Why visit Srinagar
- The vibrant and uniquely lively Dal Lake
- Houseboat stays
- Shikara rides on the lakes
Captured by Akbar, Kashmir was visited by the Mughal emperors as often as they could. In Srinagar they planted beautifully laid out gardens with stepped terraces and flowing water courses. At the city's edge are the idyllic Dal and Nagin Lakes. Famous not only for its beauty but also its vibrancy, Dal Lake sustains within its periphery a life that is unique anywhere in the world. So complete is the infrastructure that one can find doctors, tailors, bakers and more in the tiny wooden shops on the lake, near picturesque vegetable and lotus gardens. Reminiscent of the Mughal rule is the mosque of Hazratbal. Made of white marble with a dome and a minaret, Hazratbal is the repository of a single hair of the Prophet Mohammed, exhibited to the public on certain days of the year. Perched on the highest hill in the city is the Shankaracharya temple. Vestiges of Kashmir's pre-Islamic past can be seen in the ruins of magnificent Hindu temples at Avantipora and Martand. A few kilometres southeast of Srinagar, the Sun temple at Martand is believed to date from the 8th century AD, while the two Avantipora temples are probably from the 9th century. The Wular Lake, also a few kilometers away from Srinagar, is the largest fresh water lake in India spreading over a 125 kilometres area. At the centre of the lake are the remains of an island created by King Zain-ul-Abidan. Beyond Wular Lake is Gandarbal, the point where the icy Sindh river leaves the mountains and enters the plains. With an abundance of scenic beauty the region also offers a local sport known as water trekking, a three to four day trip along the river to the various lakes on a Shikaras and with all camping gear.
 |
