Srinagar (pop. 1,180,570; met. area pop. 1,273,312) is the summer capital of the far northern Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Historically, it has been a major tourist center for the region. However, since the late 1980’s, violence by militants in Kashmir has severely disrupted the tourist trade in Srinagar. Much of the city lies between the Dal Lake and the Jhelum River, in a region of the Himalaya known as the Vale of Kashmir. Tourists attracted to this lush setting can enjoy horseback rides to high mountains and glaciers nearby.
The city is famous for the magnificent houseboats that line the Dal Lake and serve as floating hotels. It is also known for its many gardens, built by the Mughal emperors. These include Chashmashahi Gardens, designed by the emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1627-1658); the Shalimar Gardens, built by Jahangir (reigned 1605-1627) for his wife, Nur Jahan; and Nishat Bagh, outside the city, designed by Nur Jahan’s brother.
Srinagar is a mostly Muslim city, but it has many gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and Hindu temples as well as mosques. The Hazratbal Mosque is important to Muslims because it houses a holy relic, a hair from the prophet Muhammad. The Shankaracharya Temple stands on the top of a hill overlooking the city. The current temple dates from the reign of Jahangir, but there had been a Hindu temple on the site for many centuries before that.
Srinagar is a center for the manufacture of silk and the working of silver and copper. It is near some of the most fertile land in Jammu and Kashmir, famous for its farms, fruit orchards, and flowers. The University of Kashmir is based in Srinagar.
In October 2005, a major earthquake hit north of the city of Islamabad in Pakistan. More than 73,000 people were killed in northern Pakistan and Pakistani-held Kashmir, and at least 1,300 were killed in Indian-held Kashmir. Over 3 million people were left homeless throughout the region.
