Hill Stations of India - a unique way of spending your
holidays in India. The picturesque
Hill stations are
popular as resorts among both Indian and foreign visitors, providing a
relaxing and salubrious retreat from the heat and dust of the plains.
Srinagar is located in the
heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level,
spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. 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 of lakes that has facinated tourist's from centuries, with its
beautiful scenic Himalayan backdrop, simmering lakes that are rimmed by
houseboats and Shikaras and the Mughal architectural grandeur. This once
summer capital of the state, business centre and holiday resort, lies 900
kms north of Delhi.
In the heart of the city, rises the
304 meters high Shankaracharya Hill. It offers a panoramic view of
the city, the valley and the Pir Panjal range. On the northeastern side is
Hari Parbat, another sacred mount which has a fortification built by Emperor
Akbar in 1592, surrounded by fragrant almond orchards. A Durga temple stands
nearby at Chakreshwari. Then there are the Pather Masjid built in l620 by
the Empress Noor Jehan, the Madani Masjid built by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin,
the poet- musician-ruler of Kashmir, the single greatest influence on the
artistic heritage of the land.
No
destination is quite so romantic, no setting as enchanting as Srinagar.
Srinagar is as much imagination as it is fact, for every season offers new
vistas to this city of great antiquity. Spring breathes life again into a
frozen world, and the air is heady with the fragrance of a million flowers
that blossom on trees, shrubs and creepers. Summer heightens the effect, and
autumn is poignant in its colours of warm introspection. Winter brings with
it snow, sometimes the Dal Lake freezes, and beneath a leaden sky, roasted
chestnuts turn the atmosphere aromatic with the promise of warmth and
comfort.
 Major
Attractions of Srinagar |
 |
Gulmarg : Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime
location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill
resorts in the country. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by
shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf
Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with
wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once
collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not
merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest
green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the
country's premier ski resort in the winter.
Amarnathji
: One of the holy trinity, Shiva is a living god. The most ancient and
sacred book of India, the Rig Veda evokes his presence in its hymns. Vedic
myths, ritual and even astronomy testify to his existence from the dawn of
time.
Shiva is known to have made his home in the Himalayas. He
built no house nor shelter, not for himself or his bride. He was an ascetic,
and yet married; he could be both for "he was the wild god sporting in
the forest or taking his ease on a cloud."
Legend has it
that Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of creation in the Amarnathji
cave. Unknown to them, a pair of mating pigeons eavesdropped on this
conversation and having learned the secret, are reborn again and again, and
have made the cave their eternal abode. Many pilgrims report seeing the
pigeons-pair when they trek the arduous route to pay obeisance before the
ice-lingam (the phallic symbol of Shiva).
Hazratbal
Mosque : Hazratbal Mosque is located in a village of the same name on
the banks of the Dal. Its pristine white marble elegance is reflected in the
waters of the lake.
Hazratbal's special significance is derived
from the fact that it houses a hair of the prophet Muhammad. This is
displayed to the public on religious occasions, usually accompanied by
fairs. Apart from these occasions, Friday prayers are offered at Hazratbal
and attended by throngs of people. Hazratbal is remarkable for being the
only domed mosque in Srinagar; the others having distinct pagoda like roofs.
The shrine – mosque complex is situated on the western shore of the Dal
Lake opposite Nishat Bagh and commands a grand view of the lake and the
mountain beyond.
Dal Lake : The Dal is famous
not only for its beauty, but for its vibrance, because it sustains within
its periphery, a life that is unique anywhere in the world. The houseboat
and Shikara communities have lived for centuries on the Dal, and so complete
is their infrastructure on the lake, that they never have to step on land!
Doctors, tailors, bakers- one can see them all in tiny wooden shops on the
lake, near picturesque vegetable gardens and acres of lotus gardens.
Houseboats : If one is longing for the delights of
a houseboat holiday, then check out lakes of Srinagar to try one. Srinagar
is a unique city because of its lakes - the Dal, Nagin and Anchar. The River
Jhelum also flows through a part of the city. Most houseboats on the Nagin
and the Jhelum are situated on the banks of the lake, and can be accessed
directly from land without the help of a Shikara. While all those on the Dal
require a Shikara to get to and from them. Most houseboats on the Dal are
situated in long straggling rows; some face the boulevard, Srinagar's
exciting address, while others are situated singly or in groups of two and
three.
The
Mughal Gardens : The art of designing formal gardens which the
Mughal (also spelt as Moghul) emperors expended such time and energy upon,
reached its zenith in Kashmir. The Mughal gardens in Agra or Lahore may be
very fine but only in Kashmir is the formal beauty of the gardens matched by
the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. The gardens follow a
standard pattern with a central channel carrying water through the
descending terraces in a delightful series of cascades, falls and pools.
Kheer Bhawani : The Goddess Ragnya Devi is
symbolised as a sacred spring at Tula Mula village, 27 kms from Srinagar.
Within the spring is a small marble temple. The devotees of the goddess fast
and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon in the month of May when,
according to belief, the goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters.
The temple-spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani because
of the thousands of devotees who offer milk and 'kheer' to the sacred
spring, which magically turns black to warn of disaster.
| How
to Get there |
|
Air : Various airlines fly to Srinagar from
New Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu and there are flights operating from
Srinagar to Leh and back. Flights are more frequent during the summer
Tourist Season; at that time there will probably be several flights a day
between Delhi and Srinagar. Some services are direct, while others operate
via Chandigarh, Amritsar or Jammu. Flight time duration from Delhi on the
direct flights is about an hour and ten minutes.
Road
: Srinagar is connected by an all weather road to Jammu, which in turn
is connected to many parts of North India. One can catch buses from Delhi
but people making the trip by road should take up the route via Chandigarh,
Amritsar or from the Himachal Pradesh hill stations.
Local Transport : The best-known Kashmiri transport is,
of course, the Shikara. These are the graceful, long boats, which crowd the
Srinagar lakes. They're used for getting back and forth from the houseboats
or for longer tours. Officially there is a standard fare for every trip
around the lake and these are prominently posted at the main landings.
Destinations
