20 Best Tourist Places To Visit in Srinagar Of Jammu And Kashmir, India

There are many best tourist places to visit in Srinagar.  Dal Lake, Houseboats, Lal Chowk, Tulip Garden, Pari Mahal, Shalimar Bagh, Doodhpathri, Shankaracharya Temple, Amaranth Cave, Vaishno Devi, Floating Market, Tarsar Marsar Trek, Hazaratbal Daragah. The summer season from April to June is the best time to visit Srinagar.

Srinagar is called the city of lakes and Venice of the East. Srinagar attracting tourists from all over the world for centuries to see the picturesque Himalayas, lakes, houseboats, shikaras, floating markets, and unique Mughal architecture. In this article, I have included all the important places to visit in Srinagar.

Dal Lake

Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir India. It is one of the top tourist attractions in Srinagar. It is said to be the “Jewel in the Crown of Kashmir” or simply Srinagar’s Jewel. It is the second-largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir. Mughal Garden, houseboats, and hotels are on the shoreline of the lake. The floating garden, shikara ride, and market are fun things in Dal Lake. Dal lake attracts tourists from all over the world. Dal Lake froze during the winter season due to the cold conditions.

The Houseboats

There are more than 300 houseboats in Srinagar ranging from very low prices to very high prices. The houseboats in Dal Lake are luxurious and costly as compared to houseboats located on the Jhelum river. It is one of the most comfortable, beautiful, rich, and unforgettable experiences with ultra-modern furniture, lighting, and decoration. The houseboats serve multi-cuisine dishes specializing in continental and Kashmiri food. Some of the best houseboats in Srinagar are The Chicago Group of Houseboats, Gemini Group of Houseboats, Floating Heaven Best Houseboat, The shelter Group of Houseboats, and Peacock Houseboat.

Lal Chowk

Lal Chowk is a city square in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The square is the main market in Srinagar with many hotels, woolen shops, bakeries shops, and street shops. It is one of the most popular and oldest markets in Srinagar. It is also a traditional place for political and civil meetings and other activities. It is a shopper’s paradise. You can buy Kashmiri products like Pashminas shawls, Kurtis, Leather Jackets, bags, and paintings.  The time of the market is from 9.30 am to 8.00 pm. It is very near to Jhelum River.

Tulip Garden

Tulip garden is an annual celebration of different types of flowers for tourists situated at the foothill of the Zabarwan range. The garden is a part of the tourism of the governments of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is also called Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. It is the largest Tulip Garden in Asia spread over an area of 74 acres. Every year Tulip Garden is open to the public from March to April. During these months tulips start to boom. An entry fee is required to visit the Tulip Garden. The time of the tulip garden is from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm.

Pari Mahal

Pari Mahal is a historical place in Srinagar. It is also known as The Palace of Fairies. The Pari Mahal was built by Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh in the mid of 1600It is a seven-terraced garden located at the top of the Zabarwan mountain range overlooking the city of Srinagar and Dal Lake. The timing of the Pari Mahal is from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm. To visit the Pari Mahal an entry fee is required. This place can be visited throughout the year.

Shalimar Bagh – Mughal Garden

Shalimar Bagh is a Mughal Garden in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The main features of the Shalimar Bagh are running water and a pool that reflects beauties of the sky and the garden. This garden was built by Mirza Haider an engineer of the Mughal court at the behest of Emperor Jahangir. An entry fee is required to visit the Shalimar Bagh. The time of the Shalimar Bagh is from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. Shalimar Bagh receives heavy snow during the winter season and is mostly covered by snow.

Doodhpathri

Doodhpathri is a hill station and tourist destination located in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is an unmatched tourist destination in Kashmir. The bowl-shaped valley is a piece of heaven on earth. This gorgeous green meadow is surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains. It is lesser known place as compared to Sonamarg and Gulmarg but not less beautiful than others. The distance between Doodhpathri and Srinagar is 42 km. It is situated at a height of 2730 meters from sea level. This area is rich in producing milk and get its name after this. Doodhpathri is closed during the winter season from December to February.

Banihal

Banihal is a town and notified area committee in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Banihal pass is a mountain pass across the Pir Panjal range in India. The height of the Banihal pass is 9291 feet from sea level. Banihal is always known as the gateway connecting Jammu and Srinagar. It was made famous by the 2 km long Jawahar Tunnel. Banihal has a railway station that connects Badgam and Baramulla. The distance between Banihal and Srinagar is 107 km by road. It is the perfect summer destination with tranquilized surrounding and a panoramic view of the great Himalayas.  

