SRINAGAR- THE LAND OF BEAUTY

Tired of staying in plains? Sick of hot and humid climate? Need a break? There’s nothing better than visiting a hill station. And considering that in mind, nothing beats the charm of being in Srinagar- ‘Heaven on Earth’. It takes only the name to be spoken out and the listener feels lost in the green landscapes with fresh flowing rivers and of course the rich culture and tradition of the state.

Situated perfectly in the middle of the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar (34°5’24”N74°47’24”E) is the summer capital of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, which adds on its beauty. The city, in Sanskrit means, ‘the land of wealth and abundance’. King Pranavsarena II founded the city around 150 AD. Today it is the modern water world, dominated by Dal Lake and the Jhelum River. Other rivers which glorify the city with their charm are- Nagin and Anchar, whose glittering waters reflecting the rays of the sun is a sight to behold and die for. You would feel yourself to be in a dream world while enjoying a ride on the vividly vibrant and beautiful houseboats called ‘Shikaras’ in Dal Lake. Once a tourist of Srinagar, it is not easy for a person to free himself from the clutches of the natural beauty and thus one wish to come here over and over. Out of total area of 294 km², the major portion is occupied by nature as the city has numerous gardens which are a memoir of the Mughal Emperors. The most well known are the Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh.

Other than the captivating scenic beauty in Srinagar, the temptation of quintessential Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri handicrafts is irresistible. The intricately hand crafted Kashmiri carpets, most delicately crafted products made of Paper Machie and exquisitely carved wood carving products made of walnut wood is unique to the region.  The shopaholics will have a delightful time in the city.  Apart from taking home these memoirs, something more important and precious to take back from Srinagar is definitely the fragrant flavours  of the most delicate and royal spices- the Saffron. The tourists can visit the Srinagar- Anantnag highway (13 kms. from Srinagar) to have a glimpse of the breath taking Saffron fields and can buy it straight from the farmers. At the cost of Rs. 200/ gram, the fragrance and the authenticity are worth the money.

By road, the city is connected by many highways including NH 1A and NH 7D.  By air, the city can be reached from Leh, Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi. It also has occasional international flights. By rail transportation, Srinagar is a station on the 119 km long Kashmir railway which connects Baramulla to Srinagar. Once in the city, tourists can opt for the usual buses, cabs, government taxis, auto rickshaws or may also hire cycles. Boats can also be an option of transportation as they have access to most of the important places of interest in the city.

Hope the upcoming vacation takes you to Srinagar and you have your life’s most cherish able and divine experience of   relaxing.