Srinagar is surrounded by beautiful lakes like Dal, Nagin and Anchar, whose glittering waters reflecting the rays of the sun is a sight to behold. Its vividly vibrant & beautiful houseboats sailing along the scenic Dal Lake against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayan snow clad mountains makes Srinagar a dream destination for every traveler.

Srinagar also has a special place in the history of ancient India. Excavations carried out here have identified many valued evidences of ancient settlements dating back to 5,000 years. The artifacts collected from the excavation are displayed in Srinagar museum, which include arrowheads, animal skeletons, implements, tools and pots from the Neolithic age. some of the reasons why tourists from all over the globe flock to this 'Paradise on Earth'.

Some of the must see places in this splendid lake side city include the well laid out Mughal Gardens - which houses the Shalimar Bagh & Nishat Bagh. Lake side views, magnificent sunsets, floating markets, verdant greens , the pristine Dal Lake, enjoy a relaxing Shikara ride, bow down at the Shankaracharya temple, indulge in shopping for the famous Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri handicrafts & last but not the least, enjoy some adrenaline rushing activities like skiing, trekking, white water rafting, paragliding, camping and Kayaking.

Srinagar attracts tourists throughout the year to enjoy its snow clad mountains, colors of fall & greenery of the summers. Dal Lake, the largest lake, spread across 26 sq.km is home to the maximum number of houseboats & Shikara's. No trip to Kashmir is complete without a stay on one of its luxurious house boats & a boat ride on a 'Shikara' along the pristine lake.


TOURIST ATTRACTION

Mughal Gardens
Mughal Gardens, as the name suggests, built in the Mughal period is a marvel located around 13 km from Srinagar. These gardens are the major attractions for tourists coming to Jammu and Kashmir. These gardens are a fine example of the Mughal style of architecture & design.

The Mughal Gardens is combination of three renowned gardens namely the Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Gardens and Chashm-e-shahi. These gardens are every travelers delight with beautifully laid out manicured gardens, with vibrant flowerbeds, terraced lawns and well long stretches of cascading fountains.


Shalimar Bagh
The Mughal Gardens layout taken from the Persian gardens has three terraces with fountains & lined with Chinar trees. Each of the 3 terraces carried distinct importance, the first one being the public terrace; called the Diwan-e-Aam. The second terrace called the Diwan-e-Khas was accessible only to nobles or guests of the court. And the third & the highest terrace called as “Abode of Love" was reserved for the king and the royal ladies. Nishat Bagh and Dal Lake are some adjoining attractions to Shalimar Bagh.

Nishat Bagh
Nishat Bagh, meaning the 'The garden of joy' located on the eastern side of the Dal Lake is a marvelous garden designed by Asaf Khan, Nur Jahan's brother. Laid out in 1633 it is among the largest of the Mughal Gardens.
This garden placed on the banks of the beautiful Dal Lake in the backdrop of the amazing the Zabarwan hills, is complete with fountains, flower beds and impressive lawns. Tourists can enjoy magnificent views of the Dal Lake from the garden. Besides, they can also visit Shalimar Bagh and Char Chinar.


Dal Lake
Popularly known as 'Srinagar's jewel' the Dal Lake, spread over a straggling 26 sq.km, is the most popular tourist attraction in Srinagar. Renowned for its house boats and Shikara boat rides, set against the slow clad glorious Himalayas, the Dal Lake continues to be on the canvas & subject of several poets & artists.

The lake located about 10 km from Srinagar and is easily reachable by taxis within 20 mins. Besides, it is also a hub for many water sports including water surfing, swimming, Shikara rides, kayaking, houseboat stays, angling and canoeing. Some other attractions that can be visited include Nehru Park, Char Chinar, Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh.


Nagin Lake
Nagin Lake got its name from the trees surrounding the lake. Popularly known as the 'Jewel in the Ring’, it is one of the impressive lakes in east Srinagar (6 km reachable within 11 mins by taxi). The lake with its deep blue waters is separated from the Dal Lake by a thin causeway and is an exciting tourist spot with number of houseboats dwindling in the calm waters.

Nagin Lake is a perfect place to go for swimming as it is less crowded and deeper. Water Skiing & sailing on fiberglass boats can also be enjoyed here. May to September is considered to be the best time to visit here. Hazratbal Mosque is a close by attraction to visit.


Shankaracharya Temple
Shankaracharya Temple, known to be built by Jaluka, the son of Emperor Ashoka around 200 BC, is an ancient shrine located on the Shankaracharya Hill (Takht-e-Suleiman) in Srinagar. This sacred site, situated at a height of about 1100 feet on the south-east of the city, offers splendid views of the valley and the snow clad mountains of the Pir Panjal range. Local folks tell a story that saint Shankaracharya spent some of his time at this site during his visit to Kashmir to revitalize Sanatan Dharma.

Shankaracharya Temple, constructed on an elevated octagonal plane, can be reached through a flight of steps bounded by side-walls. The inner sanctum adorns a modern ceiling & several Persian inscriptions. The temple is approachable by taxis and buses. Rozabal shrine is a nearby attraction to visit

Shikara Ride
Shikara rides can be taken in one of the circuits from Nehru Park past Hazratbal, Nagin, Rainawari and back. The interesting part of Shikara rides in Srinagar is the floating gardens, during the rides; you will get to see the most wonderful sights of the floating gardens, which are either vegetables or flowers.


How to Reach
By Rail
Jammu is the nearest railway station to Srinagar, which is at a distance of 290 km. Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail.

By Air
Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India. Regular flights operate between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and the tickets are moderately priced. International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport, which is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.

By Air
Srinagar domestic airport is connected with many airports of the major cities in India. Regular flights operate between Srinagar and Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and the tickets are moderately priced. International travelers get the connecting flights from Delhi International airport, which is at a distance of 876 km from Srinagar.