Leisure Tours India

Srinagar district is situated in the centre of Kashmir Valley, is surrounded by five districts. In the north it is flanked by Kargil, in the South by Pulwama, in the north-west by Budgam. The capital city of Srinagar is located 1730 metres above sea level. The district with a population of around 9,00,000 souls(1991- census), is sperad over an area of 2228 sq. kms. It comprises three tehsils/ towns viz Srinagar, Ganderbal and Kangan, four blocks (Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kangan and Leh), besides 175 villages. The population density in the district Srinagar is 401 per Square Kilometer which is highest in the state. The literacy rate of the district was 33.80%in 1981.

According to a popular legend which is mentioned in Kalhana's Rajtaringini Kashmir valley was a vast lake. Kashyap Rishi drained out the water and made it habitable. It is said that originally Yakshas and Pisacas tribes inhabited the valley at the higher reaches and did not allow the inhabitants of the valley to live in peace. King Ashok brought Budhism to Kashmir which was

strenthened by Kanishka. In 6th century Huns came to rule the valley and Mihirkul was one of the infamous Hun rulers. The area attained freedom in 530 AD which was shortlived.

According to Sir Aurel Stein the famous interpretor of Kalhana the chronicler of Kashmir the city of Srinagar had big market and mansions made of wood touching the clouds. Hieun-tsang the famous Chinese traveller visited Srinagar and has described it his memoirs.

Various capitals were established by the latter kings but ultimately the city of Srinagar was destined to be the capital of the State. These capitals are now found only in ruins or history. Some of the famous capitals are Prvaerpora of Praversen, Prihaspora of Lalitaditya, Jayapida's Jayapora, Avantivarman's Avantipur and cities of Kanishkapura and Juskapura.

During muslim rule Sultan Sadar-ud-din founded Rinchenpur and Ala-ud-din founded Alauddinpura near Hariparbat Hill. ZainulAbideen founded Nowshera as the capital while Akbar founded Naagar Nagar and raised 28ft tall wall around it.

Approach:
Airport	:	Srinagar (32 kms.)
Railhead	:	Jammu (315 kms.)
Road	:	Srinagar (21 kms.)

Area:	:	141 sq. kms.

Altitudinal Range:	:	1,700 to 4,000 metres M.S.L.

Visit:
Upper Dachigam Mammal/Bird viewing Lower Dachigam Mammal viewing Bird viewing	:	May to August. September to March. March to May.

Dress:
Summer	:	Trekking shoes, raincoat and light clothing.

Winter	:	Trekking shoes, heavy woolens and waterproof windcheater.
Spring	:	Trekking shoes, raincoat and light woolens.

Tourist Places

Cheshma Shahi and Pari Mahal
Cheshma Shahi or the Royal Spring was laid by Shah Jahan in 1632 AD. It is 9 km from the city centre and is famous for a spring of refreshment digestive water.Two kilometers uphill from Cheshma Shahi is situated the Pari Mahal,a school of astrology founded by Prince Dara Shikoh,Emperor Shah Jahan's eldest son who was killed in the war of succession.The Cheshma Shahi-Pari Mahal area has been developed into a Tourist Village.

Nishat Garden
Queen Nur Jahan's brother,Asif Khan,laid the Garden in 1633 AD. It is situated on the banks of the Dal Lake in the backdrop of the Zabarwan hills,11 km.from the district headquarter of Srinagar. The Garden commands a magnificent view of the lake.

Shalimar Garden
The Garden,15 kms from the city centre, was built by Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife, Nurjahan. The gardens with four terraces is 539 by 182 meters and gets water from Harwan through a canal lined with fountains.The fourth terrace was once reserved for royal ladies.

Shalimar Garden
The Garden,15 kms from the city centre, was built by Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife, Nurjahan. The gardens with four terraces is 539 by 182 meters and gets water from Harwan through a canal lined with fountains.The fourth terrace was once reserved for royal ladies.

Sonmarg
Sonmarg, at an altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level is 87 km north-east of Srinagar. The drive to Sonmargh is though yet another spectacular facet of country side in Kashmir, this time in Sindh Valley. The Sindh Valley is the largest tributary of the valley of Kashmir. It is upwards of sixty miles long and valley and deep rock-girt gorge to open grassy meadow land and village-dotted slopes.

Sonmarg, which means ‘meadow of gold’, has, as its backdrop, snowy mountains against a cerulean sky. The Sindth meanders along here and abounds with trout and mahseer, snow trout can be caught in the main river. Ponies can be hired for the trip up to Thajiwas glacier a major attraction during the summer months.

