Current Time in Srinagar, India

Srinagar is the largest city and summer capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. Situated in the valley of Kashmir at an elevation of approximately 1,600 meters above sea level, the city is set amid stunning mountain scenery at the foot of the Himalayas, on the banks of the Jhelum River and beside the famous Dal Lake. With a population of approximately 1.3 million, Srinagar has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Asia, earning the Kashmir Valley the title Paradise on Earth.

The history of Srinagar is ancient and layered. The city and the Kashmir Valley have been home to great kings, sages, and scholars across the millennia. The region flourished under the Karkota dynasty and later the Shah Mir dynasty, which established the first Muslim sultanate in Kashmir in the 14th century. Under the Mughals, who conquered Kashmir in 1586, the valley became a favorite summer retreat for emperors escaping the heat of the plains, and they created the magnificent Mughal gardens that remain among Srinagar's greatest treasures to this day.

Dal Lake, a large urban lake in the heart of the city, is Srinagar's most iconic feature and one of the most photographed places in India. The lake is home to a community of people who live on elaborately decorated wooden houseboats, many of which serve as hotels offering an enchanting experience of life on the water. Shikara boats, the traditional wooden gondolas of Kashmir, ferry passengers and goods across the placid waters, pass through floating gardens of vegetables and lotuses, and create an atmosphere of timeless beauty. The Mughal gardens along the lake's shore — Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi — are masterpieces of formal garden design with terraced lawns, fountains, and flower beds framing views of the surrounding mountains.

The Old City of Srinagar, on the banks of the Jhelum River, is home to some of Kashmir's most remarkable historical architecture, including the Jama Masjid, with its distinctive wooden columns of deodar cedar, and the Shah-i-Hamdan Mosque, both exquisite examples of the Kashmir Sultanate architectural style. The Shankaracharya Temple, perched on a hilltop above the city, offers panoramic views and is one of the oldest temples in the region.

Kashmir's craft traditions are world-renowned. Srinagar is the center of production for Kashmiri shawls (including the prized Pashmina), silk carpets, papier-mâché artifacts, walnut wood carvings, and embroidered textiles that are sold in the bazaars of the old city and exported globally.

The city is served by Srinagar International Airport with connections to Delhi, Mumbai, and other Indian cities. Srinagar's extraordinary natural setting, remarkable cultural heritage, and distinctive arts and craft traditions make it one of the most singular and captivating cities in the Indian subcontinent.