Friday 28 March 2014

20+ reasons why Srinagar is best tourist destination in India

 Srinagar the most beautiful tourist destination in India


Srinagar the summer capital of J&K, which happens to be one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of India, Srinagar city captivates more than 10 lakh tourists every year, Be it the Mugal Gardens, Dal Lake, Pari Mahal, Modern parks like Nehru park, Iqbal Park, Zabarvan Park, Tulip Garden, Botanical garden. In addition religious tourism is also an attraction for many like Dargha and Shankar Achariya. For Accommodation of such a huge number of tourists there are more than a 1000 hotels and more than 5000 house boats.

Boulevard road of Srinagar where most of the luxurious hotels are standing tall with their beautiful lush green lawns facing the Dal Lake, and this road connects to foreshore road which happens to be a road to heaven.      


Mughal Gardens
These are a group of gardens which were built by Mugals in Persian style of architecture. Significant use of rectilinear layouts is made within the walled enclosures. Some of the typical features include pools, fountains and canals inside the gardens.   
  

 Shalimar bagh:
was built by Mughal emperor Jahangir for his wife Nur Jahan, in 1619, situated at the bank of Dal Lake. This garden is terraced with rectangular lawns, in the middle of the garden there lies a line of cascading fountains which are placed inside a  axial water channel, which are pumping water high up in the air, the sides of water channel is laced with beautiful flower beds where you find the exotic flowers of every kind. In front of the park there lies panoramic view of Grand Dal Lake and in the back drop a view of Zabarvan mountains which adds to the aesthetics of garden. This garden is the largest Mughal Garden in Srinagar.

nishat garden in winter
Nishat Garden:
Meaning Garden of joy, garden of gladness and garden of Delight, this garden was built by Asif Khan brother of Nur Jahan, in year 1633, it is almost similar to Shalimar bhag in construction and layout, however 12 terraces are decorated with magnificent Chinar/Maple and Cyprus trees. This garden is also located on the bank of Dal Lake is at a distance of 11 kilometers 6.8 miles from the Lal chowk and at a distance of 25 Km from Airport

chashma shahi srinagar
Chashma Shahi:  
Chashma” meaning Spring, a well where from water oozes out naturally and “Shahi” meaning Royal, so it is a Royal Spring built by Ali Mardan in 1632 AD.  It is built around a fresh water spring, discovered by Rupa Bhawani, which flows through its centre in terraces. The topography and the steepness of the land has led the formation of the garden. The main focus of the garden is the spring which flows down in terraces and is divided into three sections: an aqueduct, waterfall, and fountains. A two-storey Kashmiri hut stands at the first terrace which is the origin of the spring.

pari mahal and a view of Dal

Pari Mahal:
The Fairies' Abode, this Mahal was built by prince Dara shikon, son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan on the ruins of Buddhist Monastery, for his tutor. It was used as observatory for teaching Astrology and Astronomy, its architecture depicts and symbolizes the influence of Sufi islam. This comprises of seven terraced garden located at the top of Zabarwan mountain range over-looking city of Srinagar and south-west of Dal Lake and a direct eye contact with the mazar of Hazrat-e-sultan. It is five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi, Srinagar.


Modern gardens of Srinagar

tulip garden srinagar
Tulip garden:
Asia’s largest tulip garden also known by the name of Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden, earlier it was named by the name of Model Floriculture center Srinagar; it is spread over an area of sprawling 12 hectors or 20 Ac res it is situated on the bank of famous Dal Lake and on the foot hills of Zabarvan mountains,
Two million tulips adorn of 60 different variety, beautify and captivate the mind and soul of visitors, tulip festival starts in the first week of April and lasts for 2 more weeks. 

