Jammu & Kashmir Tourism: Things to do in Srinagar

Srinagar, the capital of the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir is famous for its lakes and houseboats. There are plenty of sights to take in and things to do and it is also a great place to shop for Kashmiri handicrafts. Our Srinagar tourism guide lists the highlights.

1. Bird watching at Hokersar

This wetland attracts thousands of migratory birds during winters from Siberia and Central Asia. This is an important natural refuge for rare breeds that use it for wintering and breeding. It is located 14 kilometres from Srinagar. Birds that are most prominent here are geese, Brahminy Duck, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Garganey, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, and Eurasian Wigeon.

Ducks at Dal Lake, Srinagar

2. Houseboat and shikara ride

These are the most famous symbols of the city and tourists come from far and wide to spend a few hours cruising on the lake. Those who have time for a longer stay can rent houseboats. The Dal lake is the ideal place to enjoy this activity. In the off season a shikara ride costs about Rs. 150 but in the peak season the price can go up to Rs. 500.

House Boat on Dal Lake

3. Gardens

Mughal emperors created many gardens in the city. Prime amongst them are the Mughal Gardens, Chasm-e-Shahi, and the Nishat and Shalimar Bagh. The Tulip Gardens is a recent addition to the city and is dedicated to tulips of various colours.

Sunset over the terraces of the Nishat Bagh Mughal gardens

4. Hazratbal Mosque

This pure white mosque is very serene and beautiful. It is one of the most important mosques in Srinagar and is highly revered. Much like other mosques, only the outer area is open for women to enter. The nearby market is a good place to enjoy local food.

Hazratbal Shrine from the West Gate

5. Roza Bal

In Khanyar is the Dastgir Saheb mosque and shrine. It also known as Roza Bal and is said to be the tomb of Jesus Christ. The belief is that Jesus survived crucifixion, came to Kashmir and lived here till he was at least 100 years old. The belief isn’t backed by many scholars but it was the foundation of books such as ‘Jesus Lived in India’ by Holger Kersten.

Colourful festival decorations

6. Festivals

Srinagar’s major festivals are the three Eids, Navroz, Urs and Ramzan. Eid is celebrated thrice a year. One is meethi Eid, which is a family fare, the other is Muharram where people flog themselves in the street and the last is Bakra Eid where a goat is sacrificed in every Muslim home. Navroz is a 9-day festival which is celebrated in March or April with feasts, new clothes and prayers. Urs is typical to Kashmir. It is held at the shrines of Muslim saints on their death anniversaries. It is also celebrated by some Hindus and Sikhs. Ramzan is a month of hard fasting and during Ramzan Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to dusk.

7. Shankaracharya Mandir

This Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is perched on a hilltop. It’s not usually crowded as Srinagar no longer has a significant Hindu population but is a popular site with visitors. Cameras and cellphones should be left behind as they aren’t allowed inside.

Practical information:

•     The climatic conditions in Srinagar are mostly alpine. Srinagar is best visited during summers between the months of April and June.
•     The domestic airport in Srinagar is located at a distance of 14 kms from the city and operates regular flights to major Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
•     The nearest railway station from Srinagar is at Jammu Tawi, about 293 kms from the city. Jammu station has excellent rail connections with almost all major cities of India. Once you reach Jammu station, board a bus or hire a car / taxi to proceed on a 12-hr journey to Srinagar

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism: Dachigam National Park

The Northern most state of India is by far one of the most mesmerising in terms of its natural wonders. A mixture of of cold desert, verdant hills and the Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir is truly a travellers delight.

Amongst many other things to see in J & K, try the Dachigam National Park, just 22 kilometres from Srinagar, the capital of the state.

Dachigam-National-Park-location

Spanning a lifetime of over 100 years and an impressive coverage of 141 sq kms, Dachigam can be translated into meaning ‘ten villages’. With the mighty Himalayas as the backdrop of the National Park, the park is not only rich in flora and fauna but also makes a great place to just take in the varied landscapes of the region.

Sarband-kashmir

The terrain of the park ranges from grasslands to cliffs, making it uneven and exciting to traverse. Even amongst the flora, the forest is a mix of coniferous trees and grassy meadows. The forest opens out into the famous Marsar Lake which is the starting point of the Dagwan River. The river flows through a large part of the forest and is famous for its population of trout.

