Srinagar is a city of great antiquity. Srinagar is the summer state capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is the pride of the beautiful valley of Kashmir. Srinagar is renowned for its simmering lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating on them. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. Located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India Srinagar is about 876 kms north of Delhi. The river Jhelum passes through Srinagar city. The weather in Srinagar is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences heavy snowfall in December-February. Srinagar is the place for an aquatic sports enthusiast who are crazy for kayaking, canoeing, water surfing and angling.


Sightseeing at Srinagar -
The Valley of Kashmir : The valley of Kashmir, in which Srinagar is located, is also referred to as being a heaven on earth. It is beauty is so charming that the Mughal emperor Jahangir was so captivated by the beauty of this valley that he exclaimed "Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto", meaning - "If there is a heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here." Srinagar is one very loved tourist destination in India.

The Dal Lake : Dal Lake is a major tourist attraction in Srinagar. Located on the eastern end of the city, the Dal Lake comprises of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 kms from the city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains dotting Srinagar from this lake. You can enjoy taking a ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to discover the intricate network of waterways of this lake.

The Mughal Gardens : The other major attractions of Srinagar city are the well laid out Mughal styled gardens. The Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh are beautiful gardens set to the far eastern side of the Dal Lake. One can take a stroll through these green and attractive gardens and enjoy the waterworks within them.

The Temple of Shankaracharya : The temple of Shankaracharya is another important place to visit in Srinagar. Jaluka, the son of emperor Ashoka, built it in the 3rd century BC.


Reaching Srinagar -
By 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.
By Rail : Srinagar's railhead is Jammu, which in turn is connected to all parts of the country, including Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and Kanyakumari. The distance is about 876-km from Delhi to Srinagar although almost everybody coming up from Delhi, or other Indian cities, by land will come through Jammu from where the buses run daily to Srinagar.
By 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.