SRINAGAR
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir stands on Dal
Lake and the river Jhelum. This ancient city was founded by Emperor Asoka when
his daughter Charumati took a fancy to Dal Lake during a pilgrimage to the area.
The present city was established by the King Raja Pravarsen II in the 6th
century. Its name was derived
from the old name 'Suryanagar' (The city of Surya or the Sun God).
It had a
strategic as well as economic importance as it stands on the ancient trade route
to Central Asia Srinagar is the most populous city, covering an area of about
28.5 sq km. The river Jhelum, flanked by the Dal lake and intersected by canals,
runs through the city and lends an idyllic charm to it. Hence, the city has been
called the "Venice of the East". The mountains and lakes are
complemented by luxuriant orchards dotted with majestic chinar trees, providing
so many breathtaking spectacles.
Dal Lake : Srinagar is also known as the
city of Dal Lake. This lake is 6.4km long and 4km wide and is divided into three
parts by man-made causeways. The western portion of the lake has an
inlet. It is the deepest part of the lake. In the eastern part there
are many Houseboats available for the tourists. The edges of the lake
are covered with the groves of chinar, poplar and willow. There are
gardens along the bank. The famous Nishat Bagh (Garden of
Gladness) lies here. This garden was laid out by Asaf Khan, Nur Jahan's
brother, in 1632.
Shalimar Bagh : This garden is about 4km away from the lake. It was
built by Jahangri for his wife Nur Jahan. The garden is distinguished by a
series of terraces linked by a water channel. These are surrounded
by decorative pools which can be reached by using stepping
stones. There are three pavilions. The upper most pavilion has black
marble pillars.
The wall has the niches for flowers and lamps .
The two lower pavilions has two Halls for private (Diwan-i-Khas) and public
audience (Diwan-i-Am).
Houseboats
The house-boats on the Dal and Nagin lakes, offering all modern amenities -
and
water sports - in the midst of
the most beautiful scenery in the world; have become
world famous. Kashmiri's used to call house-boats the "boat of Kennath
Sahib". Gifted with an innate sense of beauty and design, the Kashmiri has
since specialized in decorating the interior of the house-boat most artistically
and making it most comfortable. A Shikara (a canopied small gondola,
rowed with heart-shaped paddles) is attached to every house-boat like a water
taxi. Vendors in Shikaras glide up to the doorsteps of the house-boat; a
floating market of fruits, flowers, shawls, carpets, jewellery and handicrafts.
The lakes and canals also give the visitor glimpses of
history, bird life and unspoilt loveliness of exotic landscapes in Kashmir.
Anantnag (also called Islamabad) is another ancient town of
Kashmir, about 64 km to the north of Srinagar. It is an exotic town full of
springs and streams run in every other compound. Some of these are sulphurous
springs, which have curative qualities.
Other major towns are Baramulla and Sopore, both situated on
the Jhelum after the river enters the Wular lake and emerges from it.
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