Uttarakhand

From a very long time I explored the Jammu & Kashmir reason of India today I m starting fromUttarakhand which state came out of Uttar Pradesh. Demand for Uttarakhand was first made in1930 at the Karachi session of INC. It occupies 17.3% of India's total land area with 51,125sq km. This state became the 27th state of the Republic of India on 9th November 2000.


Uttranchal has 13 districts Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Haridwar,
Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarkashi here
Garhwali, Kumaoni and Hindi are spoken As like Jammu & Kashmir it also a place full of natural beauty like now-clad mountains, green hills, fertile valleys, flowing rivers and thriving lakes,


Uttarakhand has highly venerated pilgrimage places that’s why this land of natural beauty is also known as home of God.Here are many travel places witch are the very attractive and religious importance like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Jageshwar, Bageshwar, Rishikesh and Haridwar. The popular hill stations of Uttarakhand are Almora, Bhimtal, Munsiyari, Mussorie, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Ranikhet, Chopta, Valley of Flowers, Joshimath and Lansdowne.

Uttarakhand is also very famous and visited for unlimited serenity and tranquility in pleasant pollution free environs, hill station on Uttarakhand Travel are ideal for vacations and several adventure sports activities like trekking, ice-skiing, white water rafting, sailing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, yachting, water-skiing and parasailing because of its geographical attributes.

Sanasar

Sanasar is the name given to the two small villages of Sana and Sar in Jammu India. Named after small local lakes, 'Sana' & 'Sar' are located 20 km west of Patnitop, on the national highway 1A, in the Jammu province of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. At an altitude of 2050 mts it is the hub for adventure sport activities in Jammu region. At 11 km from Patnitop, Natha Top offers scenic views of the mighty western (Kishtwar) Himalayas and the lower Shivalik range.


The Bramha Massif, with its prominent peaks of Brahma 1 and 2 & Flat Top, is clearly visible. Eight kilometres down the road, from Natha Top, is Sanasar, with Matha top falling en route.


As you approach Sanasar, the range on the right is Shanta Ridge,with the ShankPal Nag temple situated at its highest point of 2800 mts.


Sanasar, started 4 years ago by "Extreme Himalayan Adventures" is dedicated in promoting and providing wilderness adventure camping and adventure sports in general.. it offers a taste of the sport. Situated among the high conifers, the rock offers the natural feel of climbing.

Bagh-e-Bahu in Jammu

In the foot hill of Himalaay Bagh-e-Bahu is an extensive terraced garden built around the Bahu Fort in Jammu which is really a heaven for the tourist as well as the local people. This beautiful garden with its glittering waterfalls,

artificial lake, lush green lawns, flower beds, fountains and big trees is a favorite picnic spot of the city folk.

According to legend, King Jamboo Lochan founded the city. It is believed that one day while hunting, the king witnessed an unusual sight after crossing Tawi River. He noticed a goat and a tiger drinking water side by side from the same pond. Impressed by this amazing incident, he chose to construct a city at that particular location.

His vision was to make such a city where strong and weak people would live together peacefully sans any hostility towards each other.

Amongst the many famous tourist spots, a must see in your itinerary should be the beautiful terraced garden of Bahu Fort, famous by the name of Bagh-e-Bahu.

One can reach the garden by mini-buses and auto-rickshaws from the Jammu city.

Patni Top

Patni Top:


From 112 kms from Jammu. This famous hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024 metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes.



Enveloped by thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots, peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountainscape of the Chenab basin.



In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick mantle of snow thus providing opportunities for various snow games including skiing.


It is the best developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. The occupancy of the huts and Dak Banglow is full in summer months.

Ziarati Hazrati Youza Asouph

Ziarati Hazrati Youza Asouph, in the Khanyar area, about 150 meters NW of Dastgir Saheb mosque & shrine. This tomb, also known as Roza Bal.


Roza Bal is the name of a shrine located in the Khanyar district of Srinagar, in Kashmir, India, venerated by some Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. Some people identify the sage buried there with one Yuz Asaf and with Jesus, whom they allege to have arrived in Kashmir after surviving his crucifixion.



