View source for Srinagar

{{Short description|City in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Srinagar
| settlement_type    = City administered by India
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = ks
| named_for          = [[Lakshmi]] or [[Surya]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
|perrow = 1/2/2/1
|border = infobox
|total_width = 275
|image1 = Houseboats, Dal Lake, Kashmir.jpg
|caption1 = Houseboats on [[Dal Lake]]
|image2 = Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, India, under snow.jpg
|caption2 = [[Shankaracharya Temple]]
|image3 = Khanqah-e-Moula 01.jpg
|caption3 = [[Khanqah-e-Moula|Khanqah-e-Moula Mosque]]
|image4 = A view of Pari Mahal Jammu and Kashmir India.jpg
|caption4 = [[Pari Mahal]]
|image5 = Hazratbal shrine.jpg
|caption5 = [[Hazratbal Shrine]]
|image6 = Srinagar pano.jpg
|caption6 = Panorama of Srinagar City
}}
| image_map1         = Kashmir region. LOC 2003626427 - showing Kashmir division administered by India in neon blue.jpg
| map_alt            = Map of the disputed Kashmir region showing areas of control by India, Pakistan, and China
| map_caption1       = Srinagar lies in the [[Kashmir division]] (neon blue) of the Indian-administered [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] (shaded [[tan (color)|tan]]) in the disputed [[Kashmir]] region.<ref name=tertiary-kashmir/>             =
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 250px
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=300|frame-height=170|frame-align=center|zoom=4|type=point|title=Srinagar|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Srinagar
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|5|24|N|74|47|24|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Administering country
| subdivision_name   = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1  = Region of administration
| subdivision_name1  = [[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| subdivision_type2  = Division
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kashmir division|Kashmir]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir|District]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Srinagar district|Srinagar]]
| leader_title1      = Municipal Commissioner
| leader_name1       = Owais Ahmed Rana, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref name='Srinagar City'>{{cite web|title=Srinagar City|url=https://kvksrinagar.org/about-srinagar|website=kvksrinagar.org|access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Srinagar Updates|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/solid-waste-management-in-srinagar-still-on-paper-437649|date=27 July 2017|work=The Tribune|access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 294
| area_metro_km2     = 766
| area_metro_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Srinagar Metropolitan Region|url=http://www.sdasrinagar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Master-Plan-2035-ReportFinal.pdf|website=sdasrinagar.com|access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Srinagar Master Plan|url=https://www.crosstownnews.in/post/36837/sac-approves-srinagar-master-plan-2035-new-master-plan-includes-766-sq-km-area-for-projected-population-of-35-mn.html|date=21 February 2019|work=crosstownnews.in|access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 1585
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=3415|title=Srinagar Municipal Corporation Demographics 2011|work=[[2011 Census of India]]|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|title=2011 census of India|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017153124/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1180570
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_rank    = [[List of cities in India by population|31st]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro   = 1273312
| population_blank1_title = Metro Rank
| population_blank1  = [[List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India|37th]]
| population_demonym = Srinagari, Sirinagari, Sirinagaruk, Shaharuk, Srinagarite
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Urdu]], [[Hindi]], [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite news |last=Pathak |first=Analiza |date=2 September 2020 |title=Hindi, Kashmiri and Dogri to be official languages of Jammu and Kashmir, Cabinet approves Bill|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/hindi-kashmiri-and-dogri-to-be-official-languages-of-jammu-and-kashmir-cabinet-approves-bill-646784 |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="OfficialLang">{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf
|title=The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020|publisher=The Gazette of India|access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020 | website=Rising Kashmir | date=23 September 2020 | url=http://risingkashmir.com/news/parliament-passes-jk-official-languages-bill-2020 | access-date=23 September 2020 | archive-date=24 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924141909/http://risingkashmir.com/news/parliament-passes-jk-official-languages-bill-2020 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = 
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code        = 190001
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| area_code          = 0194
| registration_plate = JK 01
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = 888 [[female|♀]]/ 1000 [[male|♂]]
| blank2_name_sec1   = Literacy
| blank2_info_sec1   = 69.15%
| blank3_name_sec1   = Distance from Delhi
| blank3_info_sec1   = {{convert|876|km|mi}} NW
| blank4_name_sec1   = Distance from Mumbai
| blank4_info_sec1   = {{convert|2275|km|mi}} NE ([[National highways of India|land]])
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2   = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank2_info_sec2   = {{convert|710|mm|in}}
| blank3_name_sec2   = Avg. summer temperature
| blank3_info_sec2   = {{convert|23.3|°C|°F}}
| blank4_name_sec2   = Avg. winter temperature
| blank4_info_sec2   = {{convert|3.2|°C|°F}}
| website            = {{URL|https://www.smcsite.org/}}
| official_name      = 
| module             = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
| government_type    = [[Municipal corporation]]
| governing_body     = [[Srinagar Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Srinagar|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Vacant
}}

'''Srinagar'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=Srinagar.ogg|ˈ|s|r|iː|n|ə|g|ər}}; {{IPA|ks|siriːnagar|lang}}, {{literally|city of ''[[Sri Lakshmi|Shri]]''}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |chapter=Srīnagar |title= Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Place Names |edition=6th |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2020 |quote=Founded c. 250 bc becoming known as the ‘City of Shrī (or Laksmī)’, the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune; ... |isbn=9780191905636}}</ref>}} ({{langx|ks|Sirīnagar}}) is a city in Indian-administered  [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in the [[Kashmir|disputed Kashmir]] region.<ref name=tertiary-kashmir>The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of [[Kashmir]] and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the [[WP:TERTIARY|tertiary sources]] (a) through (d), reflecting [[WP:DUE|due weight]] in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (f) through (h) below, "held" is also considered politicised usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (i) below). <br />
(a) {{citation|title=Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent |accessdate=15 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories.";<br /> (b) {{citation|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|title=Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Aksai-Chin |accessdate=16 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state."; <br /> (c) {{citation|chapter=Kashmir|title=Encyclopedia Americana|publisher=Scholastic Library Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l_cWAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA328|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7172-0139-6|page=328}} C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947"; <br /> (d) {{citation|last1=Osmańczyk|first1=Edmund Jan|title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1191|year=2003|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-93922-5|pages=1191–}} Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute betw een India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China." <br />(e) {{citation|last=Talbot|first=Ian|title=A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNg_CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|year=2016|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-19694-8|pages=28–29}} Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir."; <br /> (f) {{citation|title=Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent |accessdate=15 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "... China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962."; <br /> (g) {{citation|last=Bose|first=Sumantra|title=Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ACMe9WBdNAC&pg=PA294|year=2009|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-02855-5|pages=294, 291, 293}} Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million. AJK has six districts: Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Kodi, Rawalakot, and Poonch. Its capital is the town of Muzaffarabad. AJK has its own institutions, but its political life is heavily controlled by Pakistani authorities, especially the military), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control." <br /> (h) {{citation|last=Fisher|first=Michael H.|title=An Environmental History of India: From Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kZVuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166|year=2018|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-11162-2|page=166}} Quote: "Kashmir's identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised "Line of Control" still separating Pakistani-held Azad ("Free") Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir."; <br /> (i) {{citation|last=Snedden|first=Christopher|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5amKCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-1-84904-621-3|page=10}} Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'."</ref> It is the largest city and [[summer capital]] of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an Indian-administered [[union territory]]. It lies in the [[Kashmir Valley]] along the banks of the [[Jhelum River]], and the shores of [[Dal Lake]] and [[Anchar Lake]]s, between the [[Hari Parbat]] and [[Shankaracharya Temple|Shankaracharya]] hills. The city is known for its natural environment, various gardens, waterfronts and [[houseboat]]s. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts like the [[Kashmir shawl]] (made of [[Pashmina (material)|pashmina]] and [[cashmere wool]]), papier-mâché, wood carving, carpet weaving, and jewel making, as well as for [[dried fruit]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/photo/dal-lake-srinagar-cold-winter-frozen-kashmir-chillai-kalan-travel-lifest-1123112-2018-01-05|title=Here's how beautiful Srinagar's Dal Lake looks this winter|date=5 January 2018|website=India Today|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130122935/https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/photo/dal-lake-srinagar-cold-winter-frozen-kashmir-chillai-kalan-travel-lifest-1123112-2018-01-05|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://srinagar.nic.in/|title=District Srinagar :: Official Website|website=srinagar.nic.in|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204230258/http://srinagar.nic.in/|archive-date=4 February 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the [[Himalayas]] (after [[Kathmandu]], the capital of Nepal).

Founded in the 6th century during the rule of the [[Gonanda dynasty]] according to the [[Rajatarangini]], the city took on the name of an earlier capital thought to have been founded by the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryas]] in its vicinity. The city remained the most important capital of the Kashmir Valley under the Hindu dynasties, and was a major centre of learning. During the 14th–16th centuries the city's old town saw major expansions, particularly under the [[Shah Mir dynasty]], whose kings used various parts of it as their capitals. It became the spiritual centre of Kashmir, and attracted several [[Sufism|Sufi]] preachers. It also started to emerge as a hub of [[shawl]] weaving and other Kashmiri handicrafts. In the late 16th century, the city became part of the [[Mughal Empire]], many of whose emperors used it as their summer resort. Many Mughal gardens were built in the city and around Dal lake during this time, of which [[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Shalimar]] and [[Nishat Bagh|Nishat]] are the most well-known.

