Srinagar - Dal Lake, Sri Shankara Temple

Srinagar needs no introduction. We visited Dal Lake, Sri Adhi Shankara Temple (Camera not allowed inside) and Mughal Garden.


This wikipedia link gives more information.

Sri Adhi Shankara Temple

Shankaracharya Temple, assumed to be built by Jaluka, the son of Emperor Ashoka around 200 BC, is an ancient shrine located on the mount Shankaracharya Hill (Takht-e-Suleiman) in Srinagar. This site, situated at a height of about 1100 feet above the city,on a hill,  is believed to be a sacred one and offers splendid view of the down valley and the snowy mountains of the Pir Panjal range. Local folks tell a story that saint Shankaracharya spent some of his time at this site during his visit to Kashmir to revitalize Sanatan Dharma.

There is a cave where Adhi Shankara meditated.
For security reason camera is not allowed here. I took a few snaps enroute.


For more interesting details on this temple click on the wikipedia link here.

Adhi Shankara temple on the hill from the entrance of the Hotel..

This is as far as I could zoom in..

 

This hill also has a small  military watch tower and is highly gaurded..We had a Tamilian Jawan who posed with us..!

Some Bhel puri after return..

 

Dal Lake

The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) and is part of a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), including its floating gardens. ...
...... More on this huge lake here..

Seeing this , We also embarked on a boat ride..But went to choose a peaceful corner..! There are many boating corners along the shore of the lake..!

You thought only Ships float on water... You are wrong..Shops too do..!

PHOTO STORY

PHOTOS-Dal Lake Click HERE

PHOTOS-Adhi Sankara Temple-Click Here

PHOTOS-Green Mount Hotel

VIDEOS

DAL LAKE

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Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Mandir  is one of the holy Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hills of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In Hinduism, Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.

The temple is near the town of  Katra, in the Reasi district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the most revered places of worship in India. The shrine is at an altitude of 5200 feet and a distance of approximately 14 kilometres (8.4 miles) from Katra. Approximately 8 million pilgrims (yatris) visit the temple every year and it is the second most visited religious shrine in India, after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board maintains the shrine. A rail link from Udhampur to Katrais being built to facilitate pilgrimage. The nearest airport is Jammu Airport which has very high flight frequency. All leading domestic airlines have their services to Jammu Airport.

More details can be read from wikipedia link here  and from the Vishno devi Shrine Board website : http://maavaishnodevi.org/

Helicopter service is available to reach the top of the hills upto 7PM. More details on this can be had from the web page here.

Excellent accommodation is available in this place. We stayed at Trikut Bhavan of Shrine Board. See the video of the rooms at the Videos section.

Well it is a pity that cameras are not allowed beyond the entrance at the foothills and hence the trekking path could not be shot..!

Though the road to Vaishno devi is not all that great, the scenery on either side is quite the opposite..!

This is trikut Bhavan - Our accommodation

The Vaishno devi mountain makes a perfect backdrop for the hotel

My room had a perfect view from the balcony..!

Can you see the pathway..Zoomed in from the balcony of my room..

The accommodation at Trikut Bhavan is excellent. The small temple at the centre and the open to the sky terrace is really enchanting..!

From the balcony of my room.. The white dots are the lighting on the path way..

We have never been far away from the south Indian food..Thanks to enterprising Rammohan..!

 Well, no trip ends without shopping.. Does it?

The shopping is never a quick activity in the case of womenfolks.. Ram wondering when the female folks were going to return ?..

In the meanwhile , Let's take a stroll on the streets ..!

I wish they allowed cameras while trekking up..! Sigh..!

It is time to pack for our next destination..!

PHOTOSTORY

Full Set OF PHOTOS

VIDEOS

View of the Vaishno devi at night

Accommodation at Trikut Bhavan of Shrine Board

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