The tomb itself consists of a low rectangular building on a raised platform, surrounded by railings at the front. It has three arches at the front, where entry can be had, and four arches at the side. Inside is a rock carving that is said to show feet bearing crucifixion wounds.


The tomb had previously been maintained by local descendants of the buried sage. It is currently maintained by a Board of Directors consisting of Sunni Muslims. Sahibzada Basharat Saleem, a former caretaker (now deceased), claimed to hold genealogical tables that link him as a direct descendant of the buried sage. In recent time another man was buried there, who is revered by some local Muslims as a Sufi saint, although others point to historical data that he was only the shrine's long-serving caretaker.

Shah-e-Hamdan

Shah-e-Hamdan is also known as Khanqah-e-Molla is a very old Muslim shrine that is situated on the banks of river Jhelum in the city of Srinagar. It is believed that the shrine contains ‘the secret of Allah’




This shrine was initially built by Sultan Sikander in 1395 in memory of Mir Syed Ali Hamdan, a Sufi saint who played an important role in the spread of Islam in Kashmir.
The wooden architecture of this shrine is based on the Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist styles.

In 1480, the shrine was destroyed by fire and rebuilt by Sultan Hassan Shah in 1493. In 1731, the shrine was damaged and rebuilt by Abul Barkat Khan in 1731. Currently, this shrine has a square plan that is supported on irregular walled base comprising of materials from ancient temples.

There exists a two-tiered and two-storied monument along with slightly sloping pyramidal roofs along with double-arcaded verandahs that run around the building in the first tier. There is an arcaded balcony that extends on all four sides in the second tier.

Harwan

In the district of in Srinagar Harwan Garden is situated. Harwan is a huge garden with a beautiful canal passing through its heart. Lined with flowerbeds and massive Chinar Trees, the canal is fed from a beautiful lake, which lies just behind the garden.



The main attraction of this garden is that it does not have the usual terraces, artificial fountains, etc, like the other gardens of Kashmir.


It has been deliberately kept devoid of these man-made things. Purposefully kept devoid of fanciful things and artificial fountains, the abundant natural beauty of the place complete with vast big green-carpeted lawns, makes it an ideal spot for picnics and excursions.



Harwan is the perfect place to take long walks in the lap of nature. It also serves as a take-off point for visiting Dachi Gam Wild life sanctuary and a starting point of a Mahadev Mountain trek.

Pari Mahal

Pari Mahal means a house of Fairies is as much as a historic monument as a garden ) is situated just above Chashma Shahi Gardens, about 10 km from Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir.



This was initially a garden, it was once a Buddhist monastery, later converted into a school of astrology built by Dara Shiko for his Sufi teacher, Mulla Shah. Pari Mahal gardens are now the pride of the state. Pari Mahal is illuminated at night, and can he see, located on the spur of a hill, from most places in Srinagar.



It overlooks the picturesque Dal Lake. It is spacious garden situated around a small spring, the garden has beautiful flowering plants and various kinds of fruit. Although Pari Mahal boasted a large number of springs earlier, only a few can be seen today. The mahal, on the spur of a hill, is illuminated at night and can be seen from most places in Srinagar.

Tulip garden

In Srinagar Asia’s biggest tourist garden on the banks of the famed Dal Lake in Indian Kashmir will serve as an enticing invitation for tourism in the state.Here 60 varieties of tulips at Sirajbagh, a vast fertile stretch of land situated at the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. The authorities have managed to grow as many as sixty varieties of the flower imported from Holland.



An explosion of colour in Asia's largest recreational tulip garden has emerged after 60 varieties were imported from Netherlands and planted in the Siraj Bagh Tulip Garden only a few months ago.



"There are 12 lakh tulips. People from all over country, all over India should come and see themselves. Now they don't need to go to Holland and they can have view of tulips. People from film Industry and tourists should come here,"



The tulip bloom coincides with the almond bloom in Kashmir. And by constructing tulip and almond gardens on the bank of Dal Lake government is using flower power to attract tourists to Kashmir.

Hari Parbat Fort

On the banks of the Dal Lake of Srinagar, the Mughal fort is situated, it is positioned on top of the Sharika Hill. It has a Parvati temple on the western slope and the Muslim shrines of Khwaja Makhdoom Sahib and Akhund Mullah Shah on the southern one. On the southern side of the outer wall there is a Guru Dwara, which commemorates the visit of Guru Hargobind Singh.