After passing through the hands of the Afghan [[Durrani Empire|Durranis]] and the [[Sikh Empire|Sikhs]] in the late 18th and early 19th century, it eventually became the summer capital of the [[Dogra dynasty|Dogra]] kingdom of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in 1846. The city became a popular tourist destination among Europeans and Indian elites during this time, with several hotels and its iconic houseboats being built. In 1952, the city became the summer capital of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], a region administered by India as a state, with [[Jammu]] being its winter capital. It was the flashpoint of violence during the 1990s and early 2000s [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|insurgency]] in the region. In 2019, it became the summer capital of a smaller region which is administered by India as a union territory, after the former state's [[Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019|reorganisation]].

== Etymology ==
The earliest records, such as Kalhana's ''[[Rajatarangini]]'', mentions the [[Sanskrit]] name ''shri-nagara'' which have been interpreted distinctively by scholars in two ways: one being ''"The city of "Śrī''" ({{Langx|sa|श्री|links=no|label=none}}), the Hindu goddess of prosperity, meaning "''City of [[Lakshmi]]''"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Suresh K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MDtuAAAAMAAJ |title=Encyclopaedia of Kashmir |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt Limited |isbn=978-81-7488-051-2 |page=137|quote=Shri Nagar or, as it is commonly called, Srinagar, is the chief town of the country . ' Shri ' means beauty or wealth of knowledge and ' nagar ' a city }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZXB964fKnwC |title=Kashmir |date=1953 |page=36|quote=Shri ' is said to be another name for Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Beauty and ' nagari ' means the city . Hence ' Shrinagar ' is the city of wealth and beauty .}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Shafi |first=Aneesa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nH3gRGAHQIkC |title=Working Women in Kashmir: Problems and Prospects |date=2002 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7648-350-6 |page=189|quote=The name Srinagar which means the city of Sri or Lakshmi appears to have been assigned to the capital to commemorate the Buddhist Monastery built by Ashoka between Pandrethan and the nearby steep hill side at a distance of 2 miles from ...}}</ref>{{sfn|Khan|1978|loc=p.2:"According to Kalhana, ancient Kashmir has had a number of capitals. The most important of these ancient cities was Srinagari, which was founded by Asoka in 250 B.C. 3 Srinagari, the city of Sri, an appellation of the goddess '. Lakshmi ..."}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Charnock |first=Richard Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I2BulY4WvsYC&pg=PA187 |title=Local Etymology: A Derivative Dictionary of Geographical Names |date=1859 |publisher=Houlston and Wright |page=187}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Koul |first=Samsar Chand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=42lDAAAAYAAJ |title=Srinagar and Its Environs: Kashmir, India |date=1962 |publisher=Lokesh Koul|quote=Shri Nagar or, as it is commonly called, Srinagar, is the chief town of the country . ' Shri ' means beauty or wealth of knowledge and ' nagar ' a city . In ancient times this city was one of the chief seats of learning in Asia}}</ref>
and other being ''sūrya-nagar'', meaning "''City of the [[Surya]]''" (trans) ''"City of Sun''."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Sir Walter Roper |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DqAHweWRUs0C&pg=PA35 |title=The Valley of Kashmir |date=2005 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-1630-1 |page=35}}</ref><ref>M. Monier Monier–Williams, "Śrīnagar", in: ''The Great Sanskrit–English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1899</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sufi |first=G. M. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EjVuAAAAMAAJ |title=Kashīr, Being a History of Kashmir from the Earliest Times to Our Own |date=1974 |publisher=Light & Life Publishers |page=42|quote=SRINAGAR * or Suryea Nagar, the City of the Sun, built by Rajah Pravarasene about the beginning of the 6th century, is the Capital of Kashmir, and a plan of it will be found in Montgomerie's Jamoo and Kashinir Map . It is situated about ...}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rabbani|1981|p=32}}: "Old Srinagar Kalhana, who lived in the beginning of the twelfth century, mentions in his Rajtarangni the city of Srinagar, a city in the south – east ... Shri here does not mean Surya or the son and it is a mistake to call Srinagar, the city of sun ."</ref> The name was used for an older capital in the vicinity of the present-day city, before being used for it.{{sfn|Kaul|2018|loc=p.157: "(in footnote) In reality, it is the name Srinagar that stuck but the location of the modern-day Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is at the site of Pravarapura that was founded by King Pravarasena circa 6th century CE."}} Between the 14th and 19th centuries, and especially during Mughal rule, the city was also referred to simply as ''Kashmir'' or ''Shahr-i-Kashmir'' ({{lit|City of Kashmir}}).{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=8–9}}

==History==
===Early history===
[[File:Pandrethan Shiva Temple, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India (1981).jpg|thumb|left|[[Pandrethan Shiva Temple|Shiva Temple]] at Pandrethan, near Srinagar, built {{circa|8th–9th century CE}}|306x306px]]According to the [[Rajatarangini]] of [[Kalhana]], a capital city by the name of ''Srinagari'' was built in the Kashmir valley by [[Ashoka (Gonandiya)|Ashoka]].{{efn|Despite several discrepancies, scholars identify this Ashoka of the Rajatarangini with the [[Mauryan empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]].{{sfn|Wani|Wani|2023|p=75}}{{sfn|Kaul|2018|p=110}}}} Kalhana calls this capital ''puranadhisthana'', Sanskrit for 'old capital', identified as present-day Pandrethan, 3.5 kilometres south-east of Srinagar.{{sfn|Wani|Wani|2023|p=75}} A 'new capital' was built by king [[Gonanda dynasty#Rule#Pravarasena II|Pravarasena]], called ''Parvarapura'', in 6th century CE. ''Srinagari'' continued to be used as a name for this capital. This new capital was located at the base of the Hari Parbat hill on the right bank of the Jhelum, corresponding to the location of modern-day Srinagar.{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|p=22}} Kalhana describes the capital having several markets, mansions, wooden houses, grand temples and canals, and also refers to the Dal lake and Jhelum river.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=3–4}} A long embankment was constructed on the Jhelum by Pravarasena to protect the city from floods, parts of which have survived to the present day.{{sfn|Wani|Wani|2023|p=159}} The two capitals are also mentioned in the chronicle of Chinese traveller [[Xuanxang|Huein Tsang]] who visited the city in 631 CE.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=3}}{{sfn|Rabbani|1981|p=33}} Although several other capitals of Kashmir were constructed by other rulers over the next few centuries, Pravarasena's Srinagar survived as the capital.{{efn|Historian [[Mohammad Ishaq Khan]] states that this is due Srinagar's central location within the valley and the larger neighbourhood, and due to the presence of various water bodies around the city which provided protection.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=6–7}}}} The city was divided into several parts, each with its own guardian deity, which continue to be worshipped by [[Hindu Kashmiris]].{{sfn|Rabbani|1981|p=33–35}} The 8th century scholar [[Adi Shankara]] visited the city and founded the [[Shankaracharya Temple]] here, at the site of the earlier Jyeshteshwara Temple.{{sfn|Kaul|2018|pp=124–125}} The city gradually extended to the left bank of the Jhelum river, and in the early 12th century the royal palace was shifted to this side.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=8}}

===Sultanate period===
[[File:Jama Masjid, Srinagar (14363005587).jpg|thumb|left|The Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, built in the beginning of 15th century CE]]
[[Rinchan]]a, a Buddhist convert to Islam who briefly ruled Kashmir in the early 14th century, built the first mosque in Kashmir on the site of a Buddhist temple in a colony of Srinagar built by him.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=9}} The Muslim rulers that came after him established their capitals in areas of present-day old city Srinagar.{{sfn| Khan|1978|pp=9–10}} During the rule of the Sultans, the city became synonymous with the Kashmir valley, and 'Srinagar' fell into disuse as a name for it.{{efn|The name, however, did not become obsolete and finds mention in several contemporary sources.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=9}}}}{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=8}} During the rule of Qutbuddin, Islamic preacher [[Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani]] visited the valley and established his seat of preaching in Srinagar. Sultan [[Sikandar Shahmiri]] (1389–1413 CE) built the ''[[Khanqah-e-Moula]]'' at this location, and also built the [[Jamia Masjid, Srinagar|Jamia Mosque]] at Nowhatta in 1402.{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|p=83}} The oldest surviving example of forcible conversion of a Hindu place of worship into Muslim shrine in Kashmir also appears from Srinagar under Sikandar's rule.{{sfn|Hamdani2021|pp=99–100}} Sikandar's successor [[Zayn al-Abidin (sultan of Kashmir)|Zain-ul-Abidin]] undertook several constructions in and around Srinagar. He built the ''[[Zaina Kadal|Zainakadal]]'' bridge connecting the two halves of the city on either side of the Jhelum river, the [[Nallah Mar|Mar canal]] and two islands inside Dal lake called Sona Lank and Rupa Lank.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=10}} He also built a stone shrine for his Islamic teacher at [[Madin Sahib]], and a brick mausoleum for his mother constructed using materials from a Hindu structure and showing Timurid influences,{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|p=65–66}} where he was also buried after his death. He is also credited with establishing industries around the arts of shawl and carpet weaving, papier-maché, and wood carving in Srinagar.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=11}}

