Places to visit in Kashmir
Gateway To Paradise
Truly a tourist paradise on earth, Kashmir offers innumerable tourist attractions. There are many places to visit in Kashmir. Nature has endowed it with rivers, Lakes and gurgling streams with hills and mountains reflected in their waters. There are woods of fir and chinar(maple), meadows of flowers, mustard and saffron, fruit orchards, gardens and parks and ancient monuments.
Srinagar is itself a tourist center and is also the take-off point for excursions to other places of interest. The city is believed to have been founded by Mughal Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. The Mughal emperors, for whom Kashmir was a summer resort, built gardens which are there in all beauty even today.
Srinagar offers a new and exciting tyoe of accommodation the houseboat, of which there are plenty on the Dal and Nagin Lakes. Gandola-like boats, shikaras, travel on the lakes bringing fruits, vegetables, flowers and handicrafts for sale, adding to the romantic ambience.
Each of the four seasons in the year offers special attractions which make Kashmir an all-the-year-round tourist resort.
Places to Visit in Kashmir : –
Dal and Nagin Lakes
Fed by springs, attractive house-boats are moored alongside. Shikaras (small boats) criss-cross the lakes presenting a unique picture.
The Mughal Gardens of Shalimar, Nishat Bagh and Chashma Shahi are beautifully laid out with fountains and cascading streams in their midst.
Pari Mahal,
Once a Buddhist monastery. It was converted into a School of Astrology by Emperor Shah Jehan’s son, Dara Shikoh.
Shankarachrya Temple
on top of a hill, offers an excellent view of the valley.
Hari Parbat, a hill believed to have appeared at the spot where Goddess Parvati killed a demon.
(km distance mentioned below is from Srinagar)
GULMARG
56 km , the meadows of flowers. Has the highest green golf course in the world and is a convenient base for treks to the Himalayas. Offers an excellent view of the peak, Nanga Parbat. Has winter sport facilities. Also worth visits are Khilanmarg (4 km) and Alpather Lake(13 km from Gulmarg).
There are also the new and old tourist Bungalows managed by the JKTDC. There are besides, one, two, three and 4 bed room Tourist Huts. Its one of the top on the list of places to visit in Kashmir.
PAHALGAM
Pahalgam(96 km), through which flow the Lidder and Sheshnag streams. Is the take-off point for treks to the KoKahoi Glacier, to several high altitude lakes, to the Amarnath Cave and to Sonamarg, the meadows of gold.
There are besides, several Tourist Huts( one, two and three-bedroom), a Tourist Bungalow and Dormitory (Contact the Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar). Its one of the top on the list of places to visit in Kashmir.
AVANTIPUR
29 km, where there are ruins of a 9th century Hindu Temple.
DACHIGAM WILD LIFE SANCTUARY
21 km. Can be visited with special permits from the Chief wild Life Warden.
ACHABAL
58 km, It was once the pleasure retreat of Empress Nur Jahan. has a trout hatchery.
DAKSUM
85 km. A beautiful forest glade girdled by mountains.
MARTAND
85 km. to see the ruins of a Sun Temple built in the 7th century.
GANDERBAL
19 km. a camping site, Kokarnag(70 km), with its botanical and rose gardens, Mansbal (32 km), the deepest lake in Kashmir, Verinag (80km) the source of River Jhelum, Wular (60 km) India’s largest fresh water lake and Yusmarg(40 km), a valley in the Pir Panjal mountains, are all excursion spots that should not be missed.
434 km.The capital of Ladakh. This is a land of high mountains and Buddhist monasteries. Is a new destination for tourists.