Originally, it was built during the reign of Akbar but its present structure owes itself to the Afghan governor of Kashmir in the 18th century. Presently the fort is under army occupation.
According to the local legend, this hill was once a lake as large as a sea and was inhabited by the abominable demon known as Jalobhava. The inhabitants called on Goddess Sati, spouse of Lord Shiva for her help. She took the form of a bird and dropped a pebble on the demon's head, which kept on increasing in size until the demon was crushed by it. Hari Parbat is revered as that pebble and it is said to have become the home for all 33 crore gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Another version of the myth that involves the hill, says that two demons, Tsand and Mond occupied the fair valley. Tsand conceded himself in water near the present location of Hari Parbat and Mond somewhere above the present Dal Gate. They were a menace to the people of the valley, which could not be inhabited owing to their dreaded presence. Thus, the gods invoked Goddess Parvati who assumed the form of a Hor (myna) and flew to Sumer from where she got a pebble in her beak and threw it on the demon Tsand to crush him. The pebble grew into a mountain. She is worshipped as Sharika in Shri Tsakra (an emblem of cosmic energy pervading the universe) occupying the middle part of the western slope of the hill. The hill is also called Predemna Peet or Kohi Maran.

Vaishno Devi

Vaishno Devi Mandir is located in the hill of Vaishno Devi, near the town of Katra, in Udhampur district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir India. The shrine is at an altitude of 5200 feet and a distance of approximately 12 kilometres (7.45 miles) from Katra.


Vaishno Devi Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti. In Hinduism, Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. It is one of the most revered places of worship in Northern India.


Vaishno Devi Mandir’s journey is the places where Mata Vaishno Devi had spent some time while observing various spiritual disciplines and penances. The culmination of this journey is at the Holy Cave where She merged Her Human form with the astral form of Her creators, the three Supreme Energies.


Mata Vaishno Devi is believed to grant all the four boons (Dharm (Righteousness), Arth (Material Pursuits), Kaam (Contentment) and Moksh (Enlightenment) to those who visit Her Holy Shrine. Mata Vaishno Devi is considered to fulfill anything and everything that a person wishes for in life, in a righteous way. It is an experience of all, that no one goes empty handed from Her Great Pilgrimage.

DACHIGAM NATIONAL PARK

Dachigam National Park in state of Jammu Kashmir in the alttitude of 1700-4300 metres. is among the most scenically beautiful areas of the sub-continent. This park is having 10 km long road runs through the lower area but the only way to visit most of the park is on foot.


The Dachigam is the last home of the rare hangul, or Kashmir stag, which can be viewed best during its autumn rutting season when the lower slopes and forests echo with its melodious calls.
The climate of this plase in Winter minimum 10 degrees, Summer maximum 32 degrees. This park is open throughout the year. For visiting upper Dachigam the best time is from June to August. Each season has its distinct attractions, but October, the main rutting month and when the trees bear their autumnal colours, it the best


In this Dachigam National Park Himalayan black bears come out of hibernation in March, the best time to see this impressive omnivore. Thick-coated grey langur's brown bears and leopard cats.
The nearest town is Srinagar from where the park gate is 22 km away. The road goes around Dal Lake, past Shalimar Gardens and the park entrance is just beyond Harwan village. Nearest airport is Srinagar and railhead at Jammu, 315 km away

Houseboat in Kashmir

A houseboat is a temporary or permanent dwelling, able to float upon water. Generally, houseboats are tethered to land to provide utilities, but are often capable of operation under their own power.


Kashmir Houseboats” are among the Best & luxury accommodation In Kashmir. Houseboats in Srinagar are located at Dal Lake & Nagin Lake. Tourist & travelers prefer staying at Houseboats in Kashmir rather then Hotels. Houseboat holidays are the most Romantic Kashmir Packages. The best of your holidays you have in Kashmir.


On landing in the Valley of Kashmir for the first time the idea most strucks the mind of visitors is renowned “House Boats” who finds it a noval experience for staying possible now where else in the world.