Formosan-Black-Bear

Wildlife: 

Where animal sightings are concerned, be prepared to look out for the famous endangered Hangul, or Kashmir stag. The Himalayan black bear, grey langur, weasel, jungle cat, musk deer, the elusive leopard, fox, marmot and musk deer are seen in plenty. The park also has a notable population of birds.

Moschustier

The national park makes for a good weekend getaway or day trip from Srinagar. It also gives you the opportunity to see the wide array of natural delights in the region without having to travel a large distance. Great for photography and wildlife enthusiasts, this is highly recommended. Try and explore this wonderful National Park on foot with a guide to get the best experience.

Timings: 

The Park is opened between 5.30 a.m to 6.30 p.m.

Fees: 

There are no fees to enter the park. However, the rules are subject to change, so please find out earlier.

Best Season: 

Dachigam cannot be visited during the winters due to heavy snow and windy climate. The best time to go is during the summers.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism: Shopping in Agra

In Agra visitors focus on seeing the main attractions, the grand Taj Mahal and it’s adjoining monuments are the definite highlights of the city. However, Agra is also a good place to also take out some time to hit the shops. A whole variety of souvenirs can be found, from street stalls to large emporiums. Here is our guide to help you plan where to shop in Agra.

Outside the Taj Mahal for Marble Inlay Work 

The famous inlay work on table tops and other parts for home furnishings hard goods are popular with travellers from around the world. The East gate of the Taj opens out into a row of shops which specialize in this work. A variety of quality and prices can be found here depending on your budget. The good part is that since these marble prices are heavy, the shop owners ship it to your address at an additional cost. With some disappointing experiences, it’s wise to hold some payment for these till you receive the shipment. Kalakriti is one of the known shops for this. They may be slightly over priced but are known for the variety and reliability. They also have interesting jewellery options and carpets. A one stop shop if you may want to call it that!

Marble-Carving-in-Agra

Sadar Bazaar for Shoes 

Agra is famous for its traditional leather handicrafts and shoes. The narrow winding streets of Sadar Bazaar not only provide the perfect exploratory backdrop for a shopper but also great bargains. Lose any inhibition to bargain here as the prices are inflated. Belle shoes and flip flops are available here in many colourful designs and price ranges. Ensure that you take a rickshaw and not try and get your car here.

Sadar-Bazaar-for-Shoes

Street Sellers for Perfume

The one thing you will definitely find on the go is a small perfume bottle. Many local sellers carry these on them and will meet you on the streets and also restaurants. The bottles do not cost more than Rs 100/- so do not pay more than that. These are small but very potent and not everyone has an instant liking to them. A drop is enough to last for a month.

Perfume-Seller-Agra

Taj Mahal Replicas Everywhere!

One of Agra’s most popular souvenirs these will be in your face everywhere! Proactive sellers will walk up to and try and give you a replica for posterity. Be aware that all of these are not made from pure marble. Most of them will be made from alabaster and therefore deserve alabaster prices!

Tajmahal-Replica

Malls in Agra for Shopping, Leisure and Entertainment

There are a few malls in Agra but they are largely for local consumption. As a traveller your shopping experience might be more enjoyable in the bustling markets and not showroom lined malls but Agra is home to several large fully air conditioned shopping malls equipped with modern facilities such as a multiplex, variety of well known shops and numerous eating options in the food courts. Your options include:

• TDI Mall, Plot No-3-D, Taj Mahal Road
• Ashok Cosmos Mall, 119-120/8, Sanjay Place
• Pacific Taj Mall, Plot No. 3E,Taj Nagari Scheme, Phase-I, Fatehbad Road

TDI-Agra

Government Emporiums for Fixed Prices 

If you are worried about haggling at local markets and prefer a ‘fixed price’ style of shopping then visit the government emporiums in Agra. Popular options include purchasing carpets and artwork. You may be able to get a discount for purchasing multiple items.

• Gangotri, U.P. Govt. Handicrafts Emporium, Taj Mahal Complex
• U.P. Handloom, Sanjay Place, Hari Parbat, M.G. Road
• UPICA, Sanjay Place, Hari Parbat, M.G. Road
• U.P. Handicraft Palace, Fatehabad Road