===Mughal rule===
[[File:India - Srinagar - 023 - Nishat Bagh Mughal Gardens.jpg|thumb|[[Nishat Bagh]], a Mughal Garden built during the reign of [[Shah Jahan]] on the northern bank of the Dal lake, in the vicinity of Srinagar]]
The [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] annexed Kashmir in 1586 after a period of internal instability in the valley, and added it to their Kabul province. Mughal emperor [[Akbar]] visited the valley three times. During his second visit in 1592, an elaborate [[Diwali]] celebration was held in Srinagar.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=12}} On the final such visit, he was accompanied by the first recorded European visitors to the area.{{efn|These were jesuit priests [[Jerome Xavier]] and [[Bento de Góis]].{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=13}}}} Akbar built fortifications around the Hari Parbat hill, and established a township called ''Nagar Nagar'' there.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=13}} He also built a shrine for [[Hamza Makhdoom]], a Sufi mystic of Kashmir's [[Rishi order]], on the southern slope of Hari Parbat which was later expanded several times.{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|p=93–95}}
[[File:Pathar Masjid in Srinagar.jpg|left|thumb|[[Pathar Mosque]], built in 1623]]
His successor [[Jahangir]] was particularly fond of the Kashmir valley and frequently visited it.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=13}} His rule brought prosperity to Srinagar, and several Mughal gardens were built in the city and around the Dal lake during his and his successor [[Shah Jahan]]'s reign, including the [[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Shalimar]] and [[Nishat Bagh]]. Empress [[Nur Jahan]] built the [[Pathar Mosque]] on the left bank of Jhelum river opposite the ''Khānqāh-e-Moula'' in 1623, the mosque was however deemed unfit for worship soon after its construction and used instead for non-religious purposes.<ref>{{citation|last=Rai |first=Mridu |chapter=To 'Tear the Mask off the Face of the Past': Archaeology and Politics in Jammu and Kashmir |title=Kashmir: History, Politics, Representation |editor=Chitralekha Zutshi |url=https://www.cambridge.org/9781107181977 |year=2018 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-18197-7 |pages=39–41}}</ref> 
[[File:Akhund Mulla Shah's Mosque 01.jpg|thumb|[[Akhund Mullah Shah Mosque]], built in  1649]]
Shah Jahan made Kashmir into a separate ''[[Mughal Kashmir|Subah]]'' (province) with its administrative seat at Srinagar in 1638. The [[Aali Masjid]] was built during the reign of [[Aurangzeb]] (1658–1707), as was the Safa kadal bridge over the Jhelum. The ''moi muqaddas'', a relic believed to be the hair strand of prophet Muhammad's beard, also arrived in Kashmir during this time, and was housed in a Mughal palace at [[Hazratbal]], which became the [[Hazratbal Shrine|Hazratbal Dargah]]. A number of Europeans visited the city during the later Mughal period.{{efn|These include physician [[Francois Bernier]] and priests [[Ippolito Desideri]] and Manoel Freyre.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=15}}}}

===Afghan and Sikh rule===
In 1753, Kashmir passed into the hands of the Afghan [[Durrani Empire]]. The Afghans undertook reconstructions in Srinagar and built the palace at [[Sher Garhi Palace|Shergarhi]] at the site of a pre-existing ancient palace, as well as the fort atop Hari Parbat.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=16}} However, contemporary accounts describe the city as filthy and deteriorating, and it also saw worsening inter-community relations during Afghan rule, with repeated Hindu-Muslim and Shia-Sunni riots, and state persecution of Pandits.{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|pages=167–169}} In 1819, the [[Sikh Empire]] assumed control of Kashmir. Under them,  ''Srinagar'', the old name of the city, was restored. The situation in the city did not improve much under Sikh rule, and the city remained in a state of decay.{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=16–17}} They also imposed several restrictions on Muslim religious expression, and closed the gates of the Jamia Mosque, which remained closed until 1843. A Shia-Sunni riot happened in the city in 1837.{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|pages=167–169}}

===Dogra rule===
[[File:View of Srinagar 1872.jpg|thumb|An 1872 painting depicting the city of Srinagar.]]
With the establishment of [[Dogra dynasty|Dogra rule]] following the 1846 [[Treaty of Amritsar (1846)|Treaty of Amritsar]], Srinagar became the capital of the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. Taxes were increased and the production of silk, saffron, paper, tobacco, wine, and salt, as well as the sale of grain, became the monopoly of the state. It was a capital offence for a Muslim to kill a cow as late as the 1920s; later, the penalty was reduced to ten years of imprisonment and still later to seven years (Section 219 of [[Ranbir Penal Code]]).<ref>
[https://web.archive.org/web/20220206164745/https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/dogra-raj-in-kashmir/article9946288.ece Dogra raj in Kashmir]. ''[[FrontLine]]'' 8 November 2017.
</ref> The Dogras found Srinagar deteriorating, filthy and overcrowded.{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=18–20}} The city used to see several break-outs of [[cholera]], as well as earthquakes, floods, fires and famines. The famine of 1877–79 is said to have halved the city's population.{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=20–24}} Consequently, due to the famine and forced labour in the villages, a considerable number of people migrated to Srinagar.{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=32}}
{{multiple image
| total_width       = 400
| align             = right
| perrow            = 2
| image1            = Palace-of-srinagar 0.jpg
| caption1          = Early 20th century painting of [[Sher Garhi Palace]], the official residence of the Dogra rulers in Srinagar
| image2            = Map of Srinagar, Kashmir of the British Indian Empire, environs, from the Constable's Hand Atlas of India (1893).jpg
| caption2          = 1893 map of Srinagar and its surroundings
}}

The [[Darbar Move]] was introduced in 1872 by [[Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir|Ranbir Singh]], whereby the capital moved to [[Jammu]] for six months during the winter<ref>{{citation |last=Zutshi |first=Chitralekha | year=2019 |title=Kashmir |series=Oxford India Short Introductions |publisher=OUP |isbn=978-0-19-012141-9 |pages=53–54}}</ref> albeit later phased down by [[Hari Singh]] who "fixed his headquarters permanently at Jammu". The Ministers and Heads of Departments continued to followed it, nevertheless, it was still a move which was resented by Kashmiris, particularly Pandits.{{sfn|Bazaz|1941|pp=91}} The [[Raghunath Temple, Srinagar|Raghunath Temple]] was also completed during Ranbir Singh's rule.{{sfn|Zutshi|2019|p=54}} With a global decline in shawl trade during late 19th century, the shawl weaving class of the city was upended. Several changes were ushered in during the reign of [[Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir|Pratap Singh]] (1885–1925). A [[Residencies of British India|British Residency]] was established in Srinagar and direct British influence on the administration of the state grew. During this time, Srinagar, and in turn the Kashmir Valley, was connected to the rest of India via roads, which saw increased trade with [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]]. In 1886, a municipality was established for the city of Srinagar.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=27}} Works for sanitation and urban development undertaken by the municipality were often met with stiff opposition by the residents, who were averse to changes.{{sfn|Khan|1978|p=27–28}} In the late 19th and early 20th century, modern tourism began to take hold in the city, especially on and around the Dal lake, with houseboats being built to accommodate British officers and their families who came in the summers seeking respite from the heat of the [[North Indian River Plain|plains]] of northern India.<ref>{{citation |last=Casimir |first=Michael J. |year=2021 |title=Floating Economies: The Cultural Ecology of the Dal Lake in Kashmir, India |publisher=Berghahn Books |isbn=978-1-80073-029-8 |page=11}}</ref> The Shergarhi Palace was greatly modified by the Dogras, who used it as their official residence in the city. Pratap Singh and his successor [[Hari Singh]] also laid out several parks in the city. The city expanded rapidly between 1891 and 1941, partly due to increased migration from the countryside as a result of famines and due to improvements in sanitation and urban development as well as economic expansion, in particular the growth of the textile and tourism industries in the city.{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=32–33}} Many [[Punjabis]] also settled in Srinagar during this time for trade, commerce and administration.{{sfn|Khan|1978|pp=39–40}}{{sfn|Zutshi|2019|p=55}}

Srinagar emerged as the hub of political activity within the Kashmir valley during later Dogra rule. Kashmiris at large despised the Dogra rule and considered the dynasty an "alien rule".{{sfn|Bazaz|1941|pp=90}} Many Muslim leaders competed for influence and control over Muslim shrines in the city through which they sought to become representatives of [[Kashmiri Muslims]].{{sfn|Zutshi|2019|pp=59–62}} [[Sheikh Abdullah]], and his [[Jammu and Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] (NC), eventually succeeded in doing so.

