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The Dal Lake is unique for its beauty that lies in its pulsating surroundings, since it sustains a life on waters not found anywhere else in the world. The houseboat and Shikara communities have survived on the Dal for centuries and every thing is found on and nearby the houseboats including doctors, tailors and bakers in tiny wooden shops on the lake. The picturesque lotuses and
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gardens add to their mystic beauty. Shikara can also take you to the surrounding market places to have your buys. 8 km by 4 krn, Dal lake has a total area of 26 sq km. At Dalgate, a gate lets out the lake water to prevent it from floods. Dal has three islands ; Ropa Lank popular as Char-Chinar was built by Prince Murad, son of Emperor Shah Jahan in Lokut Dal (Smaller Dal). Sona Lank at the south end was rebuilt by Afghan governor Amir Khan Jawansher (1770-76), in Bod Dal (Bigger Dal). Nehru Park is an island just few yards away from the road side near Shankar Acharya hill.
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Water skiing in Srinagar Lake
In Srinagar water skiing is a favorite sport among tourists during summer. Motor launches with ski boards are available on hire. During the winter season, migratory birds float in the lake making it a magnificent scene. Srinagar lake offers splendid colours and moods with every change in the weather that mesmerizes the visitors and locals too. Dal is a photographers delight.
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Srinagar Houseboats
Expansion of houseboats is said to have been carried out during Mughal period and later, the Europeans further modernised them along with the boatmen of the day. Srinagar Dal Lake is home to more than a thousand houseboats known for their unique luxury, mostly having 2 to 6 double bedrooms with modern facilities. The interiors of the houseboat can be compared with a palace or a modern boutique hotel. Houseboats ore designed with Walnut
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and Deodar wood work and the base is made of a special wood that makes it float for decades. It is advisable to book a room in advance directly with the owner or a travel agent. The centuries old hospitality culture of the houseboat owners and their endless efforts to promote tourism in the valley is worth of appreciation. A stay in houseboats in Dal Lake is always a memorable experience for every tourist, a not-to-be-missed experience.
’Boulevard’, along the banks of Dal Lake, houses almost every tourist facility from internet cafes to vegetarian dhabas. It is a favorite route of joggers and cyclists.
Nine kms from Dal, is yet another lake with serene waters, “Nagin Lake”. It has some of the most luxurious deluxe houseboats. This area is preferred by people looking for calm and quiet environment. For this reason, foreigners find it more interesting to stay at Nagin Lake. The Lake is approachable by road through the old city and fore-shore Road alongside the Dal Lake. Shikara ride in this placid lake is a memorable experience.
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Shikara
are boats used as means of transportation from ghats to houseboats and for sightseeing in the lake. While on shikara ride, one gets immersed in the panoramic view of the Zabarwan range and the vastness of the loke symphonized with the waves formed by shikarawala’s rowing. A boat ride of interior Dal is an adventure. The water borne life of the people inside the lake is
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a different experience. The floating shops on the boats are the main markets of the people. Visit to floating gardens (radh) is yet another wonderful experience. Radh is a long strip of Lake reed.with a breadth of about 6 feet. These strips can be towed from one place to another and are moored at four corners bypoles. Vegetables are grown on these floating gardens carried in number of small boats and supplied to the city early morning. A cluster of lotus flowers amidst the lake is a heavenly sight. One keeps watching the light pink petals adorned by the water droplets, atop the large round heart shaped green leaf. This flower is popular as ‘Pamposh’. Rates for the shikara rides are fixed by J&K Tourism dept for every Shikara stand.
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Mughal Gardens
The Mughal emperors gave birth to the gardens to feel the presence of heavenly bliss in Srinagar. Chesmansahi is the first Mughal garden with a stupendous layout and a wonderful view. It has to its credit three terraces in addition to a natural spring of water enclosed in a stone pavilion. Nishat Bagh,
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constructed by empress Nur Jahan's Brother Asaf Khan, has several terraces and a central water course which gives a magnificent view of the Dal and the Zabarwan Hills. The last and the third one, the Shalimar Bagh was created by emperor Jehangir and was shaded by magnificent chinar trees with paintbox bright flower beds.Most pleasurable day picnic spot for the tourist, the famed Mughal Garden are located between Dal Lake andZabarwan mountain range on Boulevord.These gardens in Srinagar are memorials of love for mankind and the natural beauty.
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Hari Parbat
Crowned to greatness by the ruins of a fort, the Hari Parbat hill, according to legends, grew out of pebble stones dropped by Parvati the Hindu Goddess while trying to defeat a demon. Though today it is no more than rubble, the thick massive wall around the fort is an imposing evidence of a historic past.
