subject: Srinagar - The Venice Of The East [print this page] Srinagar is a beautiful city located in the Kashmir Valley in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Lying by the tributary of the Indus River, Jhelum, Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats besides the traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruit. The Jhelum River passes through the city and meanders through the valley, moving onward and deepening into the Dal Lake. The city is famous for its nine old bridges, connecting the two parts of the city.
The valley of Srinagar is surrounded by the Himalayas on all the sides. Srinagar has a humid subtropical climate, which is much cooler than that in the rest of India, due to its moderately high elevation and positioning in the north. Winters in Srinagar are cool with moderate to heavy snowfall. The only road that connects Srinagar with the rest of India sometimes gets blocked for a few days due to avalanche. Summers in Srinagar are warm.
Srinagar has a number of lakes, the most popular being the Dal and Nagin Lake. Like most of the heritage cities in India, Srinagar also has the remnants of the Mughal empire and their architecture like Mughal Gardens, Chashma Shahi, the royal fountains, Pari Mahal, the palace of the fairies, Nishat Bagh, the garden of spring, Shalimar Bagh and the Naseem Bagh. The Tulip Garden has been recently opened to the public.
The Sher Garhi Palace houses administrative buildings of the state government. Another palace of the Maharajas, the Gulab Bhavan, has now become the Lalit Grand Palace hotel.
Srinagar has a distinct blend of culture and heritage like the rest of Jammu and Kashmir. The city has a fine balance between the number of places of worship of both the Hindus and Muslims. Holy places in and around the city depict the historical, cultural and religious diversity of the city as well as the Kashmir valley.
There are many religious holy places in Srinagar which include Hazratbal Shrine, Jama Masjid which is one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir, Hamza Makhdum on Hari Parbhat, Kheer bhawani in Ganderbal, Hari Parbathill which hosts shrine of Sarika Mata temple and Shankaracharya temple.
The traditional Kashmiri houseboats known as Shikaras attract many tourists in Kashmir. Shikara rides and an excursion to the Himalayas are enjoyed by most of the tourists who visit Srinagar. A long Shikara ride is interesting with beautiful sights in the peaceful lake with floating vegetable markets and villages. The market is operational at sunrise.
Srinagar is well-connected to the other towns by rail, road and air. Boats are often used for transport within the city, as it is situated on the Jhelum River and Dal Lake.
