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ETERNAL
INDIA
encyclopedia
A GREAT DESTINATION
of Emperor Ashoka. It was the venue of a Great Buddhist
Council. The lake here supplies water to Srinagar. There is a trout
hatchery also.
Hari Parbat
: This hill 5km from the city believed to have grown
out of a pebble thrown by Goddess Parvati, was the site of a
number of temples in the past. Upon it stands a fort built by Atta
Mohammed Khan, an Afghan ruler of 18th century. The wall
around the hill was built by Akbar towards the close of the 16th
century. There are almond orchards around it, when in bloom they
present a magnificent sight in spring. Permission to visit the fort
can be had from the Director of Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir,
Srinagar.
Hazartbal Mosque
: Seven km. from the city, this sacred mosque
is situated on the western shore of the Dal Lake opposite Nishat
Bagh. A hair of the Prophet Mohammed is enshrined here. It was
brought to Kashmir in 1700 by Khaja Niruddin from Bijapur. It is
not allowed to be seen by people of other religions.
Jami Masjid :
Built first by Sultan Sikandar in A.D. 1,400 and
completed by his famous son Zain-Ul-Abidin, it is the largest
mosque in the state. It was destroyed thrice by fire and rebuilt.
Shankaracharya hill
: On the back of Dal Lake, here Ashoka's
son, Jaluka, had built a shrine around 200 B.C. The present struc-
ture was built by an ardent Hindu devotee, who wanted to remain
anonymous. Shankaracharya, the famous sage, had meditated
here. The hill is famous as Takht-i-Sulaiman, the throne of King
Solomon.
Sights around Srinagar
Achabal
: Situated at an altitude of 1,677 metres, this Mughal-
style garden is 6km from Srinagar. It was the pleasure retreat of
the Empress Nur Jahan. It has a camping ground and a trout
hatchery. There is a tourist bungalow here.
Anantnag
: 56 km. Springs and two pools with a temple in the
middle. The springs are rich in sulphur and other minerals.
Avantipur :
29 km. The ancient capital of Kashmir, the town had
been founded by King Avanti Varman in the 9th century. A legend
even associates the Pandavas with the building of the city.
Burzahom
: 24 km. This is a site of excavations where objects
discovered date back to 2,500 B.C. So it is the spot for those
interested in archaeology.
Charari - Sharif
: 30 km. On way to Yusmarg. Here is a shrine of
the celebrated saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din, who was popularly
known as Nunda Rishi.
Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary :
22 km from Srinagar, this was a
royal game reserve. A river with a large number of herons runs
through lower Dachigam. This protected place provides shelter to
the Himalayan black and brown bear, musk deer, and the hangul or
the Kashmir stag -- a cousin of the Scottish red deer.
Most of these animals can be seen around June. Tourists are
required to obtain permits from Controller, Tawaza, Srinagar.
Further information can be had from Game Warden, Jammu &
Kashmir Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar.
Kokarang :
70 km. Here water flows out of a mountainside in
several streams famous for its curative properties. There is a
botanical garden with a variety of roses. Verinag, the source of
the river Jhelum, is only 3 km from here.
Gulmarg
: It is 51km from Srinagar. At an altitude of 2,730 metres
Gulmarg is ringed by tall firs and pines.Gulmarg, literally means
"meadow of flowers."
Gulmarg is the ideal base for treks and at 2896 metres, it has
the highest natural golf course in the world. A 500-metre long
chair-lift and a 200-metre long ski-lift have been installed. The
Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering organises training
programmes in skiing and trekking.
Sights around Gulmarg
At the foot of the Apharwat Peak, 13km, away is the Alpather
Lake which remains frozen till mid-June.
Banihal Nag
: A small lake born of landslides above the Fero-
zepur Nallah is 5 hours journey away.
Carpeted with flowers, Khilanmarg is only 40 min uphill walk
from Gulmarg. It presents the magnificent sight of the Nanga
the Ski Club of India has an underground residential hut.
Pahalgaon (or Pahalgam)
: Encircled by a dozen snow-capped
peaks and pine and fir woods, Pahalgaon at an altitude of 2,195
metres is 97km. away from Srinagar. The situation is exquisite,
being at the junction of two streams, Lidder and Sheshnag.
Pahalgaon, in the recent past, was a hamlet of shepherds. It is
a flourishing hill resort now, with exhilarating treks into the
charming woodlands and Alpine meadows of its side valleys.
Pahalgaon is also the base camp for the journey to the sacred
Amarnath Cave.
Sights around Pahalgaon
About 2km, from Pahalgaon is Baisaran, a glen commanding a
charming view of the forest. This is 152 m up on the mountain side.
Mamlesvara temple is consecrated to Shiva Mamlesvara and
situated a kilometre and a half down the river.
Amarnath
: In the hinterland of rock and snow, at a height of 3,962
metres (12,729 feet) is situated an unusual shrine not built by man
but by nature.
A strange phenomenon continues to take place. Inside the cave
icicle deposits form the symbol of Shiva — a Shivalingam — grow-
ing with the waxing of the moon and subsiding with the waning. The
experience Swami Vivekananda had here is recorded by Sister
Nivedita, thus : "To him the heaven had opened. He had touched the
feet of Shiva. He had to hold himself tight, he said afterwards, lest
he should swoon away. 'I have enjoyed it so much'. He always said
too, that the Grace of Amarnath had been granted to him there, not
to die till he himself should give consent." Amarnath is 46km from •
Pahalgaon and 153 km from Srinagar. The trek from Pahalgaon is
arduous but exciting. The road leads through one of the most
beautiful mountain regions of the world. August is the time when
thousands of people from all over India gather at Pahalgaon and
begin the journey. The trek to Amarnath takes three to five days.
Jammu
: Jammu, 585 km from Delhi, is the gateway to the Kashmir
Valley. Situated on an expansive hillock, beside the river Tawi, it
has an excellent setting surrounded by lakes and hills and stud-
ded with ancient temples.
The word Jammu is perhaps derived from the name of its
founder, King Jamboolochan of the 9th century. The present city,
however, was built by Maharaja Gulab Singh in the first part of
the 19th century.
Parbat (8,137 m), one of the highest mountain in the world. Here