Srinagar, popularly known as ‘Paradise on Earth’ and ‘Venice of the East’, is situated in the beautiful valley of Kashmir. Located on the banks of the River Jhelum, the city is renowned for its beautiful lakes, houseboats and numerous Mughal gardens. The word Srinagar is a combination of two Sanskrit words, ‘Sri’ meaning wealth and ‘Nagar’ meaning place. Therefore, the literal meaning of the term ‘Srinagar’ is ‘the city of wealth’.
Tourist Places In And Around Srinagar
The Mughal Gardens such as Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Achabal Bagh, Chashma Shahi, and Pari Mahal are the popular Mughal Gardens that attract tourists in a large number from all across the world. These gardens add to the natural beauty of this city. The lakes of Srinagar such as the Dal Lake, Nagin Lake are some of the other popular tourist spots.
The unmatched natural beauty and beatific surroundings make Srinagar an ideal place for tourists. The Dal Lake is the second largest lake in the valley of Kashmir and is popularly known as the ‘Jewel in the crown of Kashmir’. It is located in the backdrop of the beautiful Himalayas. Srinagar is also known for its house boats and ‘Shikara’ or wooden boats, which are available on the banks of the lakes. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful environment while riding on the ‘shikaras’.
Other Sightseeing
The Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary is another popular tourist attraction in Srinagar. Covering an extensive area of about 141 sq. km, the sanctuary was declared as a National Park in 1951. It is home to the endangered species of red deer known as the Hangul. Travellers can also sight leopards, the black and brown bear, musk deer, and numerous migratory birds here.
The Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden is also one of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar situated on the banks of the beautiful Dal Lake. The garden covers an area of 90 acres and contains around 70 varieties of tulip. A yearly ‘Tulip Festival’ is organised here in the month of April, which is quite popular among travellers. The festival not only attracts national tourists but travellers from all across the globe who wish to be a part of this famous event. Travellers also get an opportunity to enjoy the local cuisine and folk dance here.
Visitors can purchase handicrafts and textiles that are uniquely native to the state and globally known such as Kashmiri carpets, Pashmina shawls, stoles, and wooden crafts.
The city, apart from being beautiful holds great historical, religious and archaeological importance. Several historical buildings and ancient religious sites present here are the physical proof of the rich and glorious past of the city.
The city is known for adventurous activities such as trekking and hiking. The trekking route that begins at Srinagar and leads to the caves of Amarnath is quite popular among travelers. The Dachigam National Park and Pahalgam are the destinations where travelers can go on for an excursion.
The climate of the destination remains pleasant all through the year with summer and winter as the main seasons. Srinagar experiences very less rainfall. The weather during the summer season is quite comfortable and enjoyable whereas, the winters are freezing with heavy snowfall.