The climate of Sonmarg is very bracing; but the rainfall is frequent though not heavy, except for two or three days at a time in July and August with fine spell in between.
From Sonmarg, trekking routes lead to the Himalayan lakes of Vishansar (4084 mts), Krishnasar (3810 mts) and Gangabal (3658 mts). Other lakes in the region are Gadsar, stocked with snowtrout and Satsar, glacier-fed and surrounded by banks of alpine flowers.

A close by excursion is to Baltal, 15 km north of Sonmarg. This little valley lies at the foot of the Zojila, only a day's journey away from the sacred cave of Amarnath. Trekkers can also reach the starkly splendid roof-top of the world – Leh, by crossing over the Zijila Pass.

Cultural Background
Jammu and Kashmir has the distinction of having multifaceted, variegated and unique cultural blend, making it distinct from the rest of the country, not only from the different cultural forms and heritage, but from geographical, demographically, ethical, social entities, forming a distinct spectrum of diversity and diversions into Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, all professing diverse religion, language and culture, but continuously intermingling, making it vibrant specimens of Indian Unity amidst diversity. Its different cultural forms like art and architecture, fair and festivals, rites and rituals, seer and sagas, language and mountains, embedded in ageless period of history, speak volumes of unity and diversity with unparalleled cultural cohesion and cultural service.

While the Kashmir has been the highest learning centre of Sanskrit and Persian where early Indo-Aryanic civilization has originated and flourshed, it has also been embracing point of advent of Islam bringing its fold finest traditions of Persian civilization, tolerance, brotherhood and sacrifice.

Some of the popular performing traditions of Srinagar are as follows:-

a) Bhand Pather
It is a traditional folk theatre style combination of play and dance in a satirical style where social traditions, evils are depicted and performed in various social and cultural functions. Bhand Jashan is performed by a group of 10 to 15 artists in their traditional style accompanied by light music for the entertainment of people.

b) Chakri
It is most popular form of Kashmiri folk music. It has some resemblance with chakra of mountaineous regions of Uttar Pradesh. Normally Garaha, Sarangi, Rabab were the musical instruments used in the past. But now thw harmonium too has made its way in its presentation.

c) Sufiana Music
Sofians musiqui came to Kashmir from Iran in the 15 th century. Over the years it has established itself as the classical music form of Kashmir and has incorporated a number of Indian Ragas in its body. Hafiz Nagma in fact, used to be part of sofiana music. The instruments used in this form are Santoor, Sitar, Kashmiri Saz, Wasool or Tabala. In Hafiz Nagma a dancer is a female while her accompanists on various instruments are males. Hafiza moves her feet on musical notes.

There are only a few families in Kashmir who are practising this musical form in Kashmir. Whereas the tallest ustad Ghulam Mohd. Qaleenbaft is unable to move out because of health problems, Ustad Ghulam Mohd. Saznawaz and Ustad Abdul Ghani Namathali are imparting training to their family members and are the practising artists.

Nature Impressions of Dal Lake

Dal Lake much visited and less understood provides us with classic example of how little we appreciate the good things provided to us by Nature. This once pure lake could turn into a polluted pond, if we unthinkingly allow soil erosion and untreated effluents to damage it. Thousands of residents of Srinagar and millions of tourists are dependent upon the lake either for livelihood or for enjoyment. The lake of course is popular for its Houseboats, Shikaras and promenades and it is undoubtedly a bird watchers paradise.

Slowly as the Shikara passes through the channels in Srinagar the houseboats pass by which are handled by even the children with great dexterity. The birds in this lake are very approachable. The kingfishers sit on the tops of houseboats nonchalantly almost within the touching distance of humans who seem to be equally unmindful of the birds. The kingfishers apparently use walls,

steps and piles as fixed perches from which they directly dive into water to catch little fish. In Europe these birds are very elusive but in the happy valley of Kashmir they fear no danger from humans. Man and Nature seem to exist happily together in the Valley. Sitting on low boats i.e. Shikaras we can manoeuvre close to waders, raptors and divers.

While gliding on Shikara we can often observe white breasted Kingfishers (Halycon smyrnensis), large striking birds with robust bills perched on the branches of willow trees. These birds concentrate their efforts to hunting on the floating Gardens. These man made islands comprise of reeds, willow rods, aquatic vegetations and held together with humus consisting of mud from the lake bottom. This is extremely fertile and provide rich source of food in the form of frogs, lizards, mice, grasshoppers and other insects to the Kingfisher.