The Best Places to Visit in Kashmir are Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Yusmarg, Mughal Gardens, Daksum, Wular, Manasbal Lake, Shikara Rides, Aharbal, Dachigam National Park, Mata Vaishno Devi.

Kolahoi Glacier

It is, situated up the Lidder Valley, just below Mount Kolohoi, is currently a hanging glacier. It is basically hollowed out from global warming, the Asian brown cloud, and local environmental factors associated with mountain hydrology.

According to the mountaineers from Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering (JIM) in 2008, the glacier has receded by half since 1985. The glacier is not safe to study because it is hollow and in places has 200 foot deep crevasses.

The sounds of cracking can be heard from either side of the ice field, which indicates an imminent collapse. The preferred method of approach for viewing is to take the right side.

This approach offers less boulder fields on the approach, and the occasional goat/horse/cattle herder can be approached for cheese and Kashmiri tea on the way. Reaching Kolohoi, trekking up the Lidder Valley, you will encounter some of the most difficult terrain in the western Himalaya, but the views are breathtaking.

Amarnath

Holy Amarnath Cave, situated at 14000 ft. above sea level, is organised by the Jammu & Kashmir State Government. Amarnathji stands at 3,888 m and is 45 km from Pahalgam and 141 km from Srinagar.
During the month of July and August annual yatra is held. Shiva is a living God , and Amarnath is the holy trinity. There darshan happens from Ashard Purnimashi to Shravan Purnimashi which course spreads over a month or so.

The most sacred and most ancient book of India, the Rig Veda evokes his presence in its hymns, Vedic Myths, rituals and even testify to his existance from the dawn of time. Legend has it that Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of creation in a cave in Amarnath. Unknown to them, a pair of doves eavesdropped on this conversation and having learnt the secret, are reborn again and again, and have made the cave their eternal abode

Pahalgam

95 km east of Srinagar at an altitude of 2,130 metres, Pahalgam is unspoiled by the ravages of progress.On the bank of the beautiful Indus the sleepy hamlet of Pahalgam lies amid the Himalayan Pine forest.
Pahalgam is situated among the soaring mountains, glistening glaciers, gushing silvery streams of ice water and dense pine and cedar forests with soft whistling winds and revitalising air.
The weather in Pahalgam is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild while winters (November-February) are cold. It experiences rains between July and September. It experiences heavy snowfall from December to February.

It is the base of a tour to the Amarnathji and many trekking routes branching out to the wilderness of the Himalayas. It’s an ideal place for an adventure sports enthusiast. It offers wonderful treks, skiing, mountaineering and camping sites.

Sonmarg

Sonmarg it is alos known as “Golden meadow” this place gets its name 'Son' meaning golden, from the bloom of yellow crocuses that fill this valley in the spring. is one of the smallest resorts in Kashmir, lying in the heart of a gorgeous valley carved by the river Sindh. it is Situated at 9,000 kms. above sea level.


Sonmarg, on the Srinagar-Leh highway is approximately 110 kms from Srinagar and the road to Sonmarg passes through the famous Jawahar tunnel. It can be reached by roads, which runs through the picturesque Sind valley flanked on one side by the densely populated slopes and many varieties of alpine flowers.

A gushing river is the highlight of this meadow, flowing down from snowy heights into the dense woodlands of firs and silver birches. Glaciers pour down from this stream from the Himalayas on to the many camping sites in Sonmarg. A thick forest cover of sycamore, alpine flowers, silver birch, fir and pine, Sonamarg offers adventure in the form of treks, sledging, angling, alpine skiing and white water rafting.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg’s prime location, legendary beauty, and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country. While Gulmarg is an all-weather resort with refreshing summer meadows and pastoral scenes to keep the camera busy, the main reason to come here, at least in winter, is the off-piste, deep-powder, long-run skiing and snowboarding. The Himalayan resort of Gulmarg is one of the newest and increasingly popular ski destinations. Head here for the world’s highest gondola ski lift and eye-popping views.

Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country’s premier ski resort in the winter.

