Spread on the banks of Jhelum river, Srinagar is a charming city in the heart of the Kashmir valley. With an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, Srinagar is famous for its natural beauty, gardens, waterfronts and houseboats. It has fascinated tourists for centuries with its picturesque Himalayan backdrop, abundance of natural beauty and glittering lakes dotted with colourful shikaras and houseboats.
Explore the spell-binding beauty of nature at these places in and around Srinagar while you’re there.
- Wular Lake
About 65 km from Srinagar in the Bandipora district, Wular Lake is considered to be the largest fresh water lake in India. This lake draws its water from the Jhelum River and is home to a variety of bird species. So know exactly What Do Peacocks Eat and Drink in current blog. It is situated near the famous Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary which can be visited between the months of April and June. Amidst the Wular Lake lie the remains of an island built by the king Zain-ul-abidin which is a key attraction.
- Nagin Lake
The peaceable, pristine and deep blue waters of Nagin Lake are an offshoot of the much touristy Dal Lake. Nagin Lake is connected to Dal Lake by a narrow causeway where tourists can spot numerous houseboats and shikaras. Water skiing facilities and fibreglass sailing boats are available at this lake. The best time for spending time at Nagin Lake is between June and August. You can also find some of the best hotels to stay in Srinagar near this lake.
- Hazratbal Mosque
Hazratbal Mosque is situated on the left bank of Dal Lake. It is a gorgeous white marble mosque with large mountains in the backdrop and the garden of Nishat Bagh nearby. The architecture of the mosque exhibits a fusion of Mughal and Kashmiri styles. The word ‘Hazrat’ means holy or majestic and ‘bal’ is a Kashmiri word meaning a place or an enclosure. The mosque has retained its rustic charm for almost three decades now.
- Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary
Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most beautiful attractions in Srinagar renowned for being the natural habitat of rare Kashmir stag Hangul besides black and brown bears. It had been declared a National Park in 1951. Surrounded by mountains and verdant flora, the sanctuary sprawls across an area of around 141 sq. km. One can witness a wide variety of Himalayan flora and fauna here.
- Tulip Garden
The Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden is situated near the banks of Dal Lake at the foothills of Zabarwan Mountains. Just about 8 km from Srinagar city centre, this garden has more than 70 varieties of coloured tulip flowers. It is especially known for the week-long Tulip Festival held during spring every year. To soak in the beauty of this exquisite garden and its environs, one should be staying at The LaLiT’s Palace hotel near Tulip Garden, Srinagar.
The garden spans about 90 acres of land and houses over one million tulip bulbs. With the lofty Himalayan ranges in the backdrop, the sight of these tulips spell pure joy when they swing with the cool breeze and exude a sweet aroma. The garden is situated in the vicinity of Dal Lake and many other gardens of Srinagar like Nishat Garden, Chashm-e-Shahi Gardens and Shalimar Garden.
- Awantipora
Some 30 km from Srinagar, Awantipora is another attraction near the city not to be missed. It houses the rustic ruins of a fine architecture and art dating back to the ancient times when Lalitaditya ruled this region from his capital city of Awantipora.
- Pari Mahal
Situated adjacent to the Chashme Shahi Gardens, Pari Mahal is a stunning historical monument. It is built in the classic Islamic style of architecture, it has six well-maintained terraced gardens on top of the Zabarwan hills. Other than giving a glimpse into the Mughal lifestyle and a fascinating chapter in history, this place also attracts a number of nature lovers owing to the beautiful views and the lovely gardens.
