4.5 Srinagar
State rank: 3 out of 21 Places To Visit In Jammu & Kashmir
Weather:
Ideal duration: 3-5 days
Best time: Apr-Oct (Read More)
Nearest Airport: Srinagar (Check Flights)
Upcoming: Water Sports at Nagin Lake
"The Paradise on Earth"
Srinagar Tourism
Famously known as ‘Heaven on Earth’, Srinagar is every bit the epitome of paradise on earth. As picturesque as the most stunning painting to ever be painted, Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, lies on the banks of the Jhelum river, and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round, contributing to the perpetual influx of tourists visiting this city which offers a plethora of gorgeous scenic vistas.
From the ferocious waters of Pahalgam to the serene pastures of Gulmarg, everything about Srinagar will give you goosebumps, no matter where you’re looking at. Once you visit Srinagar, the first thing you do is close your eyes and breathe in lungfuls of the clean, fresh mountain air. The second thing you do is hire a houseboat and pay a visit to Dal Lake. Hills surround the most famous tourist spot in all of Kashmir, Dal Lake, and as long as your sight takes you, you can see the mountains reflected in the water. Taking a Shikara ride on Dal Lake is also a must-do activity. Bedecked with colourful rugs and carpets, these gondola-type rowboats take tourists to see attractions like the Floating Vegetable Market, and the Mir Bahris – a lively community of people who live on the lake itself. You can also spend a night in one of the houseboats, and wake up to a magnificent sunrise that will take your breath away. Dal Lake also offers water sports such as kayaking and skiing, for those interested.
Top Things To Do In Srinagar
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Splendid Vaishno, Srinagar & 3 places | 7 Days 6 Nights
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Srinagar Reviews
2 months ago by Nivedha Narayanaswamy
Srinagar offers a great blend of city life and natural beauty. Remember that prepaid sim cards usually do not work in the entire state; it is better to have a postpaid connection. Make sure you visit the floating market on the Dal Lake – you can either stay overnight on a houseboat or enjoy a day time Shikara ride. The Mughal Gardens offer great photo ops.
2 months ago by Aishwarya Arora
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is every bit the epitome of paradise on earth and has a pleasant and cool climate all year round. Surrounded by the white snowy mountains, it offers a great deal of scenic views for those amazing insta pictures. Filled with cascading mountains, natural evergreen beauty and delicious food delicacies, Srinagar proves to be a great tourist spot providing a peaceful yet gorgeous setting. Spending our days and nights in the houseboats and getting Shikara rides in Dal Lake was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life!
Dal Lake is the heart of Srinagar. I stayed in a house boat that floats on the lake. The house boats are cozy and lavish. Every morning, people in small boats sell fruits, vegetables and jewelry. I had fun buying things from a boat while sitting in another boat while drinking Kahwa tea. There is a floating market on the lake which is a must visit.
Review for Dal Lake, Srinagar
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Holidify's Opinion
What's Great?
Beautiful shikaras and houseboats. Lustrous sceneries.
What's not so Great?
Terror threats in Kashmir make it unsafe. Winters are extremely cold.
For Whom
Srinagar is for everyone who loves to visit hill stations that are surrounded by serene beauty. There are many tourist attractions here such as the Dal Lake, where you can take a ride on the shikaras and houseboats.
Top Hotels in Srinagar
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Chicago Group of Houseboats
INR 2,700 /night onwards
New Bombay Heritage Group of Houseboats
INR 1,028 /night onwards
Monarch Group Of Houseboats
INR 2,258 /night onwards
View All Hotels in Srinagar >AdWhat Makes Srinagar An Amazing Tourist Destination
Kashmir is very popular for being home to some of the most appealing Mughal-age gardens in India, with the top draws being Nishant Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Chashma Shahi Garden. All of these gardens boast of terraced lawns, clear fountains and freshly bloomed flowers.
Another garden that also serves as a historic monument is Pari Mahal, which is a multi-tiered seven terraced garden located at the very top of the Zabarwan mountains, and it offers stunning views of the entire city of Srinagar, as well as all of its surrounding meadows, and the mountains beyond it. If you’re a nature lover, don’t forget to visit the Tulip Garden, which is the largest tulip garden in the entire Asian subcontinent. The entire garden is a riot of colors, with thousands of tulips in full bloom, with the picturesque slopes of the Zabarwan mountains and the crystal-clear waters of the Dal Lake as its backdrop.
