Explore Kashmir

The paradise, pride of India, is Kashmir. With its lofty snow clad mountain ranges, sylvan landscape, unbelievably fresh mountain air and its beautiful people. Located at the extreme north west of the country, the state is divided into three broad segments, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Kashmir has the maximum population at 53%, Jammu has 45%, while Ladakh is rather sparsely inhabited, due to obvious geographical constraints.

"If there is heaven on earth — It is here, It is here, It is here…" 
Dr. Allama Iqbal
   

And Yes! No one can ever deny this fact. Your visit to Kashmir is a lifetime memory. The days spent in this 'Heaven on earth' are your most memorable days. They say a visit to Kashmir can divide your life into two halves before and after Kashmir. For indeed after a trip to this unforgettable paradise, you are never quite the same again. Nestling in the lap of the dazzling, snow capped Himalayas, the Kashmir valley is undoubtedly a jewel in India's crown. An inspiration for so much art , music and poetry, Kashmir is also a honeymooner's paradise, a nature lover's wonderland and a shoppers dream come true. Over the years, Kashmir has come to love and look after its tourists, fulfilling their every whim. Lakes, flowery meadows, shepherd's valleys, snow capped trees, golden chinars , stretches of saffron fields , all present souvenirs from this paradise in form of everlasting memories. And once you have visited Kashmir, you will agree that what began as a dream , lives on as unforgettable experience.

Explore Srinagar

Srinagar (The city of Sun), the "Venice of the East" the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, offers many sights worth seeing, as well as various sports and entertainment facilities. Due to its central location, it is an ideal station for longer holidays as well. The present city was founded by King Pravarasen II around A.D. 150. The city lies to the right and left of the Jhelum and stretches eastwards up to the Dal and Nagin Lakes. Nine bridges, partly wooden even today, cross the Jhelum within the city borders. Srinagar is a unique city because of its lakes - the Dal, Nagin and Anchar. The river Jhelum also flows through a part of the city. The Dal, Stinagar's largest lake, has the most number of Houseboats followed by the Nagin and the Jhelum. As a general rule Houseboat in the Dal are of all categories from deluxe through to D class.

Dal Lake

The Dal Lake which has the length of 8 Km long and a width of 4 Km, spreads over a total of 26 Sq. Km. The fascinating Dal Lake is divided into two smaller ones the Lokut (small) and Bod (big) Dal. The south western part of the lake has a maximum depth of approximately 12 M. the Dal Lake gets some of its water from spring but is also supplemented by water from the mountain lake, Mar Sar. In the western part of the Lake one can glimpse a few islands, some bigger, some smaller. Its shores are very fertile and surrounded by willows. Potato, tomato, pumpkin, cucumber, radish and lots of other vegetables are grown here cultivation of the floating gardens which also lie in this part of the lake is another interesting feature. These gardens consist of reed rafts of different lengths and a width of approximately one and a half by three meters and are covered by 1020 CM thick layer of earth and mud. Vegetables and melons are grown on these artificial floating islands.

Mughal Gardens

Kashmir was a favorite of the Mughal emperors who visited it as often as they could. Cool and refreshing after the plain of North India where the business of governance kept them, they planted gardens with stepped terraces and flowing water courses. Cheshmashahi is the first Mughal garden you will pass after Nehru Park. Built at a height above the city, its view are as stupendous as its layout. The smallest of Srinagar's Mughal gardens, Cheshmashahi has only three terraces in addition to a natural spring of water enclosed in a stone pavilion. The next garden along the road that encircles the Dal is the Nishat, built by Empress Nur Jahan's brother Asaf Khan. The largest of the gardens, Nishat has several terraces, a central water course and the zabarwan hills. The third Mughal garden - the Shalimar was planted by Jehangir, the Mughal emperor whose love for Kashmir was legendary. Shaded by magnificent chinar trees, the Shalimar is a series of stone pavilions and flowing water with paint box bright flower beds.