Interesting places near Srinagar

The capital city of Srinagar is no doubt enchanting and romantic, but situated around Srinagar are some very interesting and fascinating places, which not many tourists are aware of. A visit to these places will make the journey to Kashmir more memorable.

Manasbal Lake: The 32 Kms drive from Srinagar will take you to the calm waters of Manasbal Lake where there is no other sound but birdsong. Manasbal has been described as the bird watcher’s paradise; as this Lake is one of the largest haunts of aquatic birds in Kashmir. The still stretch of water here comes alive with blooming lotus plants during summer. Small boats floating in peaceful clear water present a beautiful spectacle and as your shikara glides through this mirror of tranquility, you will experience yet another facet of Kashmir.

 Wular Lake: It is difficult to describe in mere words the beguiling beauty of Wular Lake. For one, its formidable size-this is Asia’s largest fresh water lake, for another, it changes character with every few miles. Driving through the town of Bandipore, which has a delightfully laid out Mughal garden, the Wular will always be to your left. Nearby you will hear women chanting some age-old rhyme as they pick chestnuts. About 60 kms away from Srinagar, Wular is set in picturesque surroundings. Its dimensions vary at different times of the year. Normally it is 19 kms by 10 kms and is spread over an area of about 125 sqkm. By drawing off excess water from the Jhelum, the lake, acts as a natural flood reservoir. Interesting ruins in the centre of the lake are the remains of an island created by King Zain-ul-Abidin. With its turbulent waters perpetually wind ruffled, its exciting variety of avian life and the sheer beauty of its setting, Wular Lake represent Nature at her most untamed. This lake is considered to be remains of the historic Satisar Lake through which Kashmir valley emerged.

Avantipur Temples: One of the most significant monuments of Kashmir, located on Jammu-Srinagar highway, 29 kms from Srinagar, Avantipur is best known for its ruins of two ancient temples. Nothing sadder or more beautiful exists in India than this deserted city, the silent witness of a vanished dream. The archaeologists are of opinion that the two temples were built in the 9^th Century by King Avantivarman, who had his capital here. The Awantiswami temple, the larger of the two is dedicated to Lord Vishnu; the other temple known as Avantishvara was constructed in honor of Lord Shiva.

Pandrethan: A village by this name is a bare three miles above Srinagar. It has a well-preserved temple behind the Willow Grove on the left hand side of the cart road. The ceiling of the shrine is rated as the best example of carving on stone in the entire valley. Though ascribed to Vishnu or Shiva, the seven square feet 'depression' in the centre carries no deity only carved 'yakshas'. Built about 900 A.D. This temple of Lord Shiva attracts a steady flow of pilgrims. Pandrethan is one of the few temples in Kashmir with roof intact. Although miniature in size, it is ornate with structural symmetry (10th century).

Martand: Located 64 kms away from Srinagar, The Surya temple of Martand is one of the most impressive ancient ruins in Kashmir. The temple is dedicated to Surya, the Hindu Sun God. It is a medieval temple with a courtyard, and the shrine in the centre and has 84 (a sacred Hindu digit) columns. Built by Lalitaditya Mukthapeda, a warrior king of Kashmir (in 7^th or 8^th century) it blends the Roman with the Bengali Pala influence. It is located on the top of a plateau and offers a commanding view of the valley.

 

Pampore: Pampore is the centre of Kashmir’s Saffron industry, with saffron being grown on the Karewas beyond Pampore. Apart from Spain, the Karewas is the only place in the world where saffron is grown. “Saffron and Sweet Honey are two things which are found in Swarg (Paradise) or in Kashmir” wrote poet-historian Kalhan in his “Rajtarangni”. Pampore is just 12kms away from Srinagar.

 

Dachigam National Park: This well known sanctuary was originally a royal game reserve. It is now a protected wild life sanctuary and provides shelter to the Himalayan black bear, brown bear, musk deer and the Hangul (Kashmir stag). It is 21 kms from Srinagar at an altitude of 2,400 meters.

 

Harwan: 7 kms from north east of Srinagar, located here is the reservoir which supplies the sweet and cool water to Srinagar. It also has a trout hatchery and a lovely garden with colorful flowers and trees laden with fruits. This place is of historical importance as remarkable remains of ancient ornamental tile pavements of the Buddhist period have been excavated here. The ornaments and clothes of the people in these engraved on the tiles reveal a distinct Central Asian influence. Some of these specimens are preserved in Srinagar Museum.

 

The Chinar of Prayag: Prayag is a place at Shadipore, at a distance of 18 kms, from Srinagar. It is situated at the confluence of the river Sind, and river Vitasta, (similarly as the holy place Prayag in UP stands at the confluence of river Yamuna and the river Ganga).  The place is considered as an important pilgrimage by Hindus of the valley. At this confluence there is a small islet on which an old chinar stands since times immemorial. The chinar neither grows in size nor decays with times. There is a popular legend that chinar rises when the river gets swollen with flood waters so as rising tide cannot touch the chinar. The chinar has found its place in the vocabulary of Kashmiri dialect and is referred to when the size of a boy or a girl is found stunned.