Srinagar, the state capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is situated at an
altitude of 1,730 meters above sea level. It is a unique city because of
its lakes, the Dal, Nagin and Anchar. The river Jhelum also flows
through a part of the city. Srinagar's largest lake, the Dal, has the maximum number of houseboats, a unique feature of Srinagar. These houseboats are accessible by smaller boats called shikaras. The most amazing feature of staying in a houseboat is that you can shop while staying in the boat, as tiny wooded shops on shikaras carrying vegetables and fruits, flowers, tailors, doctors, bakers, etc. keep calling.
Nature has endowed Kashmir with rivers, lakes reflecting the towering mountains and gurgling streams. There are woods of fir and chinar (maple), meadows of flowers, mustard and saffron, fruit orchards, gardens and parks, and ancient monuments. Srinagar is itself a tourist centre and also the take-off point for excursions to other places of interest.
Places to see in Srinagar are the Dal and Nagin lakes, the Mughal gardens of Shalimar, Nishat Bagh and Chashma Shahi, Pari Mahal, Shankaracharya temple, Hari Parbat - the list is endless when one includes excursions outside the city.






Dal Lake is Srinagar's largest and famous lake, which has the maximum
number of house-boats. House-boats in the Dal lake are of all
categories, from deluxe through to d class. In Dal lake one requires a
shikara to get to and from them. The lake is right across the famous
Boulevard of Srinagar. The Dal is so central to the landscape of
Srinagar, many places of tourist interest have, over the ages been built
in it's vicinity.