Shalimar Bagh

Hailed as the largest of the three Mughal Gardens in Kashmir, Shalimar Bagh is a pristine attraction that was built in the year 1619 by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Nur Jahan. This beautiful structure lies overlooking the scintillating waters of the Dal Lake and is now a public park known as the "crown of Srinagar". The Chini Khanas or arched niches placed behind waterfalls and the chinar trees are the highlights here. The garden lends its name 'Shalimar' from a Sanskrit word meaning 'Abode of Love'. This marvelous masterpiece is also popularly known as the 'house of love' was originally called ‘Farah Baksh’, which literally translates to 'delightful'.

The king Pravarsena II of the Vakataka Dynasty was the founder of the Srinagar city who built a cottage named "Shalimar" bounded by a park in close proximity to Dal Lake. Although the cottage got ruined due to the lack of proper maintenance, the name Shalimar got stuck to the village which was given the same name. However, it was Emperor Jahangir of the Mughal Dynasty who chose to build a garden to please his wife close to Shalimar. He renovated the old garden and named it "Farah Baksh" meaning "the delightful".

Shalimar Bagh is a typical Mughal Garden with a vast area of 31 acres along the Dal Lake. It has a Persian Garden layout of three terraces each of which is comprised of water fountain and pool with water supply in series. The garden is divided into private and public section. The private terrace is known as the Diwan-e-Khas while the public terrace is called the Diwan-e-Aam. Each section leads to Diwan-e-Khas and Diwan-e-Aam respectively. The third terrace of the garden is Zenana Garden with two pavilions made in Kashmiri style. One of the unique features of the Shalimar Bagh is its 'Chini Khanas' or ached niches which are situated right behind the garden waterfall. In the olden times, these niches were lighted at night and imparted a magical amber hue to the gardens.

The timings to visit the Shalimar Garden differs from season to season. Between the months of April to October, the timings to visit the garden is between 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Whereas, between the months of November to March, the timings are 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

• Sunset Boulevard Restaurant – Established in the year 2004, the Sunset Boulevard Restaurant is one of the go-to places in Srinagar.
• Cafe Tulip – If you are looking for a scrumptious meal while your stay in Srinagar, then Cafe Tulip is a must visit restaurant. The cozy ambience and yummy food are worth experiencing here.
• Earthen Oven Restaurant – With an elaborate carefully curated menu and hospitable staff, the Earthen Oven Restaurant in Srinagar offers authentic Indian cuisines.

The best time to visit Shalimar Garden is either during Spring or Autumn Season between the months of mid-February to mid-April or from September to October. It is considered to be a pleasant time to visit when the flowers are in their full bloom and Chinar trees change their colour from green to orange and yellow giving a warm glow to the garden.

You can easily reach Shalimar Garden through various modes of transportation. The Shalimar bus station is only 650 m away and taxis can be availed from anywhere in the city

• Dal Lake – The pride of Srinagar, the Dal lake is the second largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir and is the most visited place by tourists. Not only does the mirror-clear lake reflects the snow-capped Pir Panjal mountains but also is a popular floating market where you can find a number of intricately worked handicrafts and much more.
• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden – The house to the rarest of rare tulip varieties, including the “Queen of the Night”, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was opened with the aim of improving floriculture as well as tourism in the area of Srinagar. The garden also acts as a host to the spectacular annual Tulip Festival which is organized between the months of March and April every year when the tulips are in their full bloom.
• Nigeen Lake – Considered as the most beautiful lake in Jammu and Kashmir, the serene Nigeen Lake is located in the eastern part of Srinagar. The lake is often referred to as “The Jewel in The Ring” because the lake is inspired by the plethora of tall trees that surround the deep blue water body.
• Shankaracharya Temple – The Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar is located on top of the Shankaracharya Hill. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest shrines in Kashmir.The temple is believed to be named after the great philosopher Shankaracharya who is believed to have visited Srinagar about ten centuries ago. Hence it is also known as Jyesteshwara Temple.
• Pari Mahal –The Palace of Fairies (Pari Mahal) was built by Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is a seven-terraced garden located above the beautiful Chashme Shahi Gardens near Srinagar. Popularly known as the abode of fairies or the home of angels, the historical monument sits on top of the Zabarwan range overlooking Srinagar and the Dal Lake.