Shankaracharya Temple

Shankaracharya temple is a Hindu temple situated on the top of the Shankaracharya Hill on the Zabarwan in Srinagar. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located at a height of 1000 feet above the valley floor and overlooks Srinagar city.  You have to climb 240 steps to reach the temple. The temple has 20 feet tall octagonal base that supports the square building. The time of the temple is 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Baltal

Baltal is a camping ground for the pilgrims of Amaranth Yatra. Baltal is in the valley of Ziji La pass, settled on the river side of Sindh. It provides a shorter and alternate route to the Amaranth Caves. Amaranth Yatra from the Baltal route is 115 km and you will be able to cover the distance in 3 and a half hours by foot. It is situated at an altitude of 2743 meters from sea level. The distance between Baltal and Ganderbal town is 75 km. The distance between Baltal and Srinagar is 93 km.

Amaranth Caves

Amaranth temple is a Hindu shrine located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The cave is situated at a height of 12,756 feet from sea level. The ice pillar present inside the cave is called ice lingam, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. The shrine is visited by lakhs of tourists every year. Pahalgam to Amaranth is the most preferred route is around 47 km and requires 3 to 5 days to reach Amaranth. The distance between Amaranth caves and Srinagar is 179.25 km.

Katra

Katra is a city located in the Resai district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The famous Vaishno Devi temple is situated at a distance of 10 km from Katra. Katra is at Trikuta Mountain at an elevation of 2871 feet from sea level. Every year thousands of tourist visit Vaishno Devi to pay their respect to the Goddess. The best time to visit Vaishno Devi is from March to November. The tourist places in Katra are Vaishno Devi, Shalimar park, Raghunath Temple, Banganga Temple, and Chintamani Dharamshala. Vaishno Devi experiences heavy snowfall during the winter season.  

Deluxe House Boat

Deluxe house boat in Kashmir is located in Nagine Lake opposite Ashai Bagh Bridge, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. This houseboat has a dining hall, balcony, 2-3 bedrooms, and an upper deck. The interior of the houseboat is made from cedar wood. Deluxe houseboats in Kashmir are a great option for travelers looking for houseboats. Living in this houseboat is a unique and unforgettable experience.  Some other deluxe houseboats in Srinagar are Shiraz Deluxe Houseboat and Royal Group of Deluxe Houseboat.   

Badgam

Badgam is a district place in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Badgam has the only airport in Kashmir valley at Ichgam. The top places to visit in Badgam are Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Tosamaidan, Nilnag, Khag, and Prhjan. Badgam has a railway station. So you can reach Badgam by train. The distance between Badgam and Srinagar is 10 km by road.

Chashme Shahi Garden

Chashme Shahi Garden is one of the Mughal Gardens in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The garden is located at Zabarwan Range, near Raj Bhavan overlooking the Dal Lake. It is three terraced gardens. The garden has a spring that flows down the terrace and is divided into a waterfall, fountain, and aqueduct. A nominal entry fee is required to visit the garden. The time of the garden is from 8 am to 7 pm.

Floating Market

The floating vegetable market is a wholesale market in the Dal lake of Srinagar. It is the place where seller and buyers conduct their usual business on floating Shikara. The floating stores at the boat house in Srinagar are ideal for local marketing and purchasing. The time of the market is from 4 to 7 pm. It is a great experience in itself.

Hasan

Hajan is a town and notified area committee in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The distance between Hajan and Srinagar is 28 km. Hajan is a popular tourist spot where many Bollywood movie scenes have been shot.  The places to visit in Hajan are Kotli, Bagh, Rawalkot, and Hattian Bala.  Being a small town there are limited options for accommodations. It is better not to go there.   

Hari Parbat

Hari Parbat is a top tourist attraction that lies west of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir, India. It is the site of the fort, Sarika Ma Hindu Temple, and Gurudwara. Hari Parbat fort was built by Afagan Governor Atta Mohammad Khan in the 18^th century. Hari Parbat is a magnificent mountain overlooking Srinagar city. It is also known as Koh-i-Maran. The parbat has rich religious and historical significance.

Hazaratbal Dargah

Hazaratbal Dargah is a lake-side mosque and the pilgrimage site is Srinagar. According to local’s beliefs, it houses Moi-e-Muqqadas – the sacred hair of Prophet Muhammad’s beard. The Dargah was built by Mughal Subedar Sadiq Khan during the region of Shah Jahan. It is one of the holiest shrines in Kashmir.

Tarsar Marsar

The Tarsar and Marsar lakes are the most significant lakes in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.  These lakes are situated at a distance of 30 km from Srinagar. These lakes are famous for their scenic beauty. The Tarsar Marsar Trek is very famous in Kashmir. This trek takes to you right to the heart of Kashmir. The altitude of the trek is 4000 meters, trek length is 6 km. It will take 4 to 5 hours to complete the trek.

I hope this information will be useful to you for planning a trip to Srinagar. I have included all the places to visit.

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