Delhi to Srinagar by Car

Our family is planning a trip to Srinagar from Delhi, and this will be our first trip to Srinagar. We all prefer taking our own vehicle rather than public transport because it is more convenient. As this would be a long drive I need to know some things which are important for the Delhi to Srinagar by car trip.

1. Exactly how far is Delhi to Srinagar?

2. How long will the drive take if we drove straight from Delhi to Srinagar?

3. If we did have to stop over at which destination should we do so?

4. A list of the things to see in Srinagar would be great to know.

5. Are the road conditions towards Srinagar good?

 

Hello there! Welcome to the forum!

The distance between Delhi to Srinagar is about 900 kms. It depends on the route you take but these are the commonly taken ones:

• Delhi to Srinagar via NH44 - This route is 909 kms and can take 18 hours or more. This is also a route with tolls.

• Delhi to Srinagar via NH44 and NH144 - This route is about 962 kms and can take 20 hours or more to reach Srinagar. This route have tolls as well.

The journey from Delhi to Srinagar is about 18 hours to 20 hours. It depends on what route you take and how many stopovers you have on the way. It also depends on the traffic during that day.

Here is the first route you can take, Route No. 1 via NH44:

• Delhi > Sonipat > Panipat > Kurukshetra > Ludhiana > Jalandhar > Pathankot > Jammu > Sunderbani > Rajpuri > Shopian > Srinagar.

Stopovers can either be at Pathankot or Jammu. Pathankot is about 479 kms from Delhi and you can reach it within 7 hours or more. On the other hand, Jammu is about 587 kms from Delhi. You can reach it within 9 hours from Delhi. Both these destinations have budget accommodations and restaurants so staying there for a night won't be a problem.

Then, the second route you can take, Route No. 2 via NH44 and NH144:

• Delhi > Meham > Barwala > Tohana > Malerkotla > Ludhiana > Jalandhar > Dasuya > Pathankot > Jammu > Sunderbani > Rajpuri > Shopian > Srinagar.

Again, stopovers can either be at Pathankot or Jammu as well.

Here are the major tourist attractions in Srinagar:

Lakes

• Dal Lake - This is also known as Srinagar's Jewel. It is the second largest lake in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Srinagar. Aside from being a tourist spot, the lake is also a fishing spot for locals. Harvesting of food and fodder plants are also done on the lake. For tourists, they can enjoy boating and canoeing in the lake. Snow skiing is done as well when the lake is frozen during the winter. Staying in a houseboat nearby the Dal Lake is also an experience in itself. However, unlike the houseboats in Kerala, the houseboats in Dal Lake doesn't cruise along the lake.

• Nagin Lake - This is also known as Nigeen Lake. This is considered as a part of the Dal Lake, as they are connected by a narrow strait. The lake is also connected to the Khushal Sar and Gil Sar via a channel named Nallah Amir Khan. The name Nigeen was derived from Nageena which means Jewel in the Ring, the name was given as the lake is surrounded by willow trees all around.

• Wular Lake - This is further from Srinagar and can be found at Bandipora, about 62 kms from the former. This is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. The Wular Lake is an important source of fishes for the locals of the district. Boating facilities are available here and it's also a great place for birdwatchers as resident and migratory birds can be found here.

Gardens

• Shalimar Bagh - This is also known as Farah Baksh. This is the largest Mughal garden in the state, connected to the Dal Lake by a narrow channel. This garden was built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1619. Originally though, a small cottage was built here by Pravarsena II and named it the Shalimar. Shalimar means Abode of Love. On the other hand, the garden built by Jahangir was named Farah Baksh, meaning The Delightful. He built the garden for his wife. The garden has three terraces with elaborate designs. A unique feature in the Shalimar Bagh is its arched niches, behind the waterfalls in the gardens. Back then, these niches were lighted with oil lamps which give them a wonderful appearance specially at night time. Now though, the niches hold flower pots that reflect their colours in the waterfalls.

• Nishat Bagh - This is the second largest Mughal garden in the state. The name Nishat Bagh means Garden of Joy. The garden was built by 1633 by Asif Khan and it is located on the bank of the Dal Lake. The garden has 12 terraces representing the 12 Zodiac signs. Amongst all the terraces, the 2nd terrace is considered as the most exquisite with its 23 niches just behind the cascade of the waterfall.

• Chashma Shahi - This is also known as the Royal Spring. This was built in 1632 AD by Ali Mardan Khan. The garden is near the Raj Bhawan. The garden is built around a spring discovered by Rupa Bhawani. The spring cascades into terraces and is divided into three sections: an aqueduct, a waterfall and fountains.

• Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden - This was built in 1969, as dedicated to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The garden has four main sections: the Plant Introduction Centre, the Research Section, the Recreational Garden and the Botanical Garden. The garden houses many species of plants and trees.

• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden - This is the largest tulip garden in Asia at about 12 hectares of land. You can find it on the foothills of the Zabarwan Range. There are about 70 different types of tulips in this garden. It was just opened in the year 2007, as the government aims to promote eco-tourism and horticulture in the region.

