Important tourist places in Kashmir

Kashmir Division:

The article below highlights important places of tourism in Kashmir. These are the minimum points, we believe, you should know before appearing in exams ahead. We will add more to it from time to time to keep you updated. We also request readers to make this topic more relevant from examination point of view by adding your comments below. 

I. Srinagar:

1. Dal lake:

• Dal Lake is a misnomer as Dal in Kashmiri means lake

• The mirror-like lake reflects the peaks of the Pir Panjal mountains 

• The colourful shikaras (gondolas) and houseboats are its main attraction. 

• The Dal Lake of Srinagar is also popular for the floating market (known as Raad) where vendors have their own Shikaras and are not shy of approaching tourists with their most endearing handicrafts, saffron, edibles and even ice-creams in tow

• The important attractions in and around the Dal Lake include the Island of Char Chinar, Nagin Lake, Chashme Shahi, Shankaracharya Temple, Hari Parbat, Hazratbal Shrine, and Mazar-e-Shura Cemetery. A sweeping view of the lake can be witnessed from the shores of one of the Mughal Gardens

2. Chashma Shahi

Chashma Shahi or Chashma i Shahi (translation: the royal spring), also called Chashma Shahi, is one of the Mughal gardens built by a governor of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan

3. Shalimar Bagh

• largest of the three Mughal gardens in Srinagar (the other two being Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi).
• built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan and lies overlooking the scintillating waters of the Dal Lake
• Also known as the "crown of Srinagar".
• The chini khanas or arched niches placed behind waterfalls and the chinar trees are the highlights here. 

• The term 'Shalimar' is a Sanskrit word meaning 'Abode of Love' and is known by several other names such as Faiz Baksh and Farah Baksh.

4. Hari Parbat Fort:

• Hari Parbat is also known as Kooh-e-Maran lies on the west of Dal Lake in Srinagar
• built by an Afghan Governor Atta Mohammed Khan in 18th century

• Hari Parbat provides a top view of Makhdoom Sahib shrine

5. Dachigam National Park

• The park is best known as the home of the hangul, or Kashmir stag. It is the only area where Kashmir stag is found. 

6. Harwan Garden

• It is bordered with Chinar trees and blossoming flower beds. 

• It is the gateway to Dachi Gam Wildlife sanctuary.

7. Tulip Garden (Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden) 

• is the largest tulip garden in Asia spread over an area of about 30 hectares
• is situated on the foothills of Zabarwan Range with an overview of Dal Lake
• was opened in 2007

• Tulip festival is an annual celebration that aims to showcase the range of flowers in the garden to promote tourism. It is organized during the onset of spring season in Kashmir valley. 

8. Botanical garden 

• It has huge collection of ornamental plants and oak varieties. It also has a rare collection of Kashmiri tropical plants. 

9. Nigeen (or Nageen) Lake

• It is sometimes considered a part of the Dal lake and is connected to it via a narrow strait. It is also connected to the Khushal Sar and Gil Sar lakes via a channel known as Nallah Amir Khan

• The Nigeen lake is surrounded by a large number of willow and poplar trees. Hence, it has come to be referred as a “nageena”, which means “the jewel in the ring”.

10. Badamwari

• Famous for early bloom of flowers on almond trees

11. Pari Mahal

• Pari Mahal or The Angels’ Abode or The Palace of Fairies is a seven terraced garden located at the top of Zabarwan mountain range over-looking city of Srinagar and south-west of Dal Lake

• The Pari Mahal was built by Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh  in the mid-1600s. It served as a library and an abode for him.

• It is built without cascades(chadars) 

12. Nishat Garden

• Nishat Bagh is a terraced Mughal garden built on the eastern side of the Dal Lake,
• 'Nishat Bagh’ is Urdu word, which means “Garden of Joy,” “Garden of Gladness” and “Garden of Delight.
• The Bagh was designed and built by Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jehan

• Mughal Princess Zuhra Begum was buried in the garden she was the daughter of Mughal Emperor Alamgir II.

II. Anantnag (meaning "Anant (countless) & Nag (springs)"):

1. Martand Sun Temple
• the Martand Sun Temple was dedicated to Surya
• Built by a king called Lalitaditya of Surya dynasty

2. Amarnath Ji's cave
• dedicated to Lord Shiva

• Inside the cave, a stalagmite is formed due to freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave on to the floor and grows up vertically from the cave floor.

• The Lingam waxes during May to August. 

