Srinagar – The Lake City

Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.

Kalhana, the author of 'Rajtarangini' , states that Srinagri was founded by Emperor Ashoka (3 rd Century BC). The present city of Srinagar was founded by Pravarasena-II , and Hiuen Tsang, who visited Kashmir in 631 AD, found it at the same site as it is today. Laltaditya Muktapida was the most illustrious ruler of Kashmir in the Hindu period, which ended in 1339 AD . King Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70 AD), popularly known as ‘Budshah' , was a great patron of Sanskrit. Akbar captured Kashmir valley for the Mughals, who endowed Srinagar with beautiful mosques and gardens. The Sikhs overthrew the last Muslim ruler in the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1819. In 1846 the Dogras secured the sovereignty of Kashmir from the British under the Treaty of Amrjtsar, and in 1947 the state of Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar as its capital, became part of the Indian Union.

Today Srinagar is a resort for the tourist who can experience, at first hand, the peculiar beauty of the valley that has attracted the Chinese , the Mughals and the British to it.

Its waterways with their own quaint lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming gardens, water sports activities, shopping for lovingly hand-crafted souvenirs and the nearby resorts make it a cherished spot among those looking for a memorable holiday.

City Information

Banks & Money Changing

Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Tel. 400348. SMHS Hospital, Karan Nagar, Tel. No.451312,452013 Children's Hospital, Hospital Road, Tel. No. 451317 Lal Ded Hospital, Srinagar, Tele No.477527/452017 Jhelum Valley Medical College ,Srinagar Tele.No.490137 Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Rainawari Tele.No.452025. Bone & Joints Hospital, Barzulla Srinagar Tele.No. 430155.

Post & Telegraph Offices

A special police force called Tourist Police is posted at all important places frequented by tourists for providing assistance to tourists to prevent them from being cheated, harassed, etc. This force is headed by a Superintendent of Police, designated as Deputy Director Tourism (Enforcement) and is stationed in the Tourist Reception Centre. For safeguarding the interests of tourists visiting the State, the J&K Government has enacted a special legislation called " J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act " under which some officers of the Tourism Department have been vested with magisterial powers, including the power of compounding, in case of cheating, overcharging, harassment, pestering, touting, etc. faced by tourists. Tourists are urged to contact the nearest tourism officer or the Deputy Director Tourism (Enforcement), with complaints, if any, or for solving problems faced by them.

Deputy. Director Tourism (Enforcement), Tourist Reception Centre, Tel. 477224. Tourist Police Station, Tourist Reception Centre, (Open 24 hrs). phone: 452690/91 extn.26

Foreigner's Registration

Foreigners' Regional Registration Office: Senior Superintendent of Police (CID), Special Branch, Residency (Shervani) Road. Open: 10 AM to 4 PM.

Travel Agencies & Tour Operators

Tourist Reception Centre (TRC)

The Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), Srinagar is a unique, all-inclusive service, providing various tourist facilities within one complex. Besides housing the offices of the State Department of Tourism and those of the J&K Tourism Development Corporation (J&K TDC), it has information counters on almost every activity connected with tourism. These include hotel and houseboat booking counters, Indian Airlines City booking office, booking of J&K TDC accommodation, transport, etc. Also located within the complex are the offices of the Fisheries Department from where fishing permits can be obtained. Next-door are the J&K Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) booking offices from where bus tickets can be purchased, both for long distance travel and sightseeing trips. The State Bank of India and J&K Bank has a branch each within the TRC where foreign exchange transactions are also made. A post office and a Telecom Centre also function within the TRC for the benefit of the tourists.