On the banks of
Jhelum river and tucked in the Kashmir Valley lies the serenely beautiful city
of Srinagar. It has been Kashmir’s most important commercial town for decades.
Known throughout India as a honeymoon destination and a shoot favourite of the
Bollywood movies of old, this city is the proud home of some of the most
beautiful lakes and gardens in the country.
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| Dal lake Srinagar, (Photo Courtesy: ananthnaag) |
The Dal Lake with its houseboats
has even led to this city being referred to as the “Venice of the East”.
However, other than the scenic beauty, there is much to see in this beautiful
city.
Some of the
less visited tourist sites that are worth seeing are:
- Burzahama
Ruins: Ancient settlements dating back to the Neolithic age, these ruins are
unique to Kashmir, as well as the first of its kind. Many ancient artifacts
that were discovered here are now displayed in the National museum in
Kolkata.
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| Martand temple ruins, Awantipur (Photo Courtesy: Flickr) |
- The
Awantipur Ruins: Built by Awantivarman who ruled Kashmir in the 9th century,
these are temples and shrines that have fallen to ruin, but still visited by
the devout.
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| Chatti Padshahi Gurudwara (Photo Courtesy: placeforholidays) |
- Chhatti
Padshahi Gurudwara: One of the many Gurudwaras built for the sixth Sikh guru as
he travelled all over Kashmir, this is one of the most important ones.
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| Old City Srinagar (Photo Courtesy: contemporarynomad) |
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| Old City Srinagar (Photo Courtesy: aljazeera) |
- Old City:
Walk through the old city, pass by the markets and catch many a glimpse of the
traditionally dressed men and women. This is a paradise for photographers, and
while it’s a place that is full of people, it’s not always on the list of first
things to see in Srinagar.
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| Pathar Masjid Srinagar (Photo Courtesy: meriyatrra) |
- Pathar
Masjid: Built by Nur Jahan in 1623, this is a peaceful stone mosque close to
the river.
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| Kheer Bhavani Temple Srinagar (Photo Courtesy: devdham) |
- Kheer Bhawani
temple: Constructed over a sacred spring, this temple is dedicated to Goddess
Bhawani. As it’s customary to offer kheer to the Goddess, the temple,
previously just Bhawani temple, became Kheer Bhawani temple.
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| Shankaracharya Temple Srinagar (Photo Courtesy Meriyatra) |
- The
Shankaracharya temple: Dating back to 250 B.C., this temple marks the spot
where the philosopher Shankaracharya stayed when he visited Kashmir.
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| Shah Hamdan Mosque (Photo Courtesy: WikiPedia) |
-
Shah-i-Hamdan: The first mosque to be built in Srinagar, it lies on the
banks of the river Jhelum. Shah-i-Hamdan who made his way to Kashmir in the
13th century was responsible for bringing Islam and spreading the religion in
Kashmir.
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| Nigeen Lake, Srinagar |
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| Tulip garden, Srinagar (Photo courtesy: goheritageindiajourneys) |
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| Nishat Bagh, Srinagar (Photo Courtesy: WikiPedia) |
While these are
some of the uncommon sightseeing spots in and around Srinagar, you should also
definitely make the time to go to the gardens and the lakes in the city. And
make sure to watch some of the performing artists if you get the chance. Take a
flight to Srinagar and be drawn into the magic of this wonderful city.