===Partition and Independence===
In 1947, after the princely state's [[Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)|accession to India]] following an [[First Kashmir War|invasion]] of the state by Pakistani irregulars in the aftermath of the [[partition of India]], Indian forces were airlifted to Srinagar on 27 October to defend the city and the larger Kashmir valley.{{sfn|Zutshi|2019|p=99}} The National Conference also established a popular people's militia in the city to aid the army in their defence of the territory.{{sfn|Zutshi|2019|pp=99–100}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Andrew |url=https://www.thewire.in/article/gender/kashmir-women-militia |title=Kashmir's Forgotten Women's Militia |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=24 October 2017 |access-date=21 May 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Srinagar became the summer capital of the Indian state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] when it was established in 1952.
{{multiple image |total_width=400 |perrow=2 |align=right |image1=Nehru at Joint parade of National Militia, Peace Brigade, Police and the Women Defence Corps on The Polograound in Srinagar in May 1948 (04).jpg |caption1=Indian Prime Miniter [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] attending a parade of NC's Kashmiri militias in Srinagar in 1948 |image2=Srinagar city 1959.jpg |caption2=A 1959 map of Srinagar city and its vicinity}}
In 1963–1964, the relic at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar briefly disappeared, causing political turmoil.{{sfn|Zutshi|2019|p=114}} Following this, the shrine was reconstructed between 1968 and 1979 in a Mughal-inspired style.{{sfn|Hamdani|2021|p=196}}
In 1989, Srinagar became the focus of the [[insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]. The city saw increased violence against the minority Hindus—particularly the [[Kashmiri Pandits]]—during the insurgency which resulted in their ultimate [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus|exodus]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bose |first=Sumantra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ACMe9WBdNAC |title=Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace |date=July 2009 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-02855-5|quote=As the uprising broke out across the Valley in early 1990, approximately one hundred thousand Pandits left their Valley homes for Jammu city and Delhi in a few weeks in February and March, in one of the most controversial episodes of the war in Kashmir."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Majoul |first=Bootheina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2VwpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |title=On Trauma and Traumatic Memory |date=23 June 2017 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-7483-0}}</ref> Kashmiri Hindus constituted 8.39% of Srinagar's population in the 1981 census and 2.75% in the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite web| title=A portrait of population - Jammu and Kashmir | url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31511/download/34692/29233_1981_POR.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420120406/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31511/download/34692/29233_1981_POR.pdf | archive-date=20 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="1891Census">{{Cite book |last1=Ram |first1=Bhag |date=1 January 1893 |title=Census of India, 1891. Volume XXVIII, The Kashmir state : the report on the census and imperial and supplementary tables: Census Reports – 1891 |jstor=saoa.crl.25352828 |url=https://jstor.org/stable/saoa.crl.25352828}}</ref> The [[Gawkadal massacre|Gawakadal massacre]] took place in the city in January 1990, resulting in 50–100 deaths.<ref>{{citation |last=Schofield |first=Victoria |author-link=Victoria Schofield |title=Kashmir in Conflict |publisher=I. B. Taurus & Co |location=London and New York |year=2003 |orig-year=2000 |isbn=1860648983 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkTetMfI6QkC |page=148}}</ref> As a result, bunkers and checkpoints are found throughout the city, although their numbers have come down in the past few years as militancy has declined. Protests against Indian rule still occur with large demonstrations happening in 2008, [[2010 Kashmir unrest|2010]], 2013, and [[2016 Kashmir unrest|2016]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Muslims wage huge Kashmir protest|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/08/23/muslims-wage-huge-kashmir-protest/|access-date=1 March 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=23 August 2008|quote="A Kashmiri Muslim watches a protest march Friday by hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir's main city. It was the largest protest against Indian rule in the Himalayan region in more than a decade"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512134159/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-23/news/0808220596_1_indian-kashmir-himalayan-region-muslims|archive-date=12 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hussein|first=AijazSt|title=India's hanging of Kashmiri man leads to fears of new unrest after 2 years of quiet|url=http://www.startribune.com/world/190674821.html?refer=y|access-date=1 March 2013|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=12 February 2013|quote=In all three years, hundreds of thousands of young men took to the streets, hurling rocks and abuse at Indian forces.}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=Gazoth |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After [[revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir]] and the subsequent [[Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act|devolution of the state into a union territory]] in August 2019, a [[2019-2021 Jammu and Kashmir lockdown|lockdown]] was imposed in Kashmir, including in Srinagar.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farooq |first1=Azhar |last2=Ratcliffe |first2=Rebecca |date=23 August 2019 |title=Kashmir city on lockdown after calls for protest march |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/23/kashmir-city-srinagar-india-lockdown-calls-protest-march |work=The Guardian |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==

The city is located on both the sides of the [[Jhelum River]], called ''Vyath'' in Kashmir. The river passes through the city and meanders through the valley, moving onward and deepening in the [[Wular Lake]]. The city is known for its nine old bridges, connecting the two parts of the city.

There are a number of lakes and swamps in and around the city. These include the [[Dal Lake|Dal]], the [[Nigeen Lake|Nigeen]], the [[Anchar Lake|Anchar]], [[Khushal Sar]], [[Gil Sar]] and [[Hokersar]].

Hokersar is a wetland situated near Srinagar. Thousands of migratory birds come to Hokersar from Siberia and other regions in the winter season. Migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia use wetlands in Kashmir as their transitory camps between September and October and again around spring. These wetlands play a vital role in sustaining a large population of wintering, staging and breeding birds.

Hokersar is {{convert|14|km|abbr=on}} north of Srinagar, and is a world class wetland spread over {{convert|13.75|km2|abbr=on}} including lake and [[Marsh|marshy area]]. It is the most accessible and well-known of Kashmir's [[wetlands]] which include Hygam, Shalibug and Mirgund. A record number of migratory birds have visited Hokersar in recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/migratory-birds-flock-avian-paradise/article5331924.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Migratory birds flock avian paradise|date=9 November 2013|access-date=22 June 2017|author=Ahmed Ali Fayyaz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109140840/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/migratory-birds-flock-avian-paradise/article5331924.ece|archive-date=9 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Birds found in Hokersar are migratory [[duck]]s and [[geese]] which include [[brahminy duck]], [[tufted duck]], [[gadwall]], [[garganey]], [[greylag goose]], [[mallard]], [[common merganser]], [[northern pintail]], [[common pochard]], [[ferruginous pochard]], [[red-crested pochard]], [[ruddy shelduck]], [[northern shoveller]], [[common teal]], and [[Eurasian wigeon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Three lakh migratory birds throng Kashmir Valley|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/three-lakh-migratory-birds-throng-kashmir-valley/article21024594.ece|work=The Hindu|date=28 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Migratory birds keep date with Kashmir valley again|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/migratory-birds-keep-date-with-kashmir-valley-again-680213|work=The Tribune|date=9 November 2018}}</ref>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Srinagar has a four-season [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') with moderately hot summers and cool winters. The valley is surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides. Due to influence from Himalayan [[rain shadow]] and [[western disturbance]]s, Srinagar has year-round precipitation; the spring season is the wettest while autumn is the driest. The region also has less rain from the [[Monsoon#Southwest monsoon|southwest monsoon]] in the summer due to lying in the leeward side of the rain shadow which reduces these winds from the south. Winters are colder in the region than most areas with monsoon climates due to these influences and its elevation,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mahajan |first1=Anand |title=India & World Geography |date=29 April 2023 |publisher=YCT Expert Team |page=80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KaYjEAAAQBAJ&dq=srinagar+rain+shadow+western+depression&pg=PA80}}</ref> resulting in higher temperature variations similar to [[continental climate]]s.

