There is a Harbat Parbat hill found to the western side of the Dal Lakewhich overlooks Srinagar. The Hari Parbat Fort is one of the ancient forts of Jammu and Kashmir which originated in the times of Mughal emperors.

It is a primordial fort which belongs to the Mughals and perched on top of the Sharika Hill. Situated on the embankments of the Dal Lake which sparkles like a quicksilver mirage below the saffron sunbeams and the beautiful shikharas sailing and adorning the water, the fort has mind blowing beauty of its surroundings. The fort has an elevated altitude which provides a picturesque view of the Dal Lake having fringes of Chinar trees and the landscaped Char Chinar islet which stands in the midst having a lush of foliage.

History

The premier fortification on the site was built by Akbar, the Mughal emperor in 1590. The outer wall was constructed by Akbar and the Hari Parbat Fort along with Hari Parbat Fort fort travel, Hari Parbat historical, Hari Parbat Fort tourism etc in 1590 A.D. which cost around one crore and ten lakhs rupees. This large amount was taken from the Royal Treasury. Besides this, there were Indian artisans who came up with their skills in masonry work. There was an inscription in Persian language at the Kathi Darwaza. His intention was to lay down the foundation of a new capital within the fort and named it Nagar Nagor. One can view the ruins of some terraces even today on the side of Pokhiri Bal. This fort was constructed by Azim Khan at the hilltop. But the project was never accomplished. The present fort was constructedin the year 1808 during the reign of Shuja Shah Durrani.

The Hari Parbat Fort is considered to be constructed during the 18th century by Atta Mohammad Khan, a governer of Afghanistan.

Architecture

In the proximity of outer wall, there is a Guru Dwara which has been commemorating the visit of Guru Hargobind Singh. There is an old wall and it stretches to 5-km and has 10 metersheight having two gates, sangin darwaza and the Kathi. The Kathi is the major entrance with having Persian inscriptions all around it.

The fort consists of a temple known for its image of the Sharika Goddess. There is Shrine of Guru Chatti Padshahi outside the southern gate of the fort and a shrine to the sixth Sikh guru as well. It is called as the Chatti Padshahi. The hill, which rises to 122 m from the floor of the valley, and is abounded by orchards of almond trees where people gather for picnics during months of summer and spring.

How to Reach

By Rail

Jammu is the close by railway station to Srinagar, found at 290 km away. The railway station of Jammu is well connected to different major cities of the country by rail services. There is regular and direct train service available from Chennai, Delhi, Trivandrum and Bangalore.

By Air

The domestic airport of Srinagar is connected to major cities of the country. There are regular flights operating between Srinagar and Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Shimla. The International visitors avail the flights from Delhi International airport found at 876 km distance from Srinagar.

By Bus

Several tourist bus service providers run deluxe luxurious bus packages from nearby cities to Srinagar. Srinagar is connected to Chandigarh and Jammu etc. The Packaged tours cost around Rs 4 – Rs 5 per km.

Nearby Places to Visit

Chatti Padshahi

There is shrine of Chatti Padshahi in Jammu & Kashmir dedicated to the sixth Master of Sikhs. Found in the area of Kathi Darwaza of Srinagar in J& K valley, it commemorates the coming of the sixth great Guru of Sikhs. It is said that the Guru traveled from place to place to impart his message of peace and brotherhood. There is a spot found in Srinagar where Chatti Padshahi stands and it is this place where the Sikh Master arrived and stayed back for quite some time.

The dedicated followers of Sikh religion who live in Jammu & Kashmir come to visit the Chatti Padshahi shrine frequently to seek their Guru’s blessings. Visitors from different states of the country are seen visiting this popular shrine of Srinagar just for having a glimpse of this pious aura that surrounds this place.

Dal Lake

Commonly called as 'Srinagar's jewel', the Dal Lake, engrosses over 26 sq.km, and is a famous tourist attraction of Srinagar. Known for its house boats and also the Shikara boat rides, it is set against the glorious Himalayas. The Dal Lake remains to be the subject of different poets along with the artists.

It has matchless beauty picturesque environment which makes it ideal for staying aboard the luxurious houseboats and also enjoy the beautiful evening with sun being shimmering on the lake when it sets. The lake is divided into four areas of four causeways, having Western part of the lake surrounded by many Islands which fascinates the tourists for its serenity and peaceful solitude. It is premier in the world having Wi-Fi connection.

The lake found at a distance of 10 km from Srinagar is easily accessible by taxis in a time period of 20 minutes. Apart from this, it is major spot for various water sports which includes water surfing, Shikara rides, swimming, kayaking, angling, houseboat stays and canoeing. Themajor attractions which may be toured include Char Chinar, Nehru Park, Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh.

Things to Do

Visiting following places inside the fort is a must

Sharika Mata Temple.

The hill is regarded as sacred by the pundits of Kashmir because of the presence of Sharika temple. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Jagadamba Sharika Bhagwati who had 18 arms and is considered as the presiding deity of the city of Srinagar. The goddess is being represented by Swyambhu Shrichakra, also known as Mahashriyantra, which comprise of mystic impressions which are circular in shape and also triangular shaped having a dot (bindu) at the center. It is believed that Sharika Devi is another form of Shakti or Durga Mata.

Makhdoom Sahib

Established below the leading Mughal Fort, is located the shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdum. It is also known as ….Makhdoom Sahib, Sultan –ul-Arifeen and Mehboob-ul-Alam. The shrine is beside the southern side of hill of Koh e Maran. It is one of the major sacred shrine of Kashmir. The double storied, several pillared building displays an amazing architectural style. Not only Muslims but people belonging to different faiths and religions come to visit this shrine all round the year. Makhdoom Sahib, also known as Hazrat Sultanhad has been a Sufi saint.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Srinagar has just two climates, summers which are pleasant and winters which are quite freezing and chilly. There is scanty rainfall found here. So the best suitable time for visiting Srinagar is April –October.
The summer season is best sightseeing and is also the peak time for tourists having a highest temperature of 30°C and lowest of 14°C.

The winter season has minimum temperature of 0°C and highest of about 15°C. There is heavy rain during winters. It is not good for seeing sights as lakes are frozen and even snowfall causes blockages of roads which creates problem for tourists.

Srinagar is a famous tourist spot. People visit during summers for seeing the sights of the lakes and fabulous gardens and also the natural splendor is at its zenith during this season. However the winters are extremely cold as well as freezing and should be avoided for holidaying. There is heavy snowfall during the winter season.

Accomodation

The Lalit Grand Palace

Gupkar Road,
Jammu And Kashmir,
Srinagar

Hotel Broadway

M A Road,
Srinagar - Kashmir

Timings and Tickets

There is a requirement of special permission from Director of Tourism to go to the main fort because it has been transformed to an arsenal.

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