Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar, situated in the middle of the Kashmir Valley, is one of the major tourist destinations of India. While Srinagar is famous for Dal Lake on the one hand, on the other hand, it is especially famous for various temples. Srinagar, nestled between a clear lake and high mountains, has long been the mainstay of Srinagar's economy. Srinagar, situated on the banks of the Jhelum River, is called the Paradise on Earth and the Venice of the East by Indians. Srinagar is a very beautiful city. Srinagar is mainly made up of two words Sri and Nagar. Shri means wealth and Nagar means city. The meaning of the city of wealth is that it is prosperous in every way, there should be no shortage of any kind.

Highlights
Hazrat Bal
Srinagar is not only rich in natural beauty but also rich in architectural heritage. There are many beautiful mosques here. Hazrat Bal is an important shrine here. This is a very holy place for the Muslim community because of the hair of Hazrat Mohammad stored here. The dome of this white building made of marble makes tourists feel its grandeur from a distance. This mosque is also known by many other names like Hazratbal, Assar-e-Sharif, Madinat-us-Seni, Dargah Sharif, Dargah, etc. There is a beautiful garden and Ishrat Mahal near this mosque. Which was built by Sadiq Khan in 1623 AD.

Shankaracharya Temple
A fort built in the 16th century on the Hariparvat hill in the center of Srinagar also attracts tourists. It was built by the Afghan governor Ata Muhammad Khan. Akbar had expanded this fort. On the other side, in front of Dal Lake is Takht-e-Sulaiman Hill. On its peak is the famous Shankaracharya temple. This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shankar. Adi Guru Shankaracharya came here in the 10th century, due to which this temple got its name. On one side of the hill, the extension of Dal Lake, and on the other side a panoramic view of Srinagar is made. The majestic row of snow peaks is visible in the background. This temple is situated on the Shankaracharya mountain. Shankaracharya Temple is situated at an altitude of 1100 feet above sea level. It is also known as Takht-e-Sulaiman. This temple is one of the oldest temples located in Kashmir. This temple was built by King Gopaditya before 371 AD. Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh had built a staircase to reach the temple. Apart from this, the architecture of the temple is also very beautiful.

Dal Lake
Five miles long and two and a half miles wide, Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes not only in Srinagar but in the whole of India. This lake is especially known for Shikars or houseboats all over the world. The natural beauty around Dal Lake attracts a large number of people. Dal Lake is divided into four parts Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin. Apart from this, the two islands Sona Lenk and Roopa Lenk located here enhance the beauty of this lake.

Houseboat
If there is a desire to live in a houseboat in a calm environment beyond the crowd, then tourists can stay in a houseboat standing on Nagin Lake or Jhelum River. Nagin Lake is also a beautiful small lake in Kashmir. Foreign tourists often like to stay here. On the other hand, there are small houseboats in the Jhelum River. Today houseboats have turned into a kind of luxury and some people come from far and wide to Kashmir only to enjoy living in houseboats. Staying in a houseboat is indeed a unique experience in itself. But it started not out of luxury, but out of compulsion. The practice of houseboats in Kashmir started during the period of the Dogra kings when they banned any outsider from buying permanent property and building a house in Kashmir. At that time many British and other people started living here by making wooden cabins on big boats. Then it became a trend to live in houseboats on Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, and Jhelum. Later, the local people also started living in houseboats. Even today houseboats of the local people can be seen floating on the Jhelum River. The houseboats built in the early days were very small, they did not even have so many facilities, but now they have taken the form of luxury. Modern houseboats equipped with all facilities are like a small hotel. A double bed room, attached bath, wardrobe, TV, dining hall, open deck, etc. are all in the houseboat standing on the water. Houseboats made of wood also look very beautiful. They are of different grades based on their size and features. The old wooden bridge built over the Jhelum River flowing through the center of the city is also an attraction for tourists. Many mosques and other buildings are located near this river.

Nigeen Lake
Nigeen Lake, located about 8 kilometers from the city, is a part of Dal Lake, known for its indigo water and stunning beauty. It is a popular spot in Srinagar and the perfect place to spend time in peace. The lake is surrounded by dense forests of poplar trees and is situated at the foothills of Zabarwan Mountain. For adventure and fun-seekers, this alluring lake is an ideal place for boating and several water activities. Nigeen Lake is a less crowded place than Dal Lake and the indigo clear water of the lake gives a wonderful look to the place.

JAMA Masjid
Jama Masjid is one of the oldest and largest mosques in Kashmir. The architecture of the mosque is quite amazing. It is believed that the foundation of the Jama Masjid was laid by Sultan Sikandar in 1398 AD. The length of this mosque is 384 feet and the width is 38 feet. Thirty thousand people can offer Namaz together in this mosque.

Kheer Bhavani Temple
The Kheer Bhawani Temple located at Tullamula in Srinagar district is one of the major religious places here. This temple is dedicated to Mata Rangne Devi. Every year on the occasion of Jestha Ashtami (May-June) an annual festival is organized in the temple. On this occasion, a large number of people specially come to see the Goddess.

Chatti Padshahi
Chatti Padshahi is one of the main Sikh Gurdwaras in Kashmir. The sixth Guru of the Sikhs had come to visit Kashmir, at that time he stayed here for some time. This Gurudwara is located just a short distance from the Hari Parvat Fort.

Nishat Bagh
This garden was built by Nur Jahan's brother Asif Khan in 1633 AD. This garden is situated on the banks of Dal Lake. Nishant Garden is located at a distance of 11 kilometers from Srinagar district headquarters. The view of the lake as well as many other beautiful views can be seen from this place.

Nearby places
Gulmarg
If you go in any direction away from Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley, then you can see so many forms of nature that It seems as if he has kept his treasure here. The names of many cities written on the directions on the highways attract tourists. But most of the tourists visit Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, etc. On the way to Gulmarg, many small beautiful villages and surrounding paddy fields are pleasing to the eyes. The row of trees looks like a high wall on both sides of a straight long road and looks very grand. Tourists remember the songs shot in old films between these routes. After the narrow passage, as the height increases, the process of dense trees starts. After some time, when the tourists reach Gulmarg, they get mesmerized by seeing the wide saucer-like field of grass. Just as hilly plains are called Bugyal in Uttarakhand, they are called Marg in Kashmir. Gulmarg means field of flowers. Gulmarg, situated at an altitude of 2680 meters above sea level, is a year-round resort for tourists. From here you can also take horses on rent and visit places like Khilanmarg, Seven Spring, and Alpathar.

Sonamarg
Sonamarg means meadow made of gold. This place is situated at a distance of 87 kilometers from the north-east of Srinagar. The Sindh Valley situated at Sonamarg is the largest valley of Kashmir. This valley is about sixty miles long.

Kokernag Verinag
Kokernag is situated at an altitude of 2012 meters among other places that attract tourists. This place is famous for its natural glasses with medicinal properties. Nag also means spectacles in the Kashmiri language. Verinag also has some natural spectacles. Here Emperor Jahangir collected the water of the glasses in a pool and built a garden around it. The rows of poplar trees in this eight-angled pool and garden spread over a radius of 80 meters fascinate the tourists.

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