Moderate to heavy snowfall occurs in winter and the [[Jammu–Srinagar National Highway|highway]] connecting Srinagar with the rest of India faces frequent blockades due to icy roads, landslides and avalanches. Daily maximum temperatures average {{convert|7.1|°C|1}} in January and drop below freezing point at night. Summers are warm to hot, slightly moderated from its elevation, with a July daytime average of {{convert|30.0|°C|1}}. The average annual rainfall is around {{convert|697.5|mm}}. The highest temperature reliably recorded is {{convert|38.3|°C}} recorded on 10 July 1946, and the lowest is {{convert|-20.0|°C}} recorded on 6 February 1895.<ref name="NCEI"/>
<div class="center">{{Weather box
| location = Srinagar (1991–2020, extremes 1893–2020)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 17.2
| Feb record high C = 20.6
| Mar record high C = 28.3
| Apr record high C = 31.1
| May record high C = 36.4
| Jun record high C = 37.8
| Jul record high C = 38.3
| Aug record high C = 36.7
| Sep record high C = 35.0
| Oct record high C = 33.9
| Nov record high C = 24.5
| Dec record high C = 18.3
| year record high C = 38.3
| Jan high C = 7.1
| Feb high C = 10.5
| Mar high C = 15.5
| Apr high C = 20.6
| May high C = 24.7
| Jun high C = 28.5
| Jul high C = 30.0
| Aug high C = 29.7
| Sep high C = 27.6
| Oct high C = 23.0
| Nov high C = 15.9
| Dec high C = 9.9
| year high C = 20.2
| Jan mean C = 2.5
| Feb mean C = 5.5
| Mar mean C = 10.0
| Apr mean C = 14.3
| May mean C = 18.0
| Jun mean C = 21.6
| Jul mean C = 24.2
| Aug mean C = 23.7
| Sep mean C = 20.0
| Oct mean C = 14.4
| Nov mean C = 8.3
| Dec mean C = 4.0
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = −1.9
| Feb low C = 0.7
| Mar low C = 4.3
| Apr low C = 7.9
| May low C = 11.2
| Jun low C = 15.0
| Jul low C = 18.4
| Aug low C = 17.8
| Sep low C = 13.1
| Oct low C = 6.2
| Nov low C = 1.2
| Dec low C = −1.6
| year low C = 7.5
| Jan record low C = -14.4
| Feb record low C = -20.0
| Mar record low C = -6.9
| Apr record low C = 0.0
| May record low C = 1.0
| Jun record low C = 7.2
| Jul record low C = 10.3
| Aug record low C = 9.5
| Sep record low C = 4.4
| Oct record low C = -1.7
| Nov record low C = -7.8
| Dec record low C = -12.8
| year record low C = -20.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 63.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 85.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 104.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 91.8
| May precipitation mm = 63.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 46.4
| Jul precipitation mm = 64.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 64.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 37.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 21.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 27.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 27.2
| year precipitation mm = 697.5
| unit precipitation days =  0.3 mm
| Jan precipitation days  =8.5
| Feb precipitation days  =9.9
| Mar precipitation days  =11
| Apr precipitation days  =11.1
| May precipitation days  =10.9
| Jun precipitation days  =8.2
| Jul precipitation days  =9.2
| Aug precipitation days  =8.9
| Sep precipitation days  =5.5
| Oct precipitation days  =3.4
| Nov precipitation days  =3.7
| Dec precipitation days  =4.6
| year precipitation days =
| Jan rain days = 5.4
| Feb rain days = 6.0
| Mar rain days = 7.2
| Apr rain days = 7.0
| May rain days = 5.9
| Jun rain days = 4.1
| Jul rain days = 5.0
| Aug rain days = 5.4
| Sep rain days = 3.1
| Oct rain days = 2.0
| Nov rain days = 2.2
| Dec rain days = 2.6
| year rain days = 55.9
| time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 67
| Feb humidity = 59
| Mar humidity = 52
| Apr humidity = 49
| May humidity = 49
| Jun humidity = 47
| Jul humidity = 53
| Aug humidity = 55
| Sep humidity = 52
| Oct humidity = 54
| Nov humidity = 62
| Dec humidity = 68
| year humidity = 55
| Jan sun = 74.4
| Feb sun = 101.7
| Mar sun = 136.4
| Apr sun = 189.0
| May sun = 238.7
| Jun sun = 246.0
| Jul sun = 241.8
| Aug sun = 226.3
| Sep sun = 228.0
| Oct sun = 226.3
| Nov sun = 186.0
| Dec sun = 108.5
| year sun = 2203.1
| Jand sun = 2.4
| Febd sun = 3.6
| Mard sun = 4.4
| Aprd sun = 6.3
| Mayd sun = 7.7
| Jund sun = 8.2
| Juld sun = 7.8
| Augd sun = 7.3
| Sepd sun = 7.6
| Octd sun = 7.3
| Novd sun = 6.2
| Decd sun = 3.5
| yeard sun = 6.0
| Jan uv = 3
| Feb uv = 5
| Mar uv = 7
| Apr uv = 10
| May uv = 12
| Jun uv = 12
| Jul uv = 12
| Aug uv = 12
| Sep uv = 9
| Oct uv = 6
| Nov uv = 4
| Dec uv = 3
| source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Srinagar Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 721–722
| access-date = 18 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDcityextremes2>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230101061732/https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| archive-date = 1 January 2023
| title = Climatological Tables 1991–2020
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| access-date = 1 January 2023
| page = 21}}</ref> NOAA(precipitation-extremes<ref name="NCEI">{{cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020: Srinagar |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/India/XLS/SRINAGAR_42027.xlsx |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=[[NOAA]] |access-date=22 March 2024 |format=XLSX |quote=WMO Station Number: 42027}}</ref>)Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005–2015)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/india/srinagar/climate
|title = Climate & Weather Averages in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
|publisher = Time and Date
|access-date = 19 July 2022}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (sun 1945–1988),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_420270_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir / Indische Union
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 7 April 2017}}</ref> Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)<ref name=TCC1>
{{cite web
| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=42027
| title = Normals Data: Srinagar – India Latitude: 34.08°N Longitude: 74.83°E Height: 1585 (m)
| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
| access-date = 1 December 2022}}</ref> Weather Atlas,<ref name="Weather Atlas">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/india/srinagar-climate
| title = Climate and monthly weather forecast Srinagar, India
| publisher = Weather Atlas
| access-date = 13 June 2022
}}</ref> Ultraviolet<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weather2Travel.com |title=Srinagar weather by month: monthly climate averages {{!}} India |url=https://www.weather2travel.com/india/srinagar/climate/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Weather2Travel.com}}</ref>

| source = 
| Jan dew point C = -2
| Feb dew point C = 1
| Mar dew point C = 3
| Apr dew point C = 7
| May dew point C = 11
| Jun dew point C = 14
| Jul dew point C = 17
| Aug dew point C = 17
| Sep dew point C = 13
| Oct dew point C = 8
| Nov dew point C = 3
| Dec dew point C = 0
}}</div>Srinagar has been ranked 43rd best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2024 |title=Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024 |url=https://prana.cpcb.gov.in/ncapServices/robust/fetchFilesFromDrive/Swachh_Vayu_Survekshan_2024_Result.pdf |website=Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Market boats on Mar Canal, Srinigar.jpg|thumb|Market boats on [[Nallah Mar|Mar Canal]] in Srinagar]]
In November 2011, the [[City Mayors Foundation]]{{spaced ndash}}an advocacy think tank{{spaced ndash}}announced that Srinagar was the 92nd fastest growing urban areas in the world in terms of economic growth, based on actual data from 2006 onwards and projections to 2020.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/Nov/18/srinagar-among-100-fastest-growing-cities-in-world-37.asp |title=Srinagar among 100 fastest growing cities in world |publisher=Greater Kashmir.com |date=17 November 2011 |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120170409/http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/Nov/18/srinagar-among-100-fastest-growing-cities-in-world-37.asp |archive-date=20 November 2011 |url-status=live  }}
</ref>

===Tourism===
Srinagar is one of several places that have been called the "[[list of places called Venice of the East|Venice of the East]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VloVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6789,6379670&dq=srinagar+venice+of+the+east&hl=en|title=The Sydney Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search|work=google.com|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117043656/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VloVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6789,6379670&dq=srinagar+venice+of+the+east&hl=en|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/585827282.html?dids=585827282:585827282&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+13%2C+1965&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Fabled+Kashmir%3A+An+Emerald+Set+Among+Pearls&pqatl=google |title=Fabled Kashmir: An Emerald Set Among Pearls |publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com |date=13 June 1965 |access-date=26 July 2010 |first=James |last=Holloway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025174641/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/585827282.html?dids=585827282:585827282&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+13,+1965&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Fabled+Kashmir:+An+Emerald+Set+Among+Pearls&pqatl=google |archive-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=The Earthtimes |url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/112701.html |title=Can Kashmir become 'Venice of the East' again? &#124; Earth Times News |publisher=Earthtimes.org |date=24 September 2007 |access-date=26 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914190739/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/112701.html |archive-date=14 September 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Lakes around the city include [[Dal Lake]]{{spaced ndash}}noted for its [[houseboat]]s{{spaced ndash}} and [[Nigeen Lake]]. Apart from Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake, [[Wular Lake]] and [[Manasbal Lake]] both lie to the north of Srinagar. Wular Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia.
[[File:WLM@J&K-Pari Mahal.jpg|thumb|[[Pari Mahal]]]]
Srinagar has some [[Mughal gardens]], forming a part of those laid by the Mughal emperors across the Indian subcontinent. Those of Srinagar and its close vicinity include [[Chashma Shahi]] (the royal fountains); Pari Mahal (the palace of the fairies); [[Nishat Bagh]] (the garden of spring); [[Shalimar Gardens (Jammu and Kashmir)|Shalimar Bagh]]; the Naseem Bagh.
[[Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden]] is a botanical garden in the city, set up in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discoveredindia.com/jammu-and-kashmir/attractions/parks-and-gardens/jawaharlal-nehru-memorial-botanical-garden.htm|title=Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden|publisher=discoveredindia.com|access-date=21 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231132139/http://www.discoveredindia.com/jammu-and-kashmir/attractions/parks-and-gardens/jawaharlal-nehru-memorial-botanical-garden.htm|archive-date=31 December 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The Indian government has included these gardens under "Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir" in the tentative list for sites to be included in [[world Heritage sites]].