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Cheshmashahi
(Royal Springs) (9km) from Srinagar. Situated on the foothills of Zabarwan range, the garden has a spring known for its medicinal properties. Cheshmashahi was Iaid out in 1632 by Ali Mardan Khan. It is considered as most serene since the garden is 4 km away from Boulevard’s hustle and bustle. On the way to Cheshmashahi, one can visit a marvelous garden spread over several acres of land.
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Pari Mahal
(Palace of Fairies), 3km ahead of Cheshmashahi, is a school of astrology built by Prince Dora Shukho, eldest son of Shah Jahan, who had keen interest in observation of stars & Sufism. Situated amidst the Zabarawan hills, the breathtaking scene of the lake and city makes every visitor stay for a little longer at garden.
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Nishant Bagh
(Garden of Pleasure) (11km) Designed in AD 1634 by Abul Hassan ‘Asif Khan’,eldest brother of Nur Jehan, who was governor of Kashmir during the reign of Jehangir. This garden has 7 terraces and a stone channel for running water in the centre. Largest of Mughal Gardens, it is most visited as well. Garden offers spellbinding view of the Dal Lake and Zabarwan hills.
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Shalimar Garden
(Garden of Love) (15 km) built by Emperor Jehangir for his wife Nur Jehan in 1616.The garden has some attractive Mughal structure carved from black marble in “Diwan-e-Khas” (hall of private audience)used for the guests of the Emperor as banquet halls. The outermost enclosures “Diwan-e-Aam” (hall of public audience)were used for public gatherings.
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Harwan Garden
20km, like Mughal Gardens, Harwan gets a large flow of visitors for its natural ambience and crystal clear lake ‘Sarband’.Ancient remains dating back to the buddhist period have been excavated in this area. The tiles depict dresses of the people which reveal Central Asian inluence during the supremacy of
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Kushans.Kanishka, greatest of Kushan emperors, is said to have convened his great council of Buddhist divines near Harwan.
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At a short distance from Harwan Garden is “Dachgam Wildlife Sanctuary”where Kashmiri Stag, Hongul or Barasingha (cervus elaphus hanglu), is protected. Hangul sheds its horns around the end of March, making its way to high mountains and returns to the lower ridges when its horns are renewed in autumn. The sanctuary also protects brown and black bears, leopards, musk deers, marmots and various bird species. At the mini zoo near the entrance gate Leopards can be closely seen in the enclosed areas. Behind the sanctuary lies the Mahadev peak (4267 meters), it is a trekkers delight. For a visit to Dachigam, entrance passes for visiting the sancutury should be procured from Wildlife Dept office at Gupkar, boulevard. Visit to Dachigam is real treat of Jungle safari for children and adults alike.
Religious Places in Srinagar
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Hazratbal Shrine
The Hazratbal shrine was originally built in 1634AD by Sadiq Khan for the purpose of prayers.Emperor Shah Jehan declared this place as perfect for worship as he would conveniently perform ablution at banks of the Dallake and then pray. The holy relic Moi-e-muqqadas was placed at Hazratbal during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb around 1699AD when Fazil Khan was the governor of kashmir.
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It is believed that the relic passed on from the descendant of Prophet PBUH and reached to Sayyid Abdullah, a muttawali(caretaker) of Prophets PBUH Shrine in Madina.In 1634 AD Sayyid alongwith his family visited India, where he was granted jagir and got settled in Bijapur. After his death the relic passed to his son Sayyid Hamid. He saught the help of a Kashmiri trader Khawaja Noor-ud-din Ashwari in Jehanabad where Hamid wanted to restore his Jagir. For immense suoport from Kashmiri traders Sayyid Hamid in- return offered the holy relic to Khawja.
On his ourney to Kashmir, emperor Aurangzeb wanted to place the relic at Ajmer and demanded for the relic. Khwaja was aggrieved by this and died at Lahore due to the shock. Before his death he had desired to take the relic to Kashmir to another friend Khwaja Medanish. Meanwhile it is said that Aurangzeb in his dream was directed by Prophet PBUH to restore the relic to the trader. Khwaja Medanish took the relic to Kashmir where initially it was placed at Khankah of Naqashband and finally the relic was placed inside the mosque of Hazrat bal The body of Khwaja Noor-ud-din lshbari wasburied near the ziarat at a graveyard in Hazrat bal.
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Pir Dastagir Sahib(5km) the shrine of Hazrat Shiekh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani RA of Baghdad, is one of the most revered shrines in Valley. The shrine has a wonderful appearance borne by its architecture. The holy relic in the shrine is displayed to the faithful on religious occasions when large gathering of people are witnessed. The belief in Dastagir Sahib is deep rooted in the hearts of common of the valley.
