Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, it is famous for its gardens, lakes

and houseboats. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. The city is located on both the sides of the river. The river passes through the city and meanders through the valley, moving onward and deepening in the lake wular. The city is also famous for its nine old bridges, connecting the two parts of the city. Hokersar is a wetland situated near Srinagarthe capital of Indian Kashmir. Thousands of migratory birds come to Hokersar from Siberia and other regions in the winter season. Migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia use wetlands in Kashmir as their transitory camps between September and October and again around spring. These wetlands play a vital role in sustaining a large population of wintering, staging and breeding birds. Srinagar has a humid subtropical climate (Kppen Cfa), with a climate much cooler than what is found in much of the rest of India, due to its moderately high elevation and northerly position.The valley is surrounded by Himalayas on all sides. Winters are cool, with a January daily mean of 10.0 C (50.0 F), and temperature remains below freezing at night; Moderate to heavy snow fall is expected in winters and the only road that connects Srinagar with rest of India is cut off. Summers are warm, with a July daily mean of 30.1 C (86.2 F). The average annual rainfall is around 710 millimetres (28 in); spring is the wettest season while autumn is the driest.

Tourist attractions

The Mughal Gardens With terraced lawns, cascading fountains, paint-box-bright flowerbeds with the panorama of the Dal in front of them - the three Mughal Gardens of Chesmashahi, Nishat and Shalimar are the Mughal Emperors' concept of paradise and are today very popular places for picnics and excursions. The beauty of these gardens is at their best during spring but the Mughal structure of these gardens lends them a unique sense of beauty even when the flowers are not blossoming.

Nishat Bagh. Situated on the banks of the Dal Lake, with the Zabarwan Mountains as its backdrop, (11 km. from TRC), this 'garden of bliss' commands a magnificent view of the the valley. Nishat was designed in 1633 AD by Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jehan. edit lake and the snow capped Pir Panjal mountain range which stands far away to the west of

Shalimar Bagh The Shalimar Bagh is the celebrated royal garden of Kashmir. The name Shalimar ("abode of love") can be traced back to the name of the structure built by Pravarsena II in the 6th fascinated with the garden that he called it "one of the sights of Kashmir." century CE, when the garden was a Hindu sacred site. The Emperor Jahangir was so Shalimar Bagh is located on the northeast side of Lake Dal, approximately fifteen kilometers

away from the center of Srinagar. It was laid out by Jahangir as Farah Baksh ("the delightful") in 1619, while he was founding the city of Srinagar. In 1630, under the orders of Shah Jahan, the local Kashmiri governor, Zafar Khan, extended the garden under the treated as a pleasure resort, and during the reign of Ranjit Singh, European visitors were housed in its marble pavilion before the Maharaja Hari Singh installed electric lights. The site of Shalimar seems to have been ideally suited to a garden; it contained a natural canal, and a small nearby spring-fed stream was diverted to the garden site to provide continuous running water.

name of Faiz Baksh ("the bountiful"). Under late Pathan and Sikh governors, Shalimar was

Chashmashahi Chashma Shahi ("Royal Spring") received its name from its water source, a spring located on its uppermost terrace. The garden, one of the smaller Kashmiri gardens around Dal Lake, is found on the southeastern side of the lake.

Chashma Shahi was built by the Mughal governor Ali Mardan Khan under the emperor Shah Jahan in 1632-1633. It is said that this date is derived from a verse found on the site: "Guftamash bahr-i chashma tarikhe/ Guft bar go kausar-i shahi," which translates to, "I enquired of him regarding the date of the spring/ He replied: Say 'Kausar-i Shahi'." The term "Kausar-i Shahi" is synonymous with Chashma-i Shahi (the royal spring).