Religious

• Dastgeer Sahib - This is Sufi shrine dedicated to Abdul Qadir Jelani. It was built in 1806, but it was Khwaja Sanaullah Shawl who expanded it during the year 1877. There are also four more graves inside the shrine, aside from the shrine of Abd Al-Qadir Gilani.

• Pathar Masjid - This is also known as Naev Masheed. You can find this in the left bank of the Jhelum River. The mosque was built by Mughal Empress and wife of Jehangir, Noor Jehan. What sets this mosque apart from the other mosques in the area is its roof is not pyramidal in shape. It also has nine arches, with the middle one being larger than the others.

• Jama Masjid - This mosque was built by Sultan Sikandar Shah Kashmiri Shahmiri in 1394 AD. It is located in Nowhatta, at the old city of Srinagar. It was later extended by Zain-Ul-Abidin, son of Sultan Shikandar. The mosque has about 378 wooden pillars and a 34 feet fountain. The fountain is used for wadu or ablution.

• Shankaracharya Temple - This is also known as the Jyesteshwara Temple. It is located on the Shankaracharya Hill and is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The temple can be traced back to the 200 BC but the present structure is more recent at the 9th Century AD. It was visited by Adi Shankar then, hence the name. Some speculate that the temple was actually a Buddhist temple which was converted into a Hindu temple by Adi Shankar. You need to climb 243 steps before you can reach the temple.

• Hazratbal Shrine - This is a Muslim shrine in Hazratbal. It holds the relic named Moi-e-Muqqadas, believed by many Muslims to be a hair of the prophet Muhammad. Hazrat means respected and bal means place, hence its name means respected place. According to legends, the relic was brought to India by Syed Abdullah. After Syed Abdullah died, his son sold the relic to Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Eshai. Upon knowing about this, Aurangzeb seized the relic from Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Eshai and had him imprisoned. Aurangzeb realised his mistake but it was too late as Khjawa has died already in prison. After some time, the relic was given to his daughter, Inayat Begum, who initiated the building of the shrine.

• Kheer Bhawani Temple - The temple is located in the village of Tul Mul, 14 kms away from Srinagar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhawani and her devotees offer her kheer, hence the name of the temple. There's a spring here and when it changes into a dark colour, it's supposed to signal an inauspicious time in Kashmir. It constantly changes colours though, from pink, orange, red, blue and many other hues.

• Roza Bal - This is a shrine/tomb in the downtown area of Srinagar. It is believed that two graves can be found here: Youza Asouph and Mir Sayyid Naseeruddin. Some believe that the tomb of Jesus is one of these graves though as it contains a rock carving showing feet with crucifixion wounds. Aside from that, the body was supposedly buried according to Jewish traditions and not Muslim traditions.

Peak

• Challi Point - This is just nearby the Dal Lake. The lake as well as the Shankaracharya Hill can be viewed from the Challi Point. Food stalls are all around the area as well, selling mostly kebabs and roasted corns. It is an ideal spot for photography as well as some tranquility.

Historical

• Pari Mahal - This is also known as the Fairies' Abode. It was built by Dara Shikoh during the mid-1600s. It served as a library and as a residence to the king. It was also used as an observatory for teaching astrology and astronomy. Now though, the property is managed by the Government of Srinagar.

• Parihaspora - This is also known as Kani Shahar or City of Stones. The city was built by Lalitaditya Muktapida, with some temples and his residence in it. He moved his capital from Srinagar to Parihaspora. Now though, the city is in ruins already and you can find stones and boulders all around.

• Sri Pratap Singh Museum - This museum houses the artefacts and handicrafts found all over the state. Some artefacts here are sculptures, manuscripts, metals and textiles. But I think it's worth mentioning the manuscript section as it houses several rare publications like the Kashmiri Koran and the Tafseer-i-Kabeer.

• Hari Parbat - This is a hill overlooking Srinagar. You'll find the Durrani Fort, Sharika Temple and the Makhdoom Sahib here. The first fort here was built by Akbar in 1590 although it was never completed. The Durrani Fort was built by Shujah Shah Durrani in 1808. The Sharika Temple is a temple dedicated to the Jagadamba Sharika Bhagawati. The Makhdoom Sahib features the shrine of Hamza Makhdoom, a 16th Century Kashmiri saint.

So here's the route again:

• Delhi > Sonipat > Panipat > Kurukshetra > Ludhiana > Jalandhar > Pathankot > Jammu > Sunderbani > Rajpuri > Shopian > Srinagar.

From Delhi to Jalandhar, this is about 369 kms or about 6 hours of driving. Road conditions are good, most of them are two-laned. This route also has tolls so in general, it's well-maintained.

From Jalandhar to Jammu, this is about 227 kms or about 4 hours of driving. Road conditions are okay although you might encounter some patches along the way.

From Jammu to Srinagar, this is about 325 kms or about 8 hours of driving. About 80% of the highway is hilly though and the rest would be through plains.

I hope this helps.