Srinagar

The city is located on both the sides of the river Jhelum, which is called Vyath in Kashmir. The river passes through the city and meandering through the valley, moves onward and deepens in the Wular Lake. The city is famous for its nine old bridges, connecting the two parts of the city.

Tourism is the most significant segment of the city's economy. The city of Srinagar has been serving as a gateway to some of the most scenic and beautiful places of the Indian subcontinent. For decades, tourism has been contributing massively to the economy of the city for last several decades, but it has been adversely affected on account of insurgent activities by certain elements.

Dal Lake, going from the Mughal Gardens side back to Srinagar.
Srinagar is well known for its lakes. Dal Lake with its houseboats is famous all over the world. Srinagar is a small and beautiful city with a wonderful climate in the summer. Just outside the city are found the beautiful Shalimar Gardens created by Jehangir, the Mughal emperor, in 1619.
Houseboats were introduced accidentally to Kashmir: members of the Indian Civil Service serving in the plains who vacationed in Kashmir were not permitted to build permanent homes because of the then Maharaja's suspicion of a British presence in Srinagar. They thus chose to live in houseboats. The first such, named Victory, was designed by Mr. M.T. Kenhard in 1888. There are now about five hundred on the Lake.
Srinagar has several gardens which are part of the several such gardens laid by the Mughal emperors across the Indian subcontinent, and which are known as Mughal gardens. The Mughal Gardens located in Srinagar and its close vicinity include Chasma Shahi (the royal fountains); Pari Mahal (the palace of the fairies); Nishat Bagh (the garden of spring); Sahlimar Bagh; and the Nashim Bagh


Like the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar too has a distinctive blend of cultural heritage. Holy places in and around the city depict the historical cultural and religious diversity of the city as well as the Kashmir valley.

Holy places
Holy places of the city include:
According to Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, a temple dedicated to Shiva was constructed in 371 BC by Gopadatya, on the top of a hillock (1100 ft). The temple is currently called Shankaracharya temple, and Shanakracharya is believed to have visited the place and meditated there.
Kheer Bhavani shrine, located about 26 km from Srinagar is one of the most revered Hindu Shrines of Kashmir. It has a spring which changes colours indicating the fortunes of people.
A mosque named Jama Masjid which was actually a Hindu temple, located in the old city and spacious enough for 30,000 people, and was built in 1398 by Sultan Sikandar also called Sikandar Butshikan, the destroyer of Idols.
The Hill of Sharika situated in the centre of Kashmir is the oldest shrine in Kashmir which bears its origins to Puranic Times and finds mention in Nilamatapurana. This shrine is dedicated to goddess Sharika.