Eternal India Encyclopedia

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