Srinagar (Kashmiri: سرینگر Sirīnagar, Urdu: سری نگر Srī Nagar) in the Kashmir Valley is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city in the Kashmir region.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The name "Srinagar" (Kashmiri: sih-REE-nuh-guhr) is a compound of two Kashmiri words. The word nagar (نَگَر) means "city"; and the word sirī (سِری) comes from either Sanskrit Śrī (श्री), an epithet for Hindu goddess Lakshmi, or from Sanskrit sūrya (सूर्य), meaning "sun". So, the name "Srinagar" means either the "city of Lakshmi" or the "city of the Sun". Most people visit the city in the summer months. The temperature at this time is cool to pleasant. Light sweaters may be needed for occasional cool nights in the summertime. In winter, you will need full winter gear and expect snow and few places to have hot water.
Auto-rickshaws can be found everywhere. Taxis and buses area also available. Motorcycles can also be rented for enthusiasts. Negotiate a price with a rickshaw driver before getting in; they are notorious for overcharging and generally being dishonest. Their usual ploy is: "no problem" or "up to you". As soon as you reach your destination they will have a volte-face! Drivers usually don't speak English but there will always be a passer-by to help translate for you. A rickshaw from Nigeen Lake to Boulevard is approximately ₹70 depending on negotiation skills (August 2009). Usually private service buses run throughout the city and are well networked with major tourist spots.
1 Dal Lake. Dal Lake is one of the prime attractions of Srinagar. At the very centre of the city, the lake covers an area of 21 km², which includes 3 km² of wetland. The lake has a circumference of 15.5 km. The lake is best explored on a shikara, a beautifully decorated boat that features in the logo of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism. Apart from open waters the lake also consists of floating markets, locally called rad. They basically constitute of matted vegetation and earth, but are floating. These are detached from the bottom of the lake and drawn to a suitable place and anchored.
Shikara ride in Dal Lake: Go for a shikara ride in the Dal lake which costs around ₹150 (off season) - ₹500 (peak season) for the whole shikara. For better views and a more peaceful ride in an area devoid of other tourists, walk up a fair bit of distance till you can see the fountain and ask the shikara rider to take you for a ride to the fountain. It costs ₹300 (off season) to ₹600 (peak season). Make sure you bargain a little, especially in off season. If you are staying longer, you could go on shikara rides more than once, each time to a different part of the lake. A must see is the "village" in the lake. Ask for a ride to the side where locals live and see the floating vegetable market.
There are numerous bakeries in the city. Kashmiris are very fond of bakery products, especially pastries and cakes, and you can find these bakeries very crowded, especially around the times of major festivals. The more famous bakeries include: Jee Enn Sons, Nallahmar Rd. Famous for its pastries, bread, bakery products, patties and themed cakes. Mughal Darbar. Notable for sweets, cakes and pastries. Shawl Bakery. Famous for its wedding cakes and boasts about its sweets and chocolates. There are a number of restaurants and cafes in Srinagar. Most of the good ones are located in Lal chowk or on Boulevard along the banks of the Dal Lake.
Kahwah is a traditional green tea recipe from Kashmir. The tea is made from green tea leaves with saffron strands, cinnamon bark and cardamom pods. Some varieties are made as a herbal infusion only, without the green tea leaves. Generally, it is served with sugar or honey, and crushed nuts, usually almonds or walnuts. There is another form of tea that is quite famous amongst the locals, it's called 'namkeen chai' or 'nun chai'. It is pink in colour and is also called pink tea. It is made from black tea, cardamom, various spices, salt and bicarbonate of soda. Also people like nune toath and dum toath which are very famous among Sufis.
The situation in Srinagar has been tense for decades due to the dispute between India and Pakistan. If you plan to travel to Srinagar, it is advisable to read your country's embassy or consular pages for emergency travel warnings or tips on staying alert. Although the city has become safer to travel to since 2021, after years of unrest and violence, the military presence is still heavy. Many buildings of value will also have a sandbag bunker and razor wire for protection. You will see military trucks and soldiers along the street, the Dal Lake and also the airport. It is recommended to travel in groups, and you have to be extra careful while in Srinagar.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Srinagar typically sees ~29°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
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