We had a full day in Srinagar and after a good rest last night, our group decided to explore the old Srinagar town
We took a taxi ride (Rs40=Rm3.60) to Old Srinagar town and visited 1) Jama Masjid 2) Shah-i-Hamdan mosque 3) Pathar Masjid 4) Tomb of the mother of Zain-ul-Abidin 5) Makhdoom Sahib shrine 6) Naqshband Shaib shrine 7) Pir Dastgir Sahib shrine 8) Zero Bridge 9) River Jehlum.
Jama Masjid was the oldest mosque in Srinagar, dated back to the 14th century. Over 300 wooden columns were used to support the roof . A fountain and a row of nicely crafted plants greeted us as we entered the mosque. Behind the Jama Masjid, you could see the Hari Parbat fort, perched at the top of the Hari Prabat hill. The fort is now occupied by the Indian army.
Jama Masjid was the oldest mosque in Srinagar, dated back to the 14th century. Over 300 wooden columns were used to support the roof . A fountain and a row of nicely crafted plants greeted us as we entered the mosque. Behind the Jama Masjid, you could see the Hari Parbat fort, perched at the top of the Hari Prabat hill. The fort is now occupied by the Indian army.
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Next we visited the Shah-i-Hamadan mosque, the first mosque in Kashmir. Built in 1395, the mosque was destroyed by fire several times and re-constructed in 1730's. Only Muslims were allowed to enter and I had a peek at the interior to admire the carvings and the colorful exterior wall.
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Near the bazaar street, we visited the tomb of the mother of Zain-ul-Abidin, the wife of Sultan Sikander. Next to it is a cemetery.
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We walked to the Zero Bridge and crossed the other side of the river Jehlum in order to see a greater depth of the old Srinagar. The surrounding area still retained the charm of the good old days in this Srinagar town !
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While walking near the River Jehlim, I spotted the above. Guess what? The round shape concrete item is used by local laundry workers to wash dirty clothing !
In the late afternoon, we went up to the Shankaracharya Hill to visit the ancient Shakaracharya Temple, built before the arrival of Islam in Kashmir. The walk to the temple took about 40 mins after passing a security check point at the foot of the hill. No photography was allowed.
In the evening , a few of our HC members signed up for an evening shikaras ride on the Dal lake and the Moghal Garden but I did not join them as it was getting dark soon. Instead, I spent my time at the verandas of the houseboat watching the sunset on the Dale Lake. See the scenic picture below.
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" Sun set on the Dale Lake. Paradise on earth. My first taste of Kashmir "
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