Shalimar
Garden: The Garden,15 Kms from the city centre, was built by Emperor Jahangir
for his beloved wife, Nurjahan. The gardens with four terraces is 539 by 182
meters and gets water from Harwan through a canal lined with fountains.The fourth
terrace was once reserved for royal ladies.
Cheshma Shahi and Pari Mahal: Cheshma Shahi or the Royal Spring was laid
by Shah Jahan in 1632 A.D. It is 9 Km. from the city centre and is famous for
a spring of refreshment digestive water.Two kilometers uphill from Cheshma Shahi
is situated the Pari Mahal,a school of astrology founded by Prince Dara Shikoh,Emperor
Shah Jahan's eldest son who was killed in the war of succession.The Cheshma
Shahi-Pari Mahal area has been developed into a Tourist Village.
Nishant Garden: Queen Nur Jahan's brother,Asif Khan,laid the Garden in
1633 A.D. It is situated on the banks of the Dal Lake in the backdrop of the
Zabarwan hills,11 Km.from the district headquarter of Srinagar. The Garden commands
a magnificent view of the lake.
Dal
Lake: The world famous water body described by Sir Walter Lawerence as the
"Lake par-excellence",half a kilometers from the city, is the jewel
in the crown of kashmir eulogised by the poets and abudantly praised by the
travellers and tourists.The lake of late has unfortunately, consideably shrunk
in size causing concern to environmentalists.The Governments have chalked out
an ambitious project to save the lake from extinction. more detailsDachigam: Dachigam is a wildlife sanctuary which is home to the endangered
HANGUL species of the Deer in the country. dachigam is also host to other wildlife
of the state viz Black/ Brown Bear, Musk Deer, leopards and migratory birds.
There is a Trout fish farm also in Dachigam. It is big natural reserve which
requires permissions from the Wildlife Authorities for excploration. The dense
forests of Dachigam offer a brilliant view alongwith a Glacier fed rivulet flowing
right through the middle.
Sonamarg:
Sonamarg, at an altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level, 87 km north-east of
Srinagar. The drive to Sonamargh is though yet another spectacular facet of
country side in Kashmir, this time in Sindh Valley. The Sindh Valley is the
largest tributary of the valley of Kashmir. It is upwards of sixty miles long,
and valley and deep rock-girt gorge to open grassy meadow land and village-dotted
slopes. more details