Srinagar -- the magnificent Lake City
Srinagar- The Valley of Houseboats is the capital city of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Mughals aptly called Kashmir and it was the peculiar beauty of the valley that attracted the Chinese, the Mughals and the British to it. It is the
largest town in Kashmir and is unique because of the Dal, Nagin and Anchar lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating on them. It is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.
Today Srinagar is a resort for the tourist who can experience, at first hand, the peculiar beauty of the valley that has attracted the Chinese, the Mughals and the British to it.
Its waterways with their own quaint lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming
gardens, water sports activities, shopping for lovingly hand-crafted souvenirs and the nearby resorts make it a cherished spot among those looking for a memorable holiday.
Major Tourist Attractions in Srinagar
The Dal Lake
The Dal Lake is a prime tourist attraction of Srinagar. It is located on the eastern end of the city. The Dal Lake consists of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake
some 8 km from the city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains surrounding Srinagar from this lake. Tourists coming to this place can enjoy taking a ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways of this lake.The Mughal Gardens
The well laid Mughal gardens are another major attractions of Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir. The Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh are beautiful gardens located to the far eastern side of the Dal Lake. One can take a stroll through these green and attractive gardens and enjoy the beautiful waterworks within them.
The Temple of Shankaracharya
The temple of Shankaracharya is another important place to visit in Srinagar. Jaluka,
the son of emperor Ashoka, built this temple in the 3rd century BC.
Sharika Devi Temple
To the west of the city is the hill of Hari Parbat, on which is the temple of Sharika Devi, believed to be a form of Durga Mata or Shakti. The hill is considered sacred to the Hindus.
Kheer Bhavani
The Goddess Ragnya Devi symbolised as a sacred spring at Tula Mula village, 27 kms from Srinagar. It is believed that the goddess changes the color of the waters. The temple-spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhavani. Devotees offer milk and kheer at this Durga mata temple, to the sacred spring that is said to change
colour when warning of disaster.Getting There
Air : Srinagar is well connected by air with Delhi. There is a daily flight to Delhi via Jammu by Indian airlines. There are weekly flights operated by Indian Airlines for Leh from Srinagar.
Rail : Srinagar does not have a railway station and the nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is 305 km from Srinagar.
Road : Srinagar is well connected by road to important places like Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876 km), Jammu (298 km), Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
Tourist Reception Centre (TRC)
The Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), Srinagar is a unique, all-inclusive service, providing various tourist facilities within one complex. Besides housing the offices
of the State Department of Tourism and those of the J&K Tourism Development Corporation (J&K TDC), it has information counters on almost every activity connected with tourism. These include hotel and houseboat booking counters, Indian Airlines City booking office, booking of J&K TDC accommodation, transport, etc. Also located within the complex are the offices of the Fisheries Department from where fishing permits can be obtained. Next-door are the J&K Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) booking offices from where bus tickets can be purchased, both for long distance travel and sightseeing trips. The State Bank of India and J&K Bank has a branch each within the TRC where foreign exchange transactions are also made. A post office and a Telecom Centre also function within the TRC for the benefit of the tourists.
Labels: Lakes, Northern India
posted by Rishil Babu @ 5:26 AM,
