13 Best Places to Visit in Kashmir
Summary: The beautiful valley of Kashmir, located in North-West India, is visited by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists for its wonderful places of interest. These include Kheer Bhawani Temple, Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Shah-e-Hamdan, and other interesting spots. If you go to Kashmir, make it a point to visit these exciting spots.
It was Mughal Emperor Jahangir who described Kashmir as “Paradise on Earth” while on one of his trips to the valley. Situated in the northwestern area of India, the beautiful valley of Kashmir is renowned all over the world for its immense natural beauty. You can find the valley to be nestled snugly amid the Pir Panjal Mountain range and the lofty Himalayas. Local folklore has it that the state of Kashmir arose after Kashyap, a famous Hindu sage, shrunk a lake and exposed the land that existed beneath. It is said that Brahmins inhabited this lake.
For domestic as well as foreign tourist, Kashmir is a tourist spot of great attraction. When you go sightseeing in Kashmir and the adjoining Jammu, you would find time passing by easily as you enjoy the scenic beauty, historical significance, and religious heritage of the place. If you are planning to visit Kashmir sometime soon, you need to pay a visit to the following places of attraction:
List of the 13 Best Places to Visit in Kashmir
- Dal Lake
- Fairy Land Houseboat
- Nigeen Lake
- Shah-e-Hamdan
- Hazratbal Shrine
- Pari Mahal
- Shalimar Bagh
- Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
- Shankaracharya Temple
- Nishat Garden (Nishat Bagh)
- Sonamarg Thajiwas Glacier
- Sonamarg Thajiwas Glacier
- Kheer Bhawani Temple
1. Dal Lake
It is the second largest lake in the place and is important for commercial activities such as water plant harvesting and fishing. You can see the beautiful place from the Mughal Gardens located nearby. You can live in nearby hotels or on beautiful houseboats.
2. Fairy Land Houseboat
This is a hotel that offers a great living and sightseeing experience to trippers. Situated in the popular Dal Lake, the hotel provides tourists with special packages for short as well as long trips and activities such as rafting, bird watching, trekking, and fishing.
3. Nigeen Lake
Although a part of Dal Lake, it is an individual lake on its own and it is connected to Dal through a narrow causeway. You can find this lake to be ideal for swimming as the water here is not much deep and it is not too crowded.
4. Shah-e-Hamdan
Built by Sultan Sikandar in the memory of an eminent Persian Islamic preacher and scholar Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani who had come from Iran, it is considered to be one of the most ancient Islamic shrines in Kashmir.
5. Hazratbal Shrine
Situated on the left bank of the Dal Lake, it is of great religious significance in Kashmir. Numerous Muslims believe that the shrine contains the hair of the founder of Islamism, Prophet Muhammad.
6. Pari Mahal
This garden is situated around Dal Lake and is located at a distance of 5 minutes away from Cheshmashahi. It was built by the son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Prince Dara Shikoh. The design of Pari Mahal is inspired by the architecture of Islamic style.
7. Shalimar Bagh
Constructed for his wife Nur Jahan by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, it is used as a public park today. It is also known by other names like Farah Baksh, Shalamar Bagh, and Faiz Baksh.
8. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden
Spread over a vast area of 12 hectares, it is the largest tulip garden in Asia and contains 20 lakh tulips. It was conceptualized and constructed by former Chief Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad.
9. Shankaracharya Temple
Situated atop the Takht-I-Sulaiman Hills, it is also referred to as Jyeshteswara. It was visited 1000 years back by the noted philosopher Sankaracharya. The sanctum contains Lord Shiva Linga.
10. Nishat Garden (Nishat Bagh)
Standing for “Garden of Gladness” and “Garden of Joy” in the Hindustani language, it is the second largest Mughal garden in the state of Kashmir. It was constructed by the elder brother of Nur Jehan, Asif Khan.
11. Sonamarg Thajiwas Glacier
It is situated about 2 ½ hours driving distance away from the northeastern region of Srinagar. It is positioned on the Srinagar-Ladakh Highway and is popular for its Thajiwas Glacier. You can easily hike up to the glacier and come back in about 5 hours.
12. Khanqah of Shah Hamdan
This famous tourist spot is located at the banks of River Jhelum and was constructed in 1395 by Sultan Sikandar of the Shah Mir dynasty. It is famous for its exquisite carved leaves and hanging bells.
13. Kheer Bhawani Temple
It was built in 1912 by Maharaja Pratap Singh and houses the idol of the Hindu Goddess Ragnya. It is said that Lord Rama used the temple for worship purposes when he was in exile. A sweet Indian dish known as Kheer is offered to the deity and it is said that the white color of this dish usually turns black to indicate oncoming adversity.
Kashmir has always been synonymous with impeccable natural beauty. Kashmir Tour Packages will take you across the scenic Kashmir valley and will be a deeply rejuvenating experience. It has also turned into one of the most preferred honeymoon destinations in India. The babbling brook, rich biodiversity, and unique culture make for a holiday well spent.
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