“Gar Firdaus, Ruhe Zamin Ast, Hamin Asto, Hamin Asto, Hamin Asto!!”
Meaning,
“If there is a heaven on the Earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here.”

This is what Jahangir; the great Mughal Emperor exclaimed when he witnessed the spell binding pulchritude of Srinagar. Nestled in the cradle of the enrapturing Kashmir Valley on the banks of the river Jhelum, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and the largest city of the state is certainly the treasure chest of unparalleled natural beauty and the boundless banquet of elegance. A blissful setting, a sylvan landscape, a heavenly composure, an incomparable tranquility and a cuddling stroke of Mother Nature in every facet of its subsistence is the scintillating word picture of Srinagar; the paradise personified in its true sense. When nature was scripting this epic poem, the muses were at their best in this canto called ‘Srinagar’.

Embellished with crystal clear lakes, extensive stretches of sparkling snow, verdant gardens teeming with the alluring spectrum of multihued flowers, tempting odor of fresh apples, widespread dazzling saffron fields, winding roads fringed with towering Chinar trees, cordial weather, and house boats & Shikara rides, Srinagar is a brilliant assemblage of color, radiance, perfume, beauty, adventure, esthetic pleasure and absolute luxury. Boasting of its just right location in the lap of the regal snow crowned Himalayas, Srinagar is indeed a dream come true. Apart from its breathtaking natural beauty, Srinagar is widely reckoned for its traditional Kashmiri handicrafts, saffron, apples, spices and dry fruits. The unequalled assets of Srinagar beckon the tourists from every corner of the globe to come and rejoice in the ‘Promised Land’.

Anyone that comes to this Arcadia falls in love with its captivating and seducing charm. Srinagar, an ancient hub of art and culture and a learning center of Sanskrit today serves as the district headquarters of Srinagar District. UNESCO has even recognized some of its edifices amongst the ‘world heritage sites’.

Etymology: The term ‘Srinagar’ has derived from two Sanskrit words ‘sri’ and ‘nagar’ meaning, the city of wealth and prosperity. As per the legend, a Pandava King named Ashoka established a city named ‘Srinagari’ which later came to be known as Srinagar.

The roots of the genesis of Srinagar can be tracked back to 3rd century BC when the King Pravarasena II founded a city named Parvarsenpur. Later, the city came under the dominance of the celebrated Maurya King Ashoka who introduced Buddhism in this part of the country. The reigns of Srinagar changed hands from Mauryas to Kushans, Emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain Huns. A Hun King Mihirkula, who ruled this terrain around 6th century AD, was the most notorious tyrant of the valley of Kashmir. Till 14th century AD, Srinagar was governed by the independent Hindu and Buddhist powers that were later succeeded by mighty Mughal emperors. During the tenure of Yusuf Shah Chak, Srinagar furnished as his state capital. Yusuf Shah Chak could not be over powered by Akbar by might so he tricked him and conquered Kashmir. After the decline of Mughal Empire in 1707, Durrani Empire bore the reigns of Srinagar for several years.

In 1814 AD, Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed Srinagar to his kingdom which marked the onset of Sikhism in Kashmir. The Treaty of Lahore signed in the year 1846 between the Sikh rulers and the British East India Co. agreed to the British Sovereignty in Kashmir. Srinagar was made a princely state and remained so till 1947. Maharaja Gulab Singh was appointed the first King of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the Independence of India, a large section of Kashmir was captured by Pushtuns but later India took over the control. Over the last six decades, ‘J & K’ is undergoing severe political unrest and the never ending dispute between India and Pakistan about the possession of Kashmir heavily affects the life in Srinagar. The city is always heavily militarized and people staying there are under constant fear of terrorist attacks.