SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

Main Attraction: Dal Lake and the shikaras

Srinagar is one of several places that has been called the "Venice of the East" or the "Kashmiri Venice” Lakes around the city include Dal Lake – noted for its houseboats – and Nagin Lake.

Brief History

History of Kashmir has always been reflected as it were in that of its capital that is Srinagar which has not changed its site for more than 13 centuries. Hiun-Tsiang who visited Srinagar in about 631 AD found it already in position where most of the present city of Srinagar is situated. He described it as situated along the bank of a great river i.e. the Vitasta, now known as Jehlum. The two and a half miles represented by the Chinese measurement of 12 or 13 li, as described by Hiuen- Tsiang; agree accurately with the length of the city within its ancient limits along the right bank of the Vitasta. The estimate of its breadth at somewhat lies less than one mile (4 or 5 li) and it is found equally correct. He has referred to it as the new city to distinguish it from the old capital which was situated at Pandrethan, a village about 3.2 kilometers to the south-east of Srinagar.

According to Kalhana, Pandrathan which was then known as Puranadhisthana (meaning the old capital of Srinagar was founded by Ashoka, the Great at the south foot of a mountain spur which rises with bold slopes to a height of some 3000 feet above the village. According to him though Puranadhisthana had sunk to non importance already in Hindu times, extensive remains of ancient buildings can still be traced on the terraced slopes rising immediately to the north and north-east of Pandrethan. Those extending close to the gap, known as Aitgaj, between the Takht-I-Sulaiman and the hills east to it. The advantages of Pandrethan as the site for a great city can not be compared with those offered by the position of Srinagar. Yet the close vicinity of the Vitasta (Jehlum) coupled with the security from floods which the near hill slopes afford, must have been appreciated in an early period when probably the river rains flats of the valley were less drained. The name Srinagar which means the city of Sri or Lakshmi appears to have been assigned to the capital to commemorate the Buddhist Monastery built by Ashoka between Pandrethan and the nearby steep hill side at a distance of 2 miles from Pandrethan.

It is, however, said that the new city was founded by King Pravarasena-II sometimes about the middle of the 6th century. Kalhana has referred to it as Pravarapura, an abridged name for Pravarapura. Since the city was practically contiguous to the older Srinagar and existed for centuries side by side, it could not retain its official name for long and was thus known by the familiar name i.e. Srinagar, exactly in the same way as the several new cities founded by successive kings in the vicinity of Delhi continued to be known simply by the name of Delhi, though each of them was originally intended to bear the distinctive name of its founder. 

Kalhana has cited an interesting legend which led to the demarcation of the site of the new capital. It is said that when the king returned from his victorious expeditions, he decided to build a new capital which was to bear his name. He set out at night from his palace in Puranadhistahana to ascertain in a supernatural way the proper site and the auspicious time for laying the foundation of the new city. He reached a stream and found a demon of terrible form on the other bank. The demon promised him the fulfillment of his desire, subject to the condition that the king crossed over to his side by the embankment which the demon offered to provide for the purpose. The king agreed and the demon stretched his knees causing thereby the water of the stream to part on either side of the embankment. The king drew out his dagger and cut with it steps into the flesh of the demon’s leg and crossed over to the other side. The demon then indicated to him the auspicious time and advised him to build the capital at the place where he would find the measuring line laid down on the following morning. Next day the king discovered the line at the village of Saritaka where goddess Sarika and the demon Atta resided. Here he is believed to have founded the city and built the first shrine known as Siva Pravaresvara. It is clear that the stream referred to in the legend is the canal known as Tsunth-kul, which flows in the Dal Lake and then into Vitasta (Jehlum).

Village Saritaka has since been completely wiped out and is no longer traceable. Its position is however, still identifiable due to its association with goddess Sarika, a form of Durga which is being worshipped since times on the hill now known as Hariparbat.

The city of Srinagar was confined in the beginning to the right bank of river Jehlum but later it was extended to the left bank also, so as to include the portion enclosed by the canal known as Kut-kul which takes off from the river below Shergari and joins it again near the 7th bridge. The exceptional position of Srinagar can be safely attributed to the great natural advantages of its site. Occupying a place close to the true center of the valley, Srinagar enjoys facilities of communication, which no other site could offer. Before the advent of road transport, the river along which the city is built, provided at all seasons the most convenient route for trade and traffic both up and down the valley i.e. from Khanabal in Anantnag town to Khadanyar in Baramula district. The lakes viz. Dal and Anchar, which flank Srinagar, furnished an abundant supply of products, which materially contribute towards the livelihood of a large city population.

The valley of Kashmir is distinctly marked by lakes, streams, luscious fruits, magnificent forests and mighty mountains; the features which contribute to the making of valley a paradise on earth. Situated in the lap of the Himalayas the green fertile valley of Kashmir is guarded by a long chain of mountains with an average height of about 1828.8 metres above the sea level. The general aspect of the valley is that of a basin, surrounded on every side, by a range of lofty mountains and with it is extensive tract alluvial soil water by the Jehlum and its various tributaries which flow down from the mountains and are fed by the heavy snow and rain falling in the elevated regions. The valley resembles a gem set in the casket of the everlasting Himalayas. The physiography of Kashmir can be studied with three major physical divisions plain, plateau and mountains.

Hokersar is a wetland situated near Srinagar. 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 camp 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.