Kashmiri cuisine is famous all over the globe, so when in Srinagar, trying out the local dishes, which are rich in unique fragrant spices, are a must. Srinagar is very well-known for its shawls and scarves, but the markets in the city offer a wide range of other souvenirs you can take back home too, such as locally-made silver jewellery, intricately designed wicker baskets, papier mache, exotic spices, and of course, the famed Kashmiri carpets.History Of Srinagar
The name Srinagar originated from two Sanskrit words – ‘Sri’ meaning wealth and ‘Nagar’ which means city. Prehistoric people used to refer Srinagar as ‘Siri – nagar’ which was a local alteration of ‘Surya – nagar’ or City of Sun. King Pravarasena II found this city 2000 years ago, formerly named Parvasenpur. Soon it became a part of the Mughal Empire, one of the largest Empires on India at that time. After the disintegration of Mughals, Srinagar was under the control of Durranis who ruled for several decades on the valley. In 1947, the struggle to gain dominance over Srinagar started between India and Pakistan. This led to the beginning of the Indo – Pak War. United Nations started cease fire on the situation due to which some parts of Kashmir went into the territory which is now called ‘Azad Kashmir’. The rest of the territory is an integral part of India and tells its story through the glorious beauty of its land to all the travellers.
Culture of Srinagar
Most of the people are lured by the elegant lifestyle of the city, medieval – looking backstreets and glistering white Himalayan villages. The multiple cultures and rich heritages have emerged from the Indo – Aryan Civilization from years ago, bearing the cultural aspects of Islam this place which can be seen in their food, traditions and lifestyle. The people are great craftsmen who practice many of the lost art forms in the world. Most of the population constitutes of Hindus and Muslims, as common languages spoken are Koshur, Kashmiri and Hindi. Women wear colourful sweater made dresses and men wear gurgabi. Religion in Srinagar is very diverse, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism are commonly followed by the people. Muslims are divided into two major groups – Shyias and Sunnis. These cultural differences have majorly contributed towards the multicultural lifestyle adopted by the people today.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar. Check-in a hotel or a houseboat. In the evening, take Lake trip to 'Char Chinar' and 'Floating Gardens' by Shikara.
Day 2: Visit Pari Mahal and Shankaracharya Temple followed by a visit to Hazratbal.
Day 3: Visit Mughal Garden, Nishat Garden and Shalimar Garden followed by a visit to Chashme Shahi in the evening.Srinagar is colorful and beautiful in all its sides. Cuisine follows the same idea, with dishes that are rich, unique and significant enough to create a food culture around themselves. Kashmiri kebabs found are famous worldwide and you just cannot step out of Srinagar without trying these.
Also this is the place for the authentic green tea and Kawah. While here, one can also indulge in popular local breads available here with a sip of 'Pink tea'. Tsot is a local bread with sesame and poppy seeds and is quite popular in menus for breakfast.
Local cuisine include tabak maz, or flat pieces of meat cut from the ribs and fried till they acquire a crisp crackling texture, Gushtaba, which are meatballs moulded from pounded mutton like large-sized Rista (meat balls) but cooked in thick gravy of fresh curd base, Yakhni, a cream colored preparation of delicate flavor, is made with curd as a base, seekh kababs, Roganjosh, chaman- fried paneer (cottage cheese), in a thick sauce, dum-aloo - roasted potatoes in curd-based gravy.
Places to try Kashmiri Food
Matamaal - It is a Kashmiri Pandit household food station where you can relish on some traditional cuisines along with great music. The restaurant has a very classic feel to it, the menu is limited but every dish is worthwhile to try. Mutton Kanti is one of their most ordered items.
The Chinar - Situated in the valleys, this is an exotic food palace for some delight food. The food is a bit expensive but if you want to try some of the rich varieties of Kashmiri food, this place is top recommend. Some of the things you should try are Kashmiri Guchhi and Grilled rainbow trout.
Mughal Darbar - If you want to try some mutton-based cuisines, this place has its best to offer. From the best Wazwan in town to some mouth-watering traditional dishes, the floor carpet sitting is what attracts visitors to this place.
Shamyana - Roagn Josh and Wazwan are two things this place is famous for, serving some authentic delicacies in a great ambience dining. Located on the boulevard street, it offers a wide menu and great service.Latest questions by travellers on Srinagar
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