Overview

Kashmir is considered the “Venice of the East” – an oriental enclve ensconced in the midst of a super Switzerland. This description is not adequate not an adequate  enough description of the delightful 2,000 years old capital of the valley of Kashmir.
For over 2,000 years, this centre of learning and beauty has been attracting students, scholars and, of course, tourists. Gracefully situated on both banks of the river Jhelum, spanned  by 9 bridges it covers about 200 square kilometres , or 77 square miles and is equidistance from both Ananthanag and Baramullah (45 km) and 161km from the Banihal pass. The bazaar life in the old town of Srinagar is like a page out of Arabian nights, with mysteries at every step. Open front shops display all the artistic achievements of Kashmir; carved wood work, papier-mâché, copper and silver wares, embroidered shawls, magnificent carpets, semi-precious stones, dry fruits, spices, which compete for trade with traditional bakers, butchers and tailors which line the winding streets. The entirety of the old city is just like an open museum with century’s old exquisite architecture complete with wooden shrines and mosques, ‘Juliette’ balconies and myriad narrow stone streets.
Besides the magnificence of Srinagar’s old city, Kashmir is even more famous for the natural beauty of the lush surrounding mountains. Destinations that lie within a few hours’ drive of the city cater for everything from a lunchtime picnic to the serious skier or mountain trekker.
Unfortunately, due to unrest for the last two decades, Kashmir was not preferred by national and international tourists. But, from 2005, as tensions began to ease and with the help of government, Kashmir again came on the tourist map and since then thousands of tourist throng to get a glimpse of the paradise every year.