Kashmir offers everything a traveler could wish for. However, if your visit is restricted to Srinagar only you may have to plan your destinations. Srinagar is a place of fascinating culture and rich history. Owing to its rich culture and heritage, some destinations are bound to take your breath away in a single glance.
Mughal Gardens
Topping the list is the famous Mughal gardens influenced by the style of Persian gardens. There are 6 Mughal gardens in Srinagar, the most visited and most popular among these is the Shalimar Garden. Be sure to visit these wondrous gardens in summer to enjoy the magnificent water fountains and springs.
Tulip Garden
Asia’s largest tulip garden is located on the foothills of Zabarwan Range with an overview of Dal Lake. As an aim to boost horticulture and tourism upliftment, annually a tulip festival is celebrated to showcase the wide array of tulip species.
Nehru Park
Being one of the busiest destinations in Srinagar, Nehru park attracts tourists and locals all year long. Situated amidst the mighty Dal Lake, just below the Zabarwan mountain range, Nehru park presents a view of Shiva temple on the top of the Shankaracharya hill.
Char Chinar
Char Chinar or Char chinari is an island situated in the Dal Lake marked with the presence of Chinar trees. Nothing compares to the beauty of splendid chinar trees surrounding the island in the middle of Dal Lake. If a shikara ride to this lake is on your bucket list, do make it a point to ask the shikhara to be steered in this direction as it is one of the iconic tourist spots.
Dal Lake
A trip to Srinagar would lose its essence without a visit to the majestic Dal Lake. Shikara rides and a walk through the boulevard road would fill your heart with wonder and awe. Dal Lake is surrounded by houseboats that offer luxurious day and night stay to visitors. Dal Lake remains one of the famous tourist attractions and is often called “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”.
Shankaracharya Temple
The Shankaracharya Temple (also known as the Jyeshta Eshwara Temple) is situated on top of the Shankaracharya Hill on the Zabarwan Hill Range in Srinagar. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu God – Lord Shiva and rests on solid rock. The shrine dates back to 200 BCE, although the present structure probably dates to the 9th century AD.
Pari Mahal
Pari Mahal, the palace of fairies, is one of those must-see destinations that has been attracting visitors due to its classic Islamic style of architecture. The Pari Mahal was initially built as a library, and further used as an observatory used for teaching astronomy and astrology. The architecture of the garden includes a small spring, surrounded by flowers and exquisite plants arranged out in terraces.
