Srinagar

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, has a history that stretches back over two millennia. Ancient texts refer to the region as part of Kashmira, and tradition credits King Pravarasena II (6th–7th century CE) with founding a city called Pravarasena-pura on the banks of the Jhelum, seen as an early form of Srinagar. Over time, the city shifted slightly in location and layout, but it remained the political and cultural heart of the Valley.

From the 8th–11th centuries, Srinagar was the capital of powerful Hindu and Buddhist dynasties like the Karkotas and Utpalas, who built temples, monasteries and irrigation works. In the 14th century, with the advent of the Sultans of Kashmir, Islam and Sufi culture took deep root; wooden mosques, khanqahs and bridges gave the city its distinctive look along the river. Later, under the Mughals (16th–18th centuries), Srinagar became a prized summer retreat. Emperors like Jahangir and Shah Jahan laid out famous Mughal gardens around Dal Lake, fixing the city’s image as a paradise of water, mountains and gardens.

After Afghan, Sikh and Dogra rule, Srinagar continued as the main urban centre of princely Jammu & Kashmir. In modern times it has also been at the heart of politics and conflict, yet it remains the symbolic soul of the Valley—known for its lakes, houseboats, shrines, crafts and layered history.