Downtown Srinagar — the Shahr-e-Khas — spreads along both banks of the Jhelum, crossed by a series of historic bridges (kadals). This is the city Kashmiris grew up in: tall brick-and-timber houses with carved windows, spice and copperware bazaars, bakeries turning out girda and kulcha at dawn, and some of the most remarkable wooden religious architecture in South Asia.
The two landmarks are the Jamia Masjid, first built by Sultan Sikandar in the late 14th century and rebuilt several times since, with its courtyard and 378 deodar-wood pillars, and the Khanqah of Shah-e-Hamadan on the riverbank, a carved and painted wooden shrine to the Sufi saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. Above them all rises Hari Parbat, crowned by an 18th-century Afghan-era fort.
Top things to do at Srinagar Old City
Jamia Masjid
Walk the quiet cloisters around the green courtyard of Srinagar’s great mosque, its roof carried on towering pillars each cut from a single deodar trunk. Visitors of all faiths are generally welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly, and women should cover their heads.
Khanqah of Shah-e-Hamadan
One of the oldest Muslim shrines in Kashmir, rebuilt in wood in the 18th century, with a pagoda-like spire and papier-mâché panels inside. Non-Muslims are often asked to admire it from the outside; ask respectfully at the entrance.
Hari Parbat, Pather Masjid and the bridges
Drive or walk up to Hari Parbat for views over the city; its slopes hold a Hindu shrine, a Sikh gurdwara and Sufi shrines side by side. Across the river, the grey stone Pather Masjid was commissioned by Nur Jahan in the 1620s. Then stroll between the old kadals for river views.
Taste and shop
Try fresh breads from a kandur (baker), buy copperware in the old bazaars, and watch craftsmen at work on papier-mâché and embroidery. The easiest way to make sense of it all is a local guide — see the old-city walking tours.
How to get to Srinagar Old City
- From Dalgate: 4–6 km, 15–25 minutes by taxi or auto-rickshaw to Nowhatta (Jamia Masjid) or Khanqah.
- On foot: once there, the old city is best on foot — Jamia Masjid to Khanqah is a 20–25 minute walk through the bazaars.
- Guided: join a heritage walking tour to understand the history and etiquette of each shrine.
Insider tips
- Avoid Friday midday prayer time for sightseeing inside the mosques.
- Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered); women should carry a scarf.
- Ask before photographing people, and never photograph inside a shrine without permission.
- Downtown can be affected by occasional closures or restrictions; check locally on the day.
Tours that include Srinagar Old City
These guided trips cover Srinagar Old City or combine easily with a visit:
Walking tour from €27 Srinagar Old City Heritage Walking Tour with Kahwa Tea
A compact guided walk through downtown Srinagar: Sufi shrines, the great wooden mosques, riverside lanes and markets that most visitors only glimpse from a car window, with a stop for saffron-scented kahwa tea.
- Ancient shrines and Mughal-era architecture
- Busy bazaars of downtown Srinagar
- A cup of traditional Kashmiri kahwa
Private city tour from €39 Srinagar: Old City and Mughal Gardens Guided Tour
The best single day in Srinagar. A local guide walks you through the old city — its bazaars, wooden mosques and Hari Parbat fort — then drives you round the Mughal gardens above Dal Lake before a shikara-style boat cruise on the lake itself.
- Old-city heritage walk: bazaars, historic mosques and the fort
- Shalimar, Nishat and the other Mughal gardens by AC car
- Boat ride