The [[Sher Garhi Palace]] houses administrative buildings from the state government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://srinagar.nic.in/places-of-interest/|title=Places of Interest|publisher=Government of Jammu & Kashmir|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Another palace of the Maharajas, the [[Gulab Bhavan]], has now become the Lalit Grand Palace hotel.<ref name="India Today – 25Aug2011 – One hundred years of splendour">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/one-hundred-years-of-splendour/1/149122.html|title=One hundred years of splendour|last=Saxton|first=Aditi|date=25 August 2011|work=[[India Today]]|access-date=24 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124015944/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/one-hundred-years-of-splendour/1/149122.html|archive-date=24 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Shankaracharya Temple]] lies on a hill top in the middle of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jktdc.in/contact-us/99.html|title=Shankaracharya Temple|publisher=jktdc.in|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231122822/http://jktdc.in/contact-us/99.html|archive-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>

==Places of Interest==

===In and Around Srinagar===
*[[Dal Lake]] and its [[Houseboat]]s
*[[Nigeen Lake]]
*[[Anchar Lake]] and [[Shallabugh Wetland]], a [[Ramsar site]]
*[[Hokersar|Hokersar Wetland Ramsar Site]]
*[[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Shalimar Garden]]
*[[Nishat Bagh|Nishat Garden]]
*[[Chashme Shahi|Chashme Shahi Garden]]
*[[Pari Mahal]]
*[[Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden]]
*[[Hari Parbat]]
*[[Dachigam National Park]]
*[[Shankaracharya Temple]]
*[[Hazratbal Shrine]]
*[[Jamia Masjid, Srinagar|Jama Masjid]]
*[[Khanqah-e-Moula]]
*[[Pathar Mosque]]
*[[Aali Mosque]]
*[[Burzahom archaeological site|Burzahom Neolithic and Chalcolithic Site]]
*[[Zayn al-Abidin (sultan of Kashmir)|Zain-ul-Abidin's Tomb]]
*[[Sher Garhi Palace]]
*[[Gulab Bhavan]]
*[[Pandrethan|Meruvarddhanaswami Temple, Pandrethan]]
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Dal Lake In Mid Summer.jpg|Dal Lake in winter
File:Dal LakeVR.jpg|[[Shikara]]s on [[Dal Lake]]
File:Srinagar floating market.jpg|Floating vegetable market on Dal Lake, the only of its kind in India
File:Chashme Shahi kashmir.jpg|Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden
File:Shalimar Bagh 1.jpg|[[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Shalimar Bagh]]
File:Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar.jpg|[[Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar|Shalimar Mughal Garden]]
File:Hari Parbat Fort, Srinagar (5).jpg|Hari Parbat Fort
File:WLM@J&K-Kathi Darwaza.jpg|[[Kathi Darwaza|Kathi Darwaza gate]]
</gallery>

===Near Srinagar===
*[[Wular Lake]], a [[Ramsar site]] – 46&nbsp;km.
*[[Manasbal Lake]] – 25&nbsp;km.
*[[Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve]], a [[Ramsar site]] – 34&nbsp;km.
*[[Pahalgam]] – 85&nbsp;km.
*[[Gulmarg]] – 52&nbsp;km.
*[[Anantnag]] – 54&nbsp;km.
*[[Martand Sun Temple]], near [[Anantnag]] – 62&nbsp;km. 
*[[Achabal Gardens]], near [[Anantnag]] – 63&nbsp;km.
*[[Verinag]] – 86&nbsp;km.

==Government and politics==
The city is run by the [[Srinagar Municipal Corporation]] (SMC) under the leadership of a [[Mayor of Srinagar|Mayor]]. The Srinagar district along with the adjoining [[Budgam]] and [[Ganderbal]] districts forms the [[Srinagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Srinagar Parliamentary seat]].Established in 1886, Srinagar Municipal Corporation comprises 74 wards and stretches over 227.34 sqkm within boundaries from  North up to Pandach-Nagbal, North-East up to Harwan Bridge, East up to Zawoora-Zaafraan Colony, South-East up to Mahjoor Nagar-Natipora,  South up to Baagh-i-Mahtaab, South-West up to Hamdaaniyah Colony, West up to Sozieth-Lawaypora and North-West up to Mujgund-Abdullahpora. SMC is organized into two wings - The deliberative wing (Mayor) and the Executive wing (Commissioner). The last elections were held in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=HomeServices - SMC |url=https://www.smcsrinagar.in/portal/smc |website=smcsrinagar.in |access-date=21 December 2024}}</ref>

SMC is involved in Sanitation, Town Planning, Revenue, Birth and Death, Development and Grievances. SMC has been successful in its efforts of e-Governance, Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste,  Beautification and Creation of Green Spaces and  Improvement of Drainage Networks. The organization has, however, failed to prevent Dood Ganga Pollution for which the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), on the direction of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has imposed a penalty as Environmental Compensation of more than Rs 41.67 crores on Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).<ref>{{cite news |title=NGT imposes penalty on SMC |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/city/ngt-imposes-penalty-on-smc/ |work=Greater Kashmir |date=24 October 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024}}</ref>

===Stray dog controversy===
{{update section|date=December 2023}}

Srinagar's city government attracted brief international attention in March 2008 when it announced a mass poisoning program aimed at eliminating the city's population of stray dogs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23500493|title=Indian authorities to poison 100K stray dogs – World news – South and Central Asia – NBC News|publisher=NBC News|date=6 March 2008 |access-date=7 March 2008}}</ref> Officials estimate that 100,000 stray dogs roam the streets of the city, which has a human population of just under 900,000. In a survey conducted by an NGO, it was found that some residents welcomed this program, saying the city was overrun by dogs, while critics contended that more humane methods should be used to deal with the animals.

The situation has become alarming with local news reports coming up at frequent intervals highlighting people, especially children being mauled by street dogs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/May/12/stray-dogs-maul-over-3-dozen-55.asp|title=Stray dogs maul over 3 dozen|date=12 May 2012|newspaper=Greater Kashmir|access-date=21 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518122626/http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/May/12/stray-dogs-maul-over-3-dozen-55.asp|archive-date=18 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Demographics==

{{Historical population
| source = <ref name="censusindia1">{{cite web |url=http://www.populstat.info/Asia/indiat.htm |title=Historical Census of India |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217053707/http://www.populstat.info/Asia/indiat.htm|archive-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 1901 | 122618
| 1911 | 126344
| 1921 | 141735
| 1931 | 173573
| 1941 | 207787
| 1951 | 246522
| 1961 | 285257
| 1971 | 415271
| 1981 | 594775
| 1991 | 
| 2001 | 935,764
| 2011 | 1180570
|align=center}}

{{Bar box
|title=Religion in Srinagar (2011)<ref name="census2011-C01">{{cite report |title=C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW01C-01%20MDDS.XLS |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|float = left
|bars=
{{Bar percent|[[Kashmiri Muslims|Islam]]|green|95.97}}
{{Bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|2.75}}
{{Bar percent|[[Sikhism]]|darkkhaki|0.92}}
{{Bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.36}}
}}

As of 2011 census Srinagar urban agglomeration had a population of 1,264,202.<ref name=jkcensus11>{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/jammu+and+kashmir.html | title = Jammu and Kashmir Population Census data 2011 | publisher = [[2011 census of India]] | access-date = 7 December 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121218061646/http://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/jammu+and+kashmir.html | archive-date = 18 December 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> Both the city and the urban agglomeration has average literacy rate of approximately 70%.<ref name=jkcensus11/><ref name=census11lr>{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/literacy.php | title = Literacy in India | publisher = 2011 census of India | access-date = 6 December 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181128085703/https://www.census2011.co.in/literacy.php | archive-date = 28 November 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref> The child population of both the city and the urban agglomeration is approximately 12% of the total population.<ref name=jkcensus11/> Males constituted 53.0% and females 47% of the population. The sex ratio in the city area is 888 females per 1000 males, whereas in the urban agglomeration it is 880 per 1,000.<ref name=jkcensus11/><ref name=census11sr>{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/sexratio.php | title = Sex Ratio of India | publisher = 2011 census of India | access-date = 7 December 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227054841/http://www.census2011.co.in/sexratio.php | archive-date = 27 February 2014 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The predominant religion of Srinagar is Islam with 96% of the population being Muslim. Hindus constitute the second largest religious group representing 2.75% of the population, nearly all migrant workers from outside Kashmir as most local Kashmiri Hindus fled the city in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-04-05 |title=Kashmiri Hindus: Driven out and insignificant |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35923237 |access-date=2025-01-01 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The remaining population constitutes Sikhs, Buddhist and Jains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/1-srinagar.html|title=2011 Census demographics of Srinagar|access-date=24 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607103319/http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/1-srinagar.html|archive-date=7 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Ishaq |date=1 August 1996 |title=Kashmiri Muslims: Social and Identity Consciousness |journal=Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East |volume=16 |issue=2 |page=36 |doi=10.1215/1089201X-16-2-25 |issn=1089-201X|doi-access=free }}</ref> Kashmiri Hindus constituted 21.9% of Srinagar's population as per 1891 census and 2.75% as per 2011 census.<ref name="1891Census" />

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages of Srinagar district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C16"/>
|label1 = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] |value1 = 95.14 |color1 = lightgreen
|label2 = [[Hindi]] |value2 = 1.49 |color2 = orange
|label3 = Others |value3 = 3.37 |color3 = grey
}}

