Arguably a city that embodies romance and beauty, Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is perfectly placed in the centre of the Kashmir Valley. Not only known for its beauty, Srinagar or 'the city of wealth and abundance' in Sanskrit also has a special place in the history of ancient India. Irrespective of the season, Srinagar attracts hundreds of tourists throughout the year to enjoy its snow clad mountains, colours of fall and greenery of the summers.

A jewel of a destination on the banks of the Jhelum River, Srinagar with its great lake and meandering rivers, its exquisite gardens and romantic shikara rides, the old-world charm of houseboats and the ageless grace of its architecture, is a fitting introduction to the many enchantments of the valley. The markets of Srinagar offer a vast variety of the most refined crafts – from pashmina shawls to intricately handwoven carpets, from delicately carved woodwork to glittering copperware. Epicureans will delight in the rich Kashmir cuisine with delicacies such as the melt-in-the-mouth Gushtabas to irresistible dry fruits and Walnut Tarts. The language most spoken by the locals is Urdu and Hindi.

Best time to visit:

Srinagar has only two climates, pleasant summers and very chilly, freezing winters. Rainfalls are very scanty here. The best time to visit Srinagar is from April to October

Top five places to see:

Dal Lake – Popularly known as "Srinagar's Jewel" the Dal Lake spread over a 26 sq.km. and is the most popular tourist attraction in Srinagar. Renowned for its house boats and Shikara boat rides, set against the slow clad glorious Himalayas, the Dal Lake continues to be on the canvas and subject of several poets and artists.

Chashma Shahi Gardens – The Chashme Shahi Gardens is a small beautiful garden, the smallest among the famous Mughal gardens. This garden, also known as Royal Spring, is located near the Nehru Memorial Park in Srinagar.

Pari Mahal – Pari Mahal or House of Fairies, also known as Quntilon, is a historic monument placed above the beautiful Chashma Shahi Gardens near Srinagar. The ancient monument brings out the architectural brilliance of the fore gone age.

Shalimar Bagh – Constructed by the great Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619 for his beloved wife Nurjahan, the sprawling garden with four terraces, imposing fountains, well laid out manicured gardens, tall trees and mountains is one of the must visit places while in Srinagar.

Shankaracharya Temple – The Shankaracharya Temple, known to be built by Jaluka, the son of Emperor Ashoka around 200 BC, is an ancient shrine located on the Shankaracharya Hill (Takht-e-Suleiman) in Srinagar. This sacred site offers splendid views of the valley and the snow clad mountains of the Pir Panjal range.