• Pilgrims visit the holy site during the 45-day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July–August, coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shraavana

3. Aishmuqam Shrine
• Dedicated to renowned Saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din

4. Kherbawani Asthapan
• Kherbawani Asthapan houses Kherbawani spring
• It is believed that Kashmir's Maharaja Pratap Singh was an ardent devotee of the place

• The sight of the changing water colour of the spring also attracts a lot of tourists

5. Masjid Baba Dawood Khaki

6. Verinag spring
• Verinag is famous for its spring and a garden. 

• There is an octagonal stone basin at Verinag Spring and an arcade surrounding it which was built by Mughal emperor Jahangir

7. Achabal Gardens

• built by Nur Jahan, wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir

• A main feature of the garden is a waterfall that enters into a pool of water

8. Kokernag:

"Kokernag” spring gushes out from the foot of the nearby hill covered with evergreen pine trees

III. Baramulla:

1. Gulmarg (means “Meadow of flowers”) 

• Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering (IISM) was founded in the year 1969 at Gulmarg
• Gulmarg Gondola is the highest Cable Car in the world
• important places are “Strawberry Valley” , Leopards Valley, “Kongdori”  and frozen lake of “Al- Pathar”

• The old name of Gulmarg was “Gaurimarg”, the name of Lord Shiva’s wife

2. ParihasPora:

• found by the king of Kashmir, Lalityaditya Muktapid

• The most popular feature of this place is the ancient archaeological monuments present at the Parihaspora Pattan and the Pattan Bazaar

3. Ziarat of Baba Reshi 

• It is a popular shrine of Baramula, situated near the Alpather Lake

• belongs to saint Baba payam-Din. Baba payam-Din was a well-known Muslim saint as well as a courtier of the king of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abidin

IV. Budgam:

1. Doodhpathri (meaning 'Valley of Milk'):

• The water flowing here through the meadows has a milky appearance. 

2. Yusmarg

• Known as Meadows of Jesus or Yusmarg for its long stretches of green pastures

• River Dudh Ganga known for its milky water flows through Yusmarg

V. Bandipora:

1. Wular lake:

• It is the 2nd largest fresh-water lake of Asia, situated on the foothills of Haramuk Mountain
• Main source of water for Wular Lake is River Jhelum
• This lake also has a small island in its centre called the ‘Zaina Lank’
• The lake lies between the towns of Sopur and Bandippore, in Sangrama, near Baramula Road

• Wular Lake was also called Mahapadmasar. 

2. Nishat Park

• Nishat park Bandipora is built in accordance with the Nishat Garden Srinagar

3. Chota Amarnath

• It a cave in dense forests of Arin

VI. Ganderbal:

1. SONAMARG (meaning 'meadow of gold')

• Sonmarg is largely favoured by mountaineers and trekkers wishing to explore the beauty of the mountain ranges, alpine forests and the mysterious lakes within

• From Sonmarg, trekking routes lead to the Himalayan lakes of Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Gangabal Lake and Gadsar Lake and Satsar, glacier-fed and surrounded by banks of alpine flowers. Important glaciers here are thajiwas glacier and machoi glacier

2. Kheer Bhawani Temple

• Dedicated to the Goddess Kheer Bhavani (Maharagnya Bhagwati) constructed over a sacred spring
• The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir (kashmiri pandits), India.

• The temple is situated near the village of Tulmul. 

3. Mansbal Lake

4. Gadsar Lake

5. Nilagrad river

VII. Kupwara:

1. Seemab Valley:

• located at the entrance of the Lolab valley 

2. Lolab valley

• named after Maharaja LOLO

• Fruit trees such as apple, cherry, peach, apricot and walnut are common in the valley, which is known as "the fruit bowl of Jammu and Kashmir" 

3. Sadhna Pass view point

• Aharbal is a base for adventure tourism. The place is quite peaceful and suitable for expeditions, trekking, vlogging photography, and fishing. 

VIII. Pulwama

1. Tarsar Lake or Tar Sar

• The lake is separated from another lake of the same nature known as Marsar Lake, which is in the vicinity of Dachigam National Park.

IX. Shopian (also known as apple town or apple district of J&K) :

1. Peer ki gali

• The Pir Panjal Pass, also called Peer Ki Gali (or Peer Gali), is a mountain pass and a tourist destination, located in the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir

• It connects the Kashmir Valley to the Rajouri and Poonch districts via the ‘Mughal Road’. 

2. Mughal Road:

• It is the road between Bufliaz, a town in the Poonch district, to the Shopian district. It reduces the distance between Shopian and Poonch from 588 km to 126 km. It connects Poonch and Rajouri to Srinagar in the Kashmir valley. 
• Parts of the road were used in the Mughal period over the Pir Panjal Pass. 

• It also provides an alternative route into the Kashmir valley off the Jammu-Srinagar highway

3. Hirpora or Heerpora Wildlife Sanctuary 

• It is an abode to many species of animals including the Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan black bear, musk deer , leopard, Tibetan wolf, Himalayan palm civet. 

4. Kousarnag lake

X. Kulgam

1. Ahrabal

• Aharbal Waterfall is also known as Niagara Waterfall of Kashmir

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