We have heard so much about Kashmir that sometimes it
feels that we have seen it all. But if we really want to experience
Kashmir and its divine beauty we definitely need to travel there. Dal
Lake is the real beauty of Srinagar, the picturesque capital city of
Jammu and Kashmir. The best time to visit this place is between October
and February. It is located in the northern most part of India. It is
India's one of the most popular tourist destinations. Dal Lake is the
iconic emblem of the city. There are very few who have been to Srinagar
and not taken a shikara ride. But there is much more to Kashmir then
just houseboats and Dal Lake.
Places to Visit
Srinagar is known for its Mughal gardens, the most popular being
Shalimar and Nishat. Chashmashahi, the spring of refreshing sweet water,
is enclosed within a garden laid out by Shah Jahan in 1632. Then there
is Shankaracharya temple atop Takht-e-Sulaiman hill, associated with a
Hindu philosopher who visited 10 centuries ago. Other places to see are
Hari Parbat Fort, which is sacred to Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs as it has
temple of Goddess Sharika, the sufi shrine of Makhdoom Sahib and
Gurudwara Chatti Padshahi surrounding it. Among other places are Kheer
Bhawani, Pandrethan, which is situated barely three miles above
Srinagar. Jama Masjid, the historical mosque, located in the old city is
another attraction of the place.
Adventure Sports
During summer season Kashmir offers a series of adventure sports, such
as water skiing, on Dal and Nagin Lakes. Water trekking is also another
option one can try to explore the valley in a boat. You can go on a
Shikara trip that takes tourists along a five-day route along rivers and
lakes situated within the valley. Enjoy spending nights camping along
the way. Trout fishing is another delightful water sport in Kashmir and
fishing season lasts all through summer. Kashmir is also famous for
mountaineering expeditions, to explore the undiscovered regions of the
Himalayan range. Like the glaciers of Ladakh and Kashmir regions, which
can be a challenging experience for the mountaineers. Some of the other
adventure sports options you can try are:
