The Hazratbal Shrine, which is situated on the left bank of the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. This unmatched reverence is anchored in the love and respect for the Prophet Mohammad, whose Moi-e-Muqqadas, (the sacred hair) is preserved here. The shrine is known by many names including Hazrathbal , Assar-e-Sharief, Madinat-us-Sani, Dargah Sharief and Dargah. Sadiq Khan, laid out a garden here and constructed a palace building, Ishrat mahal or Pleasure House, in 1623. The construction of the present marble structure was started by the Muslim Aquaf Trust headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1968 and completed in 1979. The Moi-e-Muqqadas is displayed on various occasions related with the life of the Prophet and his four holy companions.
SHANKARCHARYA TEMPLE
It is located at 1100 ft above surface level of the main city on the Shankaracharya hill, also known as Takht-e-Suleiman. The shiva temple, as Kalhana believes, was constructed by Raja Gopadatya in 371 B.C.and as such is the oldest shrine in Kashmir. Dogra ruler,Maharaja Gulab Singh, constructed stone stairs up to the temple. In 1925, the temple was electrified. The temple, besides a prominent religious place of Hindus, is of great archaeological importance. The temple commands a magnificent panoramic view of the Srinagar city.
KHANQAH-E-MOULLA
The shrine of Shah-e-Hamdan or Khanqah-e-Moulla is one of the oldest Muslim shrines in Kashmir situated on the bank of the river Jhelum in the old city.
JAMIA MASJID
It is one of the oldest and the most spacious of all the mosques in Kashmir, situated in the heart of the city. The foundation of the mosque, an architectural wonder was laid by Sultan Sikander in 1398 A.D. The area of the mosque is 384 ft x 381ft, spacious enough for over thirty thousand people to offer prayers at a time.
BADSHUHNUN DUMAT
The tomb of the mother of Sultan Zain-Ul-Abideen (1420-70) popularly known as Badshah is a splendid representative piece of the Shahmiri architecture. The monument, situated on the right bank of the river Jehlum near Zaina Kadal is the only one of its kind in and around Kashmir which, compared to the wooden structures of the shahmiri period, is a wholly brick structure.
HARI PARBAT FORT
The 18th century fort tops the Sharika hill, which is clearly visible rising to the west of Dal Lake. At night the fort was floodlit and could appear to be hovering above the lakeside. Atta Mohammed Khan began construction in 1776, but the surrounding wall was built between 1592 and 1598 during the rule of Emperor Akbar. The wall stretches for five km and is 10 metres high and has two gates, the Kathi and Sangin Darwaza. The Kathi is the main entrance with Persian commemorative inscriptions surrounding it. The Sangin, however, is more ornate with sculptured windows on either side. Visits to the fort, now used as an arsenal, are only possible with written permission from the Archaeology Department at an office next to the library reading room behind the Shri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar. The fort (five km from Srinagar) contains a temple revered for its image of the Goddess Sharika. Outside the fort's southern gate is a shrine to the sixth Sikh Guru, known as the Chati Pad Shaki. The hill, which rises 122 metres from the valley floor, is surrounded by orchards of almond trees where many Kashmiris come for picnics in spring and summer.
KHIR BHAWANI TEMPLE
Situated at Tullamula in the Srinagar district, is an important Hindu shrine. The temple is associated with the Hindu goddess, Ragnya Devi. An annual festival is held here on Jesht Ashtami (May-June) when Hindus visit the place in large numbers to offer prayers and seek the blessings of the deity. In addition, there are umpteen places of religious importance in Srinagar.
NISHAT GARDEN
Queen Nur-Jehan's brother Asif Khan laid the Garden in 1633 AD. It is situated on the banks of world famous Dal Lake in the backdrop of Zabarwan hills. This garden commands magnificent view of the lake. The Garden is terraced with beautiful water channel flowing right in the middle.
CHASHMA SHAHI
The smallest of the Srinagar Moghul gardens, measuring just 108 metres by 38 metres, the Chasma Shahi or 'royal spring' gardens are well up the hillside, above the Nehru Memorial Park. The freshwater spring in these pleasant, quieter gardens is reputed to have medicinal properties. The gardens were laid out in 1632 by Ali Mardan Khan and include three terraces, an aqueduct, waterfalls and fountains. The water from the spring supplies the fountains then goes through the floor of the pavilion and falls to the lower terrace in a fine cascade of five metres, over a polished black stone chute. Some extensions have been made to the gardens. Like all the gardens the Chasma Shahi is open from sunrise to sunset but unlike the other gardens this is the only one, which charges admission. There is a small shrine, the Chasma Sahibi, near the gardens, which also has a freshwater spring.
PARI MAHAL
The old Sufi college of Pari Mahal, the ?Palace of the fairies?, is only a short distance above the Chasma Shahi gardens. You can easily walk from the gardens up to the Pari Mahal then follow a footpath directly down the hill to the road that runs by the Oberoi Palace Hotel. The Pari Mahal consists of a series of ruined, arched terraces and had, over the years, become considerably overgrown and neglected. End of the 80s it has been turned into a very pleasant and well-kept garden with fine views over Dal Lake. It is attractively sited on a spur of the Zabarwan mountains. The college was built in the 17th century by Prince Dara Shikah, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan. The prince had a keen interest in Sufism and Hindu philosophy and his right to the throne was usurped by his younger brother who became the Emperor Aurangzeb and was noted for his fanatical Muslim beliefs. A shrine to the Goddess Parvati near the foot of the Pari Mahal hill is popular on Thursdays in May-June, the Kashmiri month of Jeth. Near the spring at the shrine is a large chinar with groves of fruit trees, poplars and willows all around.
SHALIMAR GARDEN
Emperor Shah-Jehan built this Garden for his beloved wife Nur-Jehan. The Garden has four terraces and is 539 x 182 meters and gets water from Harwan through canal, which is lined with beautiful fountains. The 4th terrace was once reserved for royal ladies. The Garden blooms with innumerable varieties of flowers in spring and autumn.
DAL LAKE
Sir Walter Lawrence has described the world famous water body as Lake Per-Excellence. It is the Jewel in the crown of the Kashmir and is eulogised by poets and praised abundantly by the tourists. The lake is 6 x 3 Km and is divided in four parts by causeways known as Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin. The Dal Lake is host to world famous Shikaras and Houseboats which vie with each other with eye catching names. Dal Lake changes its moods and scenery through the day and after every few kilometres. It is lined with world famous Boulevard road.
HARWAN
Harwan is huge Garden lined with flowerbeds and massive Chinar Trees with a beautiful canal flowing right through the middle. The canal is fed from a beautiful lake, which lies behind the garden. There is not much clutter of fountains and other fancy things but vast big green-carpeted green lawns, which form an ideal spot for picnics. This spot is very popular with the locals for picnics and excursions.
HOUSE BOATS
1 night stay for 2 pax on AP basis + Shikara + transport
Price: 1500,- IRP
2 nights stay for 2 Pax on AP basis + Shikara + transport
Price: 2500, - IRP
POC: Yousuf Khan
Zero Taxi stand, Polo view, Srinagar ? 190 001
Tel: 475329, 476810
Fax: 471477
Tel Residence: 437898
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