At the time of the 2011 census, 95.14% spoke [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] and 1.49% [[Hindi]] as their first language.<ref name="census2011-C16">{{cite report |title=Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10227/download/13339/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-0100.XLSX |publisher = [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Lapangan terbang Srinagar 2.jpg|thumb|right|Srinagar International Airport]]
[[File:A DEMU passenger train at Srinagar Railway Station Platform.jpg|thumb|A passenger train at Srinagar Railway Station]]

===Road===
The city is served by many highways, including [[National Highway 1A (India)|National Highway 1A]] and [[National Highway 1D (India)|National Highway 1D]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.newkerala.com/map-of-national-highways-in-india.php|title=Road Map with National Highways of India|access-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225072045/http://maps.newkerala.com/map-of-national-highways-in-india.php|archive-date=25 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:ENGINEER DIRECTING PATCH MACADAMISATION.jpg|thumb|Engineer directing patch [[macadam]]isation of a road in Srinagar]]

===Air===
[[Srinagar Airport|Srinagar International Airport]] has regular domestic flights to [[Leh]], [[Jammu (city)|Jammu]], [[Chandigarh]], [[Delhi]] and [[Mumbai]] and occasional international flights. An expanded terminal capable of handling both domestic and international flights was inaugurated on 14 February 2009 with [[Air India Express]] flights to [[Dubai]]. Hajj flights also operate from this airport to [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/Srinagar.jsp|title=Srinagar International Airport|publisher=Airports Authority of India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107103358/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/Srinagar.jsp|archive-date=7 January 2014}}</ref>

===Rail===
{{main|Srinagar railway station|Srinagar Metro}}
Srinagar is a station on the {{convert|119|km|abbr=on|0}} long [[Jammu–Baramulla line|Banihal-Baramulla line]] that started in October 2009 and connects Baramulla to Srinagar, [[Anantnag]] and [[Qazigund]]. The railway track also connects to [[Banihal]] across the [[Pir Panjal]] mountains through a newly constructed 11&nbsp;km long Banihal tunnel, and subsequently to the Indian railway network after a few years. It takes approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds for a train to cross the tunnel. It is the longest rail tunnel in India. This railway system, proposed in 2001, is not expected to connect the Indian railway network until 2017 at the earliest, with a cost overrun of 55 billion INR.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kashmir rail by 2017-end, cost overrun Rs 5,500 cr|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/kashmir-rail-by-2017end-cost-overrun-rs-5500-cr/article4170881.ece|access-date=1 March 2013|newspaper=Business Line|location=Chennai|date=6 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210063937/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/kashmir-rail-by-2017end-cost-overrun-rs-5500-cr/article4170881.ece|archive-date=10 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
The train also runs during heavy snow.

There are proposals to develop a metro system in the city.<ref>{{cite news|date=5 August 2013|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/now-metro-set-to-roll-into-kashmir/1151420/|title=Now, metro set to roll into Kashmir|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305052624/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/now-metro-set-to-roll-into-kashmir/1151420/|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The feasibility report for the [[Srinagar Metro]] is planned to be carried out by [[Delhi Metro Rail Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hassan|first=Ishfaq-ul|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-omar-abdullah-plans-metro-in-jammu-srinagar-1346641|title=Omar Abdullah plans metro in Jammu, Srinagar|date=12 February 2010|newspaper=DNA|quote="We will soon have the feasibility of metro services in both cities analysed by experts. Ideally, we would like DMRC to send a team and prepare a project report," minister for urban development Nasir Aslam Wani said.|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030090724/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-omar-abdullah-plans-metro-in-jammu-srinagar-1346641|archive-date=30 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cable car===
{{Srinagar Cable Car}}
In December 2013, the 594m cable car allowing people to travel to the shrine of the Sufi saint [[Hamza Makhdoom]] on [[Hari Parbat]] was unveiled. The project is run by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC), and has been envisioned for 25 years. An investment of 300 million INR was made, and it is the second cable car in Kashmir after the [[Gulmarg Gondola]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmir-gets-a-dream-ropeway/article5494377.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Kashmir gets a dream ropeway | date=24 December 2013 | access-date=24 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225154606/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmir-gets-a-dream-ropeway/article5494377.ece | archive-date=25 December 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Boat===
While popular since the 7th century, water transport is now mainly confined to [[Dal Lake]], where [[shikara]]s (wooden boats) are used for local transport and tourism. There are efforts to revive transportation on the River [[Jhelum River|Jhelum]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120507/jsp/nation/story_15460591.jsp#.Urm2EtJDtBM | location=Calcutta, India | work=The Telegraph | first=Muzaffar | last=Raina | title=Boat down the Jhelum | date=7 May 2012 | access-date=24 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225103228/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120507/jsp/nation/story_15460591.jsp#.Urm2EtJDtBM | archive-date=25 December 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Culture==

Like the territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], Srinagar too has a distinctive blend of cultural heritage. Holy places in and around the city depict the historical cultural and religious diversity of the city as well as the Kashmir valley.

===Places of worship===
There are many religious holy places in Srinagar. They include:
* [[Hazratbal Shrine]], only domed mosque in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://travelinos.com/churches/n75-25356-Hazratbal_Shrine |title=Hazratbal Shrine |work=travelinos.com |year=2013 |access-date=23 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605113421/http://travelinos.com/churches/n75-25356-Hazratbal_Shrine |archive-date=5 June 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
* [[Jama Masjid, Srinagar]], one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir
* [[Khanqah-e-Moula]], first Islamic centre in Kashmir
* [[Aali Masjid]], in Eidgah Locality
* [[Hari Parbat]] hill hosts shrine of Sharika Mata temple
* [[Zeashta Devi Shrine]] a holy shrine for [[Kashmiri Pandits|Kashmiri Hindus]]
* [[Shankaracharya temple]]
* [[Hari Parbat#Gurdwaras|Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi]]
* [[Pathar Masjid]]
* [[All Saints Church, Srinagar]]
* [[Holy Family Catholic Church (Srinagar)]]

Additional structures include the [[Dastgeer Sahib]] shrine, Mazar-e-Shuhada, [[Roza Bal]] shrine, [[Khanqah-e-Moula|Khanqah of Shah Hamadan]], [[Pathar Masjid]] ("The Stone Mosque"), [[Hamza Makhdoom]] shrine, tomb of the mother of Zain-ul-abidin, tomb of Pir Haji Muhammad, Akhun Mulla Shah Mosque, cemetery of Baha-ud-din Sahib, tomb and Madin Sahib Mosque at Zadibal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://koausa.org/Monuments/Chapter4.html |title=Chapter 4 of ''Ancient Monuments of Kashmir'' by Ram Chandra Kak (1933) |access-date=1 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111035955/http://koausa.org/Monuments/Chapter4.html |archive-date=11 November 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Apart from these, dozens of smaller mosques are located all over the city. Several temples and temple ghats are located on the banks of river Jhelum in Srinagar, including Shurayar temple, Gadhadhar temple, Pratapishwar temple, Ganpatyar Ganesh temple, Purshyar temple, Sheshyar temple, Raghunath Mandir, Durga Patshala and Dhar temple.<ref>{{cite web|title=Srinagar- The city of Bridges (Version 2.0)|work=Jammu & Kashmir tourism|date=22 July 2018 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a53YZf69OeA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/a53YZf69OeA| archive-date=30 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Gurdwaras are located in [[Rainawari]], Amira Kadal, Jawahar Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Shaheed Gunj, Maharajpur and Indra Nagar areas of the city. There are three Christian churches in Srinagar.

The Sheikh Bagh Cemetery is a Christian cemetery located in Srinagar that dates from the British colonial era. The oldest grave in the cemetery is that of a British colonel from the 9th Lancers of 1850 and the cemetery is valued for the variety of persons buried there which provides an insight into the perils faced by British colonisers in India.<ref name="Keenan2013">{{cite book|author=Brigid Keenan|title=Travels in Kashmir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oilxiI9uso8C|date=20 May 2013|publisher=Hachette India|isbn=978-93-5009-729-8}}</ref> It was damaged by floods in 2014.<ref>[http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/flood-ravages-srinagars-british-era-buildings Flood ravages Srinagar's British-era buildings.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927054003/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/flood-ravages-srinagars-british-era-buildings |date=27 September 2017 }} Noor-Ul-Qamrain, ''The Sunday Guardian'', 27 September 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2017.</ref> It contains a number of war graves.<ref>[https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/144300/KARACHI%201914-1918%20WAR%20MEMORIAL Karachi 1914–1918 War Memorial.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921225830/https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/144300/KARACHI%201914-1918%20WAR%20MEMORIAL |date=21 September 2018 }} [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]]. Retrieved 9 October 2017.</ref> The notable interments here are [[Robert Thorpe (Kashmir)|Robert Thorpe]]<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/locality/srinagar/grave-kashmirs-first-known-martryr-lies-beneath-rubble-after-floods-43613 Grave of Kashmir's first known martryr lies beneath rubble after floods.]{{Dead link|date=January 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Swati Bhasin, DNA of Srinagar, 10 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2017.</ref> and [[Jim Borst]].

