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Srinagar
- The Lake City Srinagar is
located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m
above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal
and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the
changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the
city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.
Kalhana, the author of 'Rajtarangini’,
states that Srinagri was founded by Emperor Ashoka (3rd
Century BC). The present city of Srinagar was founded by Pravarasena-II,
and Hiuen Tsang, who visited Kashmir in 631 AD, found it at the same
site as it is today. Laltaditya Muktapida was the most illustrious ruler
of Kashmir in the Hindu period, which ended in 1339 AD. King
Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70 AD), popularly known as ‘Budshah’, was a
great patron of Sanskrit. Akbar captured Kashmir valley for the Mughals,
who endowed Srinagar with beautiful mosques and gardens. The Sikhs
overthrew the last Muslim ruler in the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in
1819. In 1846 the Dogras secured the sovereignty of Kashmir from the
British under the Treaty of Amrjtsar, and in 1947 the state of Jammu and
Kashmir with Srinagar as its capital, became part of the Indian
Union.
Today
Srinagar is a resort for the tourist who can experience, at first hand,
the peculiar beauty of the valley that has attracted the Chinese, the
Mughals and the British to it.
Its waterways with their own quaint
lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming gardens, water sports
activities, shopping for lovingly hand-crafted souvenirs and the nearby
resorts make it a cherished spot among those looking for a memorable
holiday.
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