Depending on the season, nature’s colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides.
A huge cup shaped meadow, lush and green with slopes where the silence is broken only by the tinkle of cowbells, Gulmarg looks like a fantasy set in a film and not surprisingly have been the venue of several films. The valley of Gulmarg, a large meadow about 3-sq-kms in area, stands at 2,730 metres, 56-km south west of Srinagar. The name means ‘Meadow Of Flowers’ and in the spring it’s just that, a rolling meadow dotted with countless colourful Bluebells, Daisies, Forget Me Not’s and Buttercups. The valley itself is about 3-km long and up to a km wide.

In Srinagar Nagin Lake is an offshoot leading from the Dal Lake. The Nagin Lake is located to the east of the city, at the foothill of the mountain Zabarwan. On the edges of the Nagin Lake are a number of willow and poplar trees. The reflection of these tees in the water of the lake lends it a beautiful view. The waters of the lakes are pleasantly cool from mid-May to mid-September. Nagin Lake, which is farther from town, has magnificent views of the mountains. It’s surrounded by Shankaracharya hill (Takht-e-Suleiman) on the south and Hari Parbat on the west, the Nagin Lake of Kashmir presents a charming sight.

If someone wants to really get away from the chaotic city life all then Nagin Lake is a good place to find a house boat and do it the surroundings are much more serene and isolated than on Dal Lake. One can rent rowboats from the camping site here
In this lake salesmen paddle from boat to boat, selling everything you could want such as cold drinks, fruit, nuts, fresh flowers, film, baked goods, papier-mache boxes, woolen shawls, silk carpets, leather goods, money-changing services and on and on. The gentle soothing motion of the boat, as it glides along the water of these lakes, is unbelievably romantic.

Hazratbal Shrine

The Hazratbal Shrine is a Muslim shrine in Srinagar, Jammu& Kashmir, India. It contains a relic believed by many Muslims of India to be a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The name of the shrine comes from the Arabic word Hazrat, meaning holy or majestic, and the Kashmir word bal, meaning place.


Its situated on the left bank of the Dal Lake Srinagar and is considered to be Kashmir’s holiest Muslim Shrine. The scared hair (Moi-e-Muqqadas) of Mohammed is believed to be preserved here. The shrine is known by many names including Hazratbal, Assar-e-Sharief, Madinat-us-Sani, or simply Dargah Sharif.
The history of the shrine goes back to the early seventeenth century when the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's Subedar, Sadiq Khan, laid out a garden here & constructed a palacial building, Ishrat Mahal or Pleasure House in 1623. However, the Emperor, during his visit in 1634, ordered the building to be converted into a prayer House with some additions & alterations. During the time of Aurangzeb, when MOI-e-Muqqadus arrived in Kashmir in 1699, it was first kept in the shrine of Naqashbad Sahib in the heart of the city. Since the place was found to be insufficient in view of the unprecedented rush of people who thronged the place to have a glimpse of the Moi-e-Muqqades, it was decided to shift the it to Hazratbal, then known as Sadiqabad. The construction of the present marble structure was started by the Muslim Auqaf Trust headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1968 and completed in 1979. The Moi-e-Muqqadas is displayed on Various occassions related with the life of Prophet & his four holy companions.

The Shankaracharya temple:

The Shankaracharya temple is situated in the Srinagar district on the hill known as Takht-e-Suleiman. It is housed at a height of 1100 ft. above surface level of the main city on the hill. It is believed that Raja Gopadatya got the temple constructed in 371 BC, giving it the name of Gopadri. The great philosopher Shankaracharya is supposed to have stayed here when he visited Kashmir to revive Sanatan Dharma. This incident, which took place ten centuries ago, led to the renaming of the temple as the Shankracharya temple.

The Shankracharya Mandir of Kashmir, India is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is thought to be the oldest shrine in the Kashmir valley. The temple, as it stands today, has undergone many repairs throughout its life. The first repair is supposed to have been done under the rule of Lalitaditya. The second repairs were undertaken by Zain-ul-Abideen after the temple got damaged in an earthquake. These repairs were carried out during the Governorship of Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din. Maharaja Gulab Singh, a Dogra ruler, is credited for the stone steps that form a part of the passage to the shrine. The electrification of the Shankracharya temple was done in 1925.

