The Paradise of the Past, Kashmir Valley still bears scars of militancy and bear the strain of armed men strolling down the streets to protect the civilians. But the angelic natural beauty of Srinagar along with its beautiful lake waters will soon make you forget anything else. Situated on the banks of River Jhelum, Srinagar has beautiful landscaped gardens and apple orchards that are worth seeing.
Sri Pratap Singh Museum has some Buddhist terracota collectibles that were unearched at historic ruins of Harwan Vihara. Shikara rides on Dal Lake and Chashmashahi Garden, developed by Shah Jahan as his pleasure garden, are at the top of the must see-and-do of the city.
Places to See
Blessed by Nature, Srinagar offers several noteworthy tourist attractions that you must see. These include:
- Mughal Gardens, including:
- Chashmashahi Garden
- Nishat Garden
- Shalimar Garden
- Dal Lake
- Nagin Lake
- Shankaracharya Temple
- Hazratbal Shrine
Shopping
Jammu and Kashmir is famous for its world-class handicrafts and Shimla being its Capital, you can find them all at Shimla. From embroidered Kashmiri shawls to expensive and lightweight Pashmina shawls to hand-woven silk fabrics, Shimla offers enough lures for shopping enthusiasts. You can also buy some world-fame carpets; cane and bamboo artwork and furniture; colorful willow baskets as well as metal crafts such as brass and silverware here.
Where to Stay
The most fashionable hill resorts at the time of British, Shimla has several stay options that range from budget to mid-range to luxury hotels. We recommend:
How to Reach Srinagar
Since Srinagar is the capital of J&K state, traveling to Srinagar is quite easy by road or flight.
By Road: Srinagar has an excellent network of roads and highways as well as regular bus and taxi services that connect it to major cities in Jammu and Kashmir as well as northern India such as Chandigarh, Delhi, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Jammu, Leh, Kargil, and Pahalgam. Situated on National Highway 1A, the 12-hour Jammu-Srinagar route offers panoramic views of stunning mountains and winding roads. During summers, the buses from Leh and Kargil also offer pleasurable scenic views that you should not miss.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Srinagar is at Jammu Tawi, 293 km from the city. Jammu is well connected to all major Indian cities by regular train services.
By Air: The domestic airport at Srinagar is 14 km from the city. All major airlines operate flights to Delhi and Mumbai from Srinagar on a regular basis.
