Most visitors never leave the Boulevard, but downtown Srinagar is where the city's history lives: wooden mosques, old bridges over the Jhelum and lanes where crafts are still made by hand. A morning on foot is one of the most rewarding things you can do in Kashmir.
- Start at Jamia Masjid and walk towards the Jhelum.
- Go in the morning, avoiding Friday prayer times at mosques.
- Dress modestly; women should carry a scarf.
- A local guide brings the lanes and crafts alive.
A suggested route
- Jamia Masjid: the city's great mosque, with a courtyard surrounded by hundreds of wooden pillars. Originally founded in the late 14th century and rebuilt several times.
- The lanes of Nowhatta and Zaina Kadal: spice sellers, copper workshops and bakeries.
- Khanqah-e-Moula: a richly decorated wooden shrine on the banks of the Jhelum, dedicated to the Sufi saint Shah-e-Hamadan.
- The Jhelum bridges (kadals): look along the river at old wooden houses with carved balconies.
- Pathar Masjid: a stone mosque across the river, unusual in a city of wooden architecture.
Craft stops
Papier-mâché painters, copper engravers and shawl workshops are scattered through the old city. Visiting a workshop is the best way to understand what you're buying later. Our shopping in Srinagar guide explains what to look for.
Etiquette
- Dress modestly; women should carry a scarf for mosques and shrines.
- Avoid Friday midday prayers.
- Ask before photographing people.
Plan it in
The Kashmir meadows tour includes a day in the old city, and we can add it to any trip. More on the Srinagar places guide and the J&K Department of Tourism site.
Last updated:
About the author: Written and checked by the Travel Wiki planning team, who arrange Kashmir and Ladakh trips every week from Srinagar and Bijbihara.