<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Khanqah-e-Moula 01.jpg|[[Khanqah-e-Moula]]
File:Ancient Temple-Hari Parbat-2.JPG|[[Hari Parbat#Hindu temple|Sharika Mata Temple]]
File:Pathar Masjid in Srinagar.jpg|[[Pathar Masjid]]
File:Gurdwara_Chatti_Patshahi_Srinagar.jpg|Gurdwara Chatti Patsahi
</gallery>

===Performing arts===
{{main|Music of Kashmir}}

Kashmiri cuisine is an important part of Srinagar’s Culture. Here, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes can be found. Wazwaan is a multi-course meal generally served at weddings. It is served on beautiful huge Copper plates called tream. Wazwaan is prepared by Male chefs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wazwan |url=https://ethnq.com/wazwan/?srsltid |website=Ethnq |date=4 March 2023 |access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref>

Kahwa is a form of green tea and is made by boiling green tea leaves with local saffron, cinnamon, cardamom and  Kashmiri roses.

Harissa is winter delicacy here generally eaten during chilai kalan ( a period of extreme cold; 40 days from Dec 20 ).Garnished with two wazwaan delicacies along and topped with hot smoking  mustard oil, this is the spicy slow cooked meat usually served with Kashmiri bread Tchot. It is prepared for hours usually overnight and generally eaten in the early cold winter.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Firdous |first=Mehran |date=Jan 12, 2024 |title=Harissa — Kashmir's Winter Staple |url=https://www.whetstonemagazine.com/south-asia-journal/harissa-kashmirs-winter-staple |magazine=Whetstone Magazine |access-date=Jan 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:University Convocation Complex, University of Kashmir.png|thumb|[[University of Kashmir]]]]

{{See also|List of colleges in Srinagar}}
Srinagar is home to various premiere Higher Education Institutes including the [[University of Kashmir]], the [[Cluster University of Srinagar]], [[Central University of Kashmir]] besides the [[National Institute of Technology Srinagar]] formerly known as Regional Engineering College (REC Srinagar). Most of these are among the oldest and earliest Institutions of the country including the [[University of Kashmir]] dating back to 1948 while the [[National Institute of Technology Srinagar]] was established during the second [[Five-Year Plans of India|Five year plan]]. The educational institutions in the City include:

'''Schools'''
* [[Tyndale Biscoe School]]
* [[Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School]]
* [[Burn Hall School]]
* [[Khalsa High School, Srinagar]]
* [[Mallinson Girls School]]
* [[Delhi Public School, Srinagar]]
* [[Woodlands House School]]
* [[Little Angels High School, Srinagar]]
* [[Green Valley Educational Institute]]

'''Medical colleges'''
* [[Government Medical College, Srinagar]]
* [[SMHS Hospital]]
* [[Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences]]

'''Universities'''
* [[University of Kashmir]]
* [[Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir]]
* [[Central University of Kashmir]]
* [[Cluster University of Srinagar]]

'''General degree colleges'''
* [[Amar Singh College]]
* [[Sri Pratap College]]
* [[Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar]]

== Broadcasting ==
Srinagar is broadcasting hub for radio channels in UT which are [[Radio Mirchi]] 98.3FM,<ref>{{cite news |title=FM: Mirchi 98.3 starts operations in Srinagar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/mirchi-98-3-starts-operations-in-srinagar/articleshow/64630395.cms |access-date=30 October 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=18 June 2018}}</ref> [[Red FM 93.5]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Eid-ul-Azha: Red FM launches station in Srinagar |url=http://www.uniindia.com/~/eid-ul-azha-red-fm-launches-station-in-srinagar/India/news/1326138.html |access-date=30 October 2020 |work=uniindia.com |date=21 August 2018}}</ref> and [[AIR Srinagar]]. State television channel [[DD Kashir]] is also broadcast.<ref>{{cite news |title=J&K govt starts tele-classes for Valley students |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/j-k-govt-starts-tele-classes-for-valley-students/story-TPEti3YV33R44IlhArCWuO.html |access-date=30 October 2020 |work=Hindustan Times|date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:RSGC.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar]]]]
The city is home to the [[Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium]], where international cricket matches have been played.<ref name=cricinfo>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/match_results.html?class=2;id=559;type=ground |title=Records / Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar / One-Day Internationals |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813232013/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/match_results.html?class=2%3Bid%3D559%3Btype%3Dground |archive-date=13 August 2014 }}</ref>
The first international match was played in 1983 in which West Indies defeated [[India]] and the last international match was played in 1986 in which [[Australia]] defeated India by six wickets. Since then no international matches have been played in the stadium due to the security situation (although the situation has now improved quite considerably).{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Srinagar has an outdoor stadium namely [[Bakshi Stadium]] for hosting football matches.<ref name=bakshitoi>{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/JK-stadium-hosts-football-match-after-25-year-gap/articleshow/14972629.cms | title = J&K stadium hosts football match after 25-year gap | date = 16 July 2012 | access-date = 7 December 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130511194756/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-16/india/32697338_1_football-clubs-bakshi-stadium-santosh-trophy | archive-date = 11 May 2013 | url-status = live | work = [[The Times of India]] }}</ref> It is named after [[Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad]]. The city has a golf course named [[Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar]] located on the banks of Dal lake, which is considered one of the best golf courses of India.<ref name=golf>{{cite web|title=India|url=http://www.rtj2.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=55&Itemid=37|publisher=Robert Trent Jones – Golf Architects|access-date=21 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212020422/http://www.rtj2.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=55&Itemid=37|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Football is followed by the youth of Srinagar and the [[TRC Turf Ground]] is redeveloped for the particular sport in 2015. Srinagar is home to professional [[association football|football]] club of [[I-League]], [[Real Kashmir FC]] and [[Downtown Heroes FC]] of [[I-League 2]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 December 2022 |title=Downtown Heroes FC management meets AIFF top brass |url=https://kashmirreader.com/2022/12/29/downtown-heroes-fc-management-meets-aiff-top-brass-2/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Kashmir Reader |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114080329/https://kashmirreader.com/2022/12/29/downtown-heroes-fc-management-meets-aiff-top-brass-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There are certain other sports being played but those are away from the main city like in [[Pahalgam]] (Water rafting) and [[Gulmarg]] (skiing).

==Notable people==
* [[Agha Shahid Ali]] (1949–2001)
* [[Bakshi Abdur Rashid]] (1923–1977)
* [[Joanna Lumley]] (1946–present)
* [[Mohammad Subhan Hajam]] (1910–1962), Kashmiri barber, social activist
* [[Reshma of Kashmir|Reshma]] (1951/1952–2022), singer and transgender activist

== See also ==
* [[Kashmir conflict]]
* [[Downtown (Srinagar)]]
* [[Kashmir Shaivism]]
* [[List of State Protected Monuments in Jammu and Kashmir]]
* [[List of colleges in Srinagar]]
* [[Lal Chowk]]
* [[Karan Nagar]]

==References==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation |last=Hamdani |first=Hakim Sameer |year=2021 |title=The Syncretic Traditions of Islamic Religious Architecture of Kashmir (Early 14th–18th Century) |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 978-0-367-55009-7 }}
* Hewson, Eileen. (2008) ''Graveyards in Kashmir India''. Wem, England: Kabristan Archives. {{ISBN|978-1906276072}}
* {{citation |last=Kaul |first=Shonaleeka |title=The Making of Early Kashmir: Landscape and Identity in the Rajatarangini |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-948292-4 |year=2018 |url=https://india.oup.com/product/the-making-of-early-kashmir-9780199482924 }}
* {{citation |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Ishaq |author-link=Mohammad Ishaq Khan |year=1978 |title=History of Srinagar 1846–1947: A Study in Socio-Cultural Change |publisher=Srinagar: Aamir Publications |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TwYKAQAAIAAJ }}
* {{citation |last=Rabbani |first= G. M. |title= Ancient Kashmir: A Historical Perspective |year=1981 |publisher=Srinagar:Gulshan Publishers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUhuAAAAMAAJ }}
* {{citation |first1=Muhammad Ashraf |last1=Wani |first2=Aman Ashraf |last2=Wani |year=2023 |title=The Making of Early Kashmir: Intercultural Networks and Identity Formation |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-032-15830-3 }}
* {{citation |last=Bazaz|first=Prem Nath |author-link=Prem Nath Bazaz|year=1941 |title=Inside Kashmir |publisher=Gulshan Publishers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfhKAAAAIAAJ |isbn= 978-8-186-71457-7 }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* [http://srinagar.nic.in/ Srinagar district administration]
* [http://jammukashmir.nic.in/ Official website of Jammu and Kashmir] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915154945/http://jammukashmir.nic.in/ |date=15 September 2017 }}
* [https://kashmirinsights.com/delhi-to-srinagar-train Delhi to Srinagar train] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408115408/https://kashmirinsights.com/delhi-to-srinagar-train |date=8 April 2019 }}

{{Kashmir Valley}}
{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir topics}}
{{Municipalities of Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Srinagar| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan cities in India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Srinagar district]]
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[[Category:Indian union territory capitals]]
[[Category:Cities in Jammu and Kashmir]]