The temple is of great importance, not only from the point of view of religion, but also from architectural viewpoint. A high octagonal platform supports the temple, approached by a flight of approximately hundred steps. The sidewalls of the steps once bore some valuable inscriptions. There is also a Persian inscription inside the temple, dating back to Emperor Shahjahan's rule. The main surviving shrine, consisting of a circular cell, provides a magnificent view of the valley below. The inner chamber of the Shankaracharya temple, after being repaired, is now covered with a modern ceiling.

Shalimar Bagh:

For Mughal rulers The Kashmir Valley was a popular summer destination. Numerous gardens and pleasure palaces were built on its hills at the peak of the Mughal period. The Shalimar garden in particular demonstrates creative and successful handling of site contours, including the channeling of a stream that flowed down into the northeast corner of the Dal Lake from the hills above. Oriented northeast to southwest, the garden was originally accessed only by water and entered from the lowest terrace of the three square terraces. It is now reached by a road that runs around the lake.


Shalimar Garden was built by Mughal Emperor Jehangir (1605-1627) in 1616 to celebrate his love for his wife Nur Jahan. A second garden Faiz Baksh,(The Bountiful) was added eleven years later during Emperor Shah Jahan's (1628-1658) reign by Zaffer Khan, the governor of Kashmir at the time. Today, the garden is located about fifteen kilometers away from the center of Srinagar, the capital city of the Indian administered side of the Kashmir Valley. It covers an area of about 12.4 hectares.

The Shah Nahar, or the central canal, forms the central axis of the garden with its regularly placed fountains and Sycamore tree-lined vistas, and unites the three-terraces. At regular intervals, the canal flows through a basin or a larger pool at each terrace to highlight the central pavilion. Its water originates from a spring located at the base of Mount Bahmak.

A hierarchy of spaces define the function of each one of the three terraces. The first charbagh at the lowest terrace, was meant as a garden for the public. Its central axis is crowned by the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) where the emperor held his dailycourt when in Kashmir. A black marble throne surrounded by water cascades forms the central feature of this structure. Only noblemen of the court, special guests of the emperor or the elite could proceed to the next terrace, which was conceived as the emperor's private garden. Its centerpiece also built across a waterfall, was the Diwan-i -Khas (Hall of Private Audience), which remains only in foundation.
Two small pavilions standing behind the hall guarded the entrance to the third most private terrace, the Zenana which was reserved for the royal harem. Its main feature is a black marble baradari or the pavilion with twelve doors which stands in a large basin adorned with numerous fountains.

Nishat Bagh

Nishat Bagh, is the largest of the three Mughal Gardens in Srinagar, it reflects the sense of beauty and the lavish styles of the Mughal era in India. This garden is house to beautiful flowering trees and the tall chinars add a majestic touch to the garden. This garden was laid Asif Khan the brother of Nur Jehan in the year 1633. Zabarwan hills acts as the backdrop of this beautiful garden that is situated on the banks of Dal Lake. The garden has an area of 548mx338m.
The garden has terraces and water canals flowing through the middle. In this garden there is a very striking feature, that it’s having 12 zodiac signs in the 12 flowering terraces of the garden. The flowering terraces gradually come down in slopes almost intermingling with the water of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. On the way to Nishat Bagh one has to cross the famous Jawahar Tunnel that acts as a link between Kashmir and the rest of India.

Mughal gardens in Srinagar

It is counted as some of the very beautiful garden developed by the rulers of the Mughal dynasty.


Chashmashahi:


Which meaning Royal Spring is the smallest of the three Mughal gardens of Kashmir. The landscaped Mughal Gardens, developed by the rulers of the Mughal dynasty, make you fall in love with their beauty. They consist of mainly the following three gardens, this garden measures 108 m by 38 m and is above the Nehru Memorial Park. It’s been set up by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 AD.


The garden is quite famous for spring of energizing digestive mineral water inside it. Chasma Shahi Garden of Kashmir, India, offers a striking view of the scenic Dal Lake and the neighboring mountains. The garden has a number of terraces, with several fountains built right through its center. Near the garden is a small shrine, the Chasma Sahibi with a fresh water spring.
The other mane attractions of Chashmashahi include an aqueduct and some waterfalls. The water for the fountains comes from the spring. This water then goes through the floor of the pavilion and falls over to the lower terrace, over a polished black stone chute.