botanical garden srinagar
Botanical Garden:
 This garden is built in 1969 spreading over an area of not less than 80 hectares located on the bank of Dal Lake and on the foot hills of Zabarvan Mountains is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names. It contain specialist plant collections such as flowers and succulent plants, herb gardens, medicinal plants from particular parts of the world. This definitely happens to be lovers park couple from every part of the valley comes to visit this park and enjoy under the shade of maple and cypress trees.   
Zabarvan Park:
AeroBalloon is a technology that attracts families for enjoyement and fun as the balloon can carry five persons at a time. Zabarvan Park offers a chosen and favorable location for the static ballooning because favorable wind condition is helpful for balooning. Shankracharya hill blocks the wind which is at the back drop of zabarvan park, there are less chances of fast blowing cross winds that could disturb its smooth operation. Delightfully a rider can view a clear aerial view of the entire Dal Lake. It reaches almost half of the height of Shankracharya, thus allows one to have splendid view of dense forests of the hillock as well rider can catch the look of entire view of Srinagar, On a clear morning one could have scintillating view of lofty mountain chains lying in the distant horizon, including Mount Mahadev and Mount Harmukh etc. a fee of 500 Rs is charged on adult and 300 Rs for child.
Iqbal Park:
 Dr. Sir Mohammad Iqbal Park, this park is located in the heart of Srinagar near Bakshi Stadium on the Air Port road. This park mostly attracts local tourists.
Nehru Park:  
is located inside Dal Lake near Boulevard Rd, Karapura, Rainawari, Srinagar.

Dal Lake:
Dal Lake is a home to a number of House Boat hotels, lakhs of tourists visit Srinagar in summers to stay in house boats. House boat stay happens to be one of the most delights moments because a view of scintillating and lofty blue Zabarvan Mountains on one side and Shankarachariya hillock on the other side, clear water underneath the house boat and a breeze of fresh and cool air adds to the heavenly experience.


Shikara in Dal Lake
Shikara ride from Dargha to Charchinari (four Maple trees; island in the middle of Dal) or a ride from Boulevard road to Kabootarkhana adds to the experience.
Water Boat ride
Water boat ride has started in the recent times and it comes in adventure tourism.
Fishing
you can do fishing in Dal, if you are love in it.

Nagin Lake
is a small lake in Srinagar; it is also a home to many house boats.


Places for religious tourism in Srinagar city

Jamia Masjid Srinagar
The Jamia Masjid of Srinagar is situated at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city. An important mosque in Srinagar, it was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD.[1] Later, the son of Sultan Sikandar, Zain-ul-Abidin got the mosque extended. The attractions of the Jamia Masjid of Srinagar, Kashmir include beautiful Indo-Saracenic architecture, a magnificent courtyard and 370 wooden pillars. Another feature of the mosque is the peace and tranquility inside it.

Dargha:
dargha hazratbal srinagar
The HazratbalShrine a Muslim shrine in Srinagar, J& K. It contains a relic, the Moi-e-Muqqadas, believed by many Muslims of Kashmir to be a hair of the Islamic prophet MuhammadPBUH. The name of the shrine comes from the Arabic word Hazrat, meaning holy or majestic, and the Kashmiri word bal, meaning hair.
The shrine is situated on the left bank of the Dal Lake, Srinagar and is considered to be Kashmir's holiest Muslim shrine.

Hazrat-e-sultan or Makdoom Sahib

Hamza Makhdum (1494–1563), also called Mehboob-Ul-Alam, and Sultan-Ul-Arifeen, and popularly known as "Makdoom Sahib", was a sage born to Baba Usman, of the syed dynasty family hailing from Tujar Shareef in Kashmir). He was a hereditary landlord, a scholar and a mystic SufiMuslim saint of high order


Shankar Achariya

The Shankaracharya Temple (Kashmiri: शंकराचार्य मंदिर, شنکراچاریہ مندر , also known as the Jyesteshwara temple orPas-Pahar by Buddhists, is situated in the Zabarwan Mountain in Srinagar, Kashmir. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is on the summit of the same name at a height of 1,000 feet (300 m) above the plain and overlooks the city of Srinagar.


Educational tourism
University of Kashmir


iqbal library srinagar
Iqbal Library


National institute of technology Hazratbal


You can call Srinagar a city of Lakes, a city of gardens, a city of flowers, a city of Lotuses, a city of tulips, a city of mountains, a city of wazwan, a city of fresh water, a city of pashmina, a city of fresh air but above all it is a city of aesthetics.   

                       

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