Now as we move further to the calm waters of Anchar Lake we are in a totally different world, there is no crowd of boats, no motor boat engines to be heard and the mood is different altogether. Just a few meters ahead there is a little bittern unmindful of the boat traffics. It stands motionless in the reeds waiting for frogs and other insects for its feed like a heron. This is a very shy bird and will vanish at the slightest difference. However it is accustomed to moving water traffic and is not bothered by it. However, if a boat stops it gets alarmed.

There are open lotus flowers around which the bees are humming collecting honey. Wagtails active and eager can be seen dashing from leaf to leaf sometimes leaping into air to catch that elusive creature for its morsel. The dipping motion of their longtails and their undulating flight is fascinating to watch. Kingfishers keep on diving into the lake and emerge successful sometimes dripping with droplets with little fish in their beak.

A small swimming bird much smaller than a duck is also seen and is known as grebe(podipus ruficollis). It dips at one place and emerges some meters away. The little grebe is fairly common in the vale.

Common Pariah Kites (Milvus Migrans) are frequently seen soaring above the area. Near the Dal they perch on pillars looking for dead fish and other rubbish. They are scavenger birds and help clean the area.

It is not necessary to have any special knowledge or equipment to enjoy birdwatching in and around the Dal Lake. An ordinary ride on a Shikara can provide an obervant mind with wonderful insights into the bird behaviour. All that is needed is love of nature, keen-eye lots of patience and appreciation.

Dachigam
Dachigam is a wildlife sanctuary which is home to the endangered HANGUL species of the Deer in the country. dachigam is also host to other wildlife of the state viz Black/ Brown Bear, Musk Deer, leopards and migratory birds. There is a Trout fish farm also in Dachigam. It is big natural reserve which requires permissions from the Wildlife Authorities for excploration. The dense forests of Dachigam offer a brilliant view alongwith a Glacier fed rivulet flowing right through the middle.

General Information

Approach:	Airport	Srinagar (32 kms.)
	Railhead	Jammu (315 kms.)
	Road	Srinagar (21 kms.)
Area:	141 sq. kms.
Altitudinal Range:	1,700 to 4,000 metres M.S.L.
Accommodation:	Lower Dachigam: Panzgam 2 inspection huts 3 bedrooms = 6 beds. Laribal 1 inspection hut 1 bedroom = 2 beds. Laribal 2 dormitories 3 bedrooms = 20 beds.
	Upper Dachigam: Sangargulu 1 inspection hut 2 bedrooms = 4 beds. Gratnar 1 inspection hut 6 bedrooms = 12 beds.
Flora:	There are over fifty species of trees,twenty of shrubs and five hundred species of herbs. The principal tree species are Pinus griffithii,Abies pindrow,Juglans regia,Morus alba,Betula utilis,Salix spp.,Populus spp., Prunus armeniaca, Corylus colurna,Quercus robur,Ulmus wallichiana, Aesculus indica, etc.Shrubs include Berberis spp.,Desmodium tiliaefolium,Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, Indigofera heterantha etc.
Fauna:	There are twenty mammal species which include hangul,Himalayan brown bear,Himalayan black bear, langur,Himalayan marmot,leopard etc.

Avifauna:	There are over 150 species of birds.The principal species are monal,koklas,bearded vulture, griffon vulture,golden eagle,grey heron,starling,golden oriole,paradise flycatcher,western yellow-billed blue magpie,kestrel,peregrine falcon,black bulbul, etc.
Visit:	Upper Dachigam Mammal/Bird viewing Lower Dachigam Mammal viewing Bird viewing	May to August. September to March. March to May.
Dress:	Summer: Trekking shoes,raincoat and light clothing. Winter: Trekking shoes,heavy woolens and waterproof windcheater. Spring: Trekking shoes,raincoat and light woollens.

For Reservations contact: The Chief Wildlife Warden, Jammu & Kashmir State, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar 190001, ( Kashmir.) Dachigam lies in Srinagar District and it is 20 kms from the Distt Headquarters.The nearest Airport is approx. 25 kms away in Badgam Distt.This Airport is connected with major cities of country. The nearest Rail Head is at Jammu which is 300 kms away and from there National Highway NH1A connects the Kashmir valley with India. Every sort of transport to suit every budget from Buses to Taxis ply on this Highway. It Takes around 10 to 12 hours to cross this mountaineous road which crosses some beautiful spots and the famous Jawahar Tunnel linking Kashmir Valley with country. Selected Transport is available from anywhere
in the Srinagar City with nominal costs to the Gates of sanctuary. From there on you have to trudge on foot.Taxis, Buses can be chartered from anywhere in the Srinagar city to this place.