Pari Mahal

The Pari Mahal garden is located atop Zebanwan mountain, southwest of Dal Lake and

approximately 5 km west of the center of Srinagar. It consists of six terraces aligned roughly north-south, with its uppermost point is at its southern end, and arched retaining walls supporting the terraces against the mountain. Yet unlike other Mughal gardens in Kashmir, this garden contains no water cascades or chadars (ramps transferring water from one terrace to another). Its water tanks, which may have formerly contained fountains, are found on different terraces, but they were filled via underground pipes rather than by a flow of water above ground. The overall measurements of the garden are 122 meters long by 62.5 meters wide at its widest point; its terraces vary in width. Pari Mahal was built in the mid-seventeenth century on the ruins of a Buddhist monastery

by Prince Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan. Prince Dara, a follower of the Qadiri order of Sufi Islam, had a great interest in mysticism, and he built the garden for his Sufi tutor, Mullah Shah Badakhshi. It was used as an observatory for the teaching of astrology and astronomy. Prince Dara was assassinated in 1659 by his younger brother, Aurangazeb, who went on to take control of the empire.

Houseboats The houseboats of Kashmir, unlike their counterparts in karela are usually moored at the edges of the Dal Lake. Some of the houseboats are build in the early 1900s, and are still being rented out to the tourists. These are made of wood and usually have intricately and carved wood paneling. These boats are all of different sizes and designs some have upto 4 bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a Living room and kitchen.

Ziarati Hazrati Youza Asouph. In the Khanyar area, about 150 m NW of Dastgir Saheb mosque & shrine. This tomb, also

known as Roza Bal, is believed by some to be the tomb of Jesus (part of the larger theory that he survived the crucifixion and made his way to Kashmir where he lived until at least the age of 100). It has been made popular by recent books such as Jesus Lived in India by Holger Kersten among others. It's down a little side road - ask around, pretty much anyone in the area can point you in the right direction. It's out of bounds as on September 2011 as it is closed and sealed and photography and videography are not permitted.

Dal Lake Dal Lake has rightfully become an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. A Himalayan

urban lake, it has five basins and a number of channels that are well linked with each other. There are plenty of fishes in Dal Lake and fishery is the second largest industry of the region centered on the lake. The sparkling quiet waters of Dal surrounded by snow-capped mountains on its three sides, undoubtedly mark it as one of the most beautiful lakes of India. It is also the second largest lake in the State of Jammu and Kashmir with numerous gardens and orchards all along its shores. Houseboats form an indelible part of the scenery of the Dal Lake that are always ready to take tourists to a romantic and peaceful ride of the also offer some of the most exotic views of the splendid scenery of the Dal Lake. lake and soothe their nerves as the houseboat floats over the slightly rippling waters. They

There are Shikaras that look like small ornate versions of the gondolas of Venice that offers

ferry rides to and from the banks of the lake to the houseboats. The shores of the Lake houses the distinct Mughal monuments and the campus of the Kashmir University while

the two hillocks overlooking the lake house Shankaracharya and Hari Parbat temples. The glorious Mughal gardens on its shores contribute to the beauty of the Dal Lake. Out of There have been controversies about the origin of the Dal Lake. While some geologists believe that the origins of Dal Lake lie in the Pleistocene Oligotrophic Lake that once floating gardens of Dal Lake are considered a beauty in themselves. One can find a number influx of tourists here.

about five hundred gardens laid down in 16th to 17th century, only a few still survive.

covered the entire valley of Kashmir, others just believe it to be a flood plain lake. The of restaurants and hotels at the lakefront that have sprung up, encouraged by the large

Shankaracharya Mandir Is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on a hilltop. It can be reached by a car or taxi.

No cameras or cellphones are allowed within the temple and you are supposed to leave deposited with the police personnel before the ascent of the hill as these items are against Hindu religion.

them in the vehicle before entering the temple premises. Cigarattes, liquor are to be

Hazratbal Mosque 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. The white mosque is breathtakingly beautiful; also take a walk through the adjacent market area with a range of great fresh food and a thousand things deep fried.