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Srinagar Jamia Masjid
Sultan Sikander conceived the idea of having a mosque for congregation purpose, he selected some other place but his queen suggested the present one. In 1398 AD the construction of Jamia Masjid was started by Sultan Sikander in consultation with Shah Hamdan. Sultan Sikandar invited the great
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engineer Sayyid Mohhammad Sadur-ud-din from Khurasan who drafted the plan of Jamia masjid. The plan was laid such that the mosque would accomodatede 40,000 worshipers at a time. The ceiling of the mosque is supported by 378 wooden pillars. The construction was completed in about 1402 AD.
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Shah-e-Hamdan Mosque
Shah Hamdan Mosque (7km) is one of the oldest mosques in Srinagar built in 14th century by Sultan Qutab-ud-din and Sultan Sikandar in respect of Syed Ali Hamdani RA. Syed Ali Hamdani born in 1314 AD learnt Quran by heart in his teens. When Timur unleashed a policy of repression against Sayyids, Syed Ali
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Hamdani RA left his homeland along with 700 more Sayyids and came to Kashmir in 1372 for the first time . During his regular long stays in Kashmir Shah e Hamdan played a major role in spreading Islam in the Valley. Syed Ali Hamdani RA commonly known as Shah-e-Hamdan was a profound scholar, a prolific writer, versatile in many subjects of science and had a charm of a Sufi who treat all religions alike.
The mosque’s breathtaking wood carvings and fine papier-mache work indicates Chinese origin. Rear view of the mosque blend with the golden colour of the JehIum is a speaking landmark in the history of Kashmir. On the doorway of the shrine carved inscription 786 Hijri corresponds to 1384 AD ,the year of Shah Hamdans demise at Pakli in Hazara where after he was buried in Khutlan.
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Roza Bal (Tomb of Jesus PBUH)
“The sacred tomb” located n Anzimar, near Khanyar in the heart of old Srinagar city, is the tomb of Hazrat “Yuzu Asaph”.
According tophilosophy in Hebrew wordYuzu indicates to Jesus and Asaph
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means the ‘gatherer’.It is believed hat Jesus PBUH arrived in the valley from Palistine after the Resurection in quest of the lostIsareal tribe and this tomb is said to be the final place of resting place of Jesus PBUH.according to Tarihk-e-Kashmir byMulla Nadiri,Hazrat yuzu Asaph arrived from the holy land ofPalastine to the Holy valley of Kashmir and proclaimed his ministry.He called people to follow the oneness of Godduring the reins of Raja gopadatta in year 54(middle of the first century) or 78 AD.Acoording to Sulaiman a minister of Gopadatta, who had come from Pesi to repair a temple”Yusu was the Prophet of Children of Israel”.
It is said that the people of Kashmir having become the idolators after the great flood of Noah,Yuzu Asaph was sent as prophet for the people.Some ssy Yuzu asaph Was Jesus in disguise.Some describe Yuzu or JesusPBUH as an apostle of God sent to minister the people of Kashmir.
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Shankar Acharya Temple
5km from Nehru Park,the temple satnds atop takht-e-Suleman (1100 ft).Legend describes the building of temple by King Solomon in 3000BC to store the treasure of 300 golden and silver statues.Other thought describes that the temple was originbally built by Jluka,Ashoka’s son,around 200BC.The present
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temple was built during the rein of Jehangir on the original plinth of the temple.Shankarachaya ,a famous hindu saint came to Kashmir fron South India to revive Hinduism.He stayed on top of hill near the temple,for which it is named after this saint.
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Shrine of Maqdoom Sahib
A revered saint of Kashmir, commonly known as Hazrat Sultan, is on the southern side of the Kohi Maran, making it a precedent of religious solidarity in Kashmir.
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Naqashband Sahib
(5.5 km) The Shrine of Syed Bahaudin Naqashband Sahib Mushkil RA who who fouded Sufism in Bukhara (Uzbekistan),it is a masterpiece designed with wonderful woodwork, yet another example of architectural talent of Kashmir in early 17th century when the shrine was built in memory of Khwaja who did not
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visit the valley himself but sent his disciple Khwaja Noor-ud-Din ,who is buried close to the main shrine. The graveyard “Mazar e Shohdha’adjacent to the shrine is a burial place of some of the famous Kashmiri Freedom fighters of the past.
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Pather Masjid
On the other side of Jehlum, opposite Shah Hamdan Mosque, is Pather Masjid which was built by Empress Nur-Jehan. It is said that the mosque never consecrated as Nur Jehan apparently had hurt the sentiments of the religious leaders of the time. Even today, no collective prayers (Jamat) is offered here
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officially.The structure stands witness unmatched stonework that still has a glorious shine. Pather Masjid is a historical monument protected by the Archeological Society of India.
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