Old part of city Srinagar
Srinagar, is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and is located in the valley of Kashmir at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level. The city lies on both banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus River.The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year. The city is famous for its lakes and houseboats floating on them. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits.
History of Srinagar
King Pravarasena-II founded the Srinagar city over 2000 years ago. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, who visited Kashmir in 631 AD, found Srinagar at the same place where it stands today. The rule of Hindu kings in Kashmir ended in 1339, with the last ruler being Laltaditya Muktapida. From 1420-1470, the valley came under the rule of King Zain-ul-Abidin, popularly known as Budshah. Some time later, Mughal Emperor Akbar annexed Srinagar and included it in his own territory. Come and explore some more fascinating aspects of Srinagar with us! It was during the rule of Akbar only that the district got the striking mosques and gardens that it now proudly boasts of. The last one of the Muslim rulers of Srinagar was overthrown by the Sikhs, under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the year 1819. With time, the rule of the Sikhs ended and the Dogras gained the control of Kashmir from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar. After India became independent in the year 1947, the state of Jammu and Kashmir became a part of the Indian Union, with Srinagar as its capital. Since then Srinagar has been a prominent destination on the tourist map of India.
Srinagar has several tourist attractions; some of these are the Dal Lake, the Nagin Lake, Shankaracharya Hill, the Hari Parbat Hill that is situated on top of the Sharika Hill and the Charar-e-Shareif shrine, which is situated on the way to Yusmarg. The Dachigam National Park is situated at some distance from Srinagar. There are several travel packages for those interested in visiting Srinagar. Srinagar also offers adventure sports facilities for tourists to Kashmir.