shopping in Srinagar

Srinagar surely has a shopping scenario with markets and some specific and beautiful pieces of handicrafts. Lal Chowk, which is the business centre of the city, is the right shopping place for fresh stout and pero, wooden carving articles, handicraft products, kani shawls, pashmina shawls, carpets, and many items made of paper-mâché. The floating markets on Dal Lake are also tourist attractions and can also be recommended for shopping. As for the food, you should certainly attempt authentic dishes such as Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and Kashmiri Kahwa tea.

Conclusion

Srinagar is the city of natural beauty, history, and culture, all encapsulated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. From the serene waters of Dal Lake to the beautiful gardens of the Mughals, Srinagar has a history written at every step. So, book a room at a luxurious Srinagar 5 star hotel to enhance the tour experience in a way that is more comfortable. In terms of professional tourism, leisure tourism, or any kind of tourism, whether it is adventure tourism, health and leisure tourism, cultural tourism, or any other tourism, Srinagar is a place for all, which can attract any tourist in one way or another.

*Collaborative post.

Rachael is a 31 year old mum to 10 year old Luke and 5 year old Oscar. She lives in England and writes about family life, crafts, recipes, parenting wins(and fails), as well as travel, days out, fashion and living the frugal lifestyle.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

*Some links on this blog may be affiliate links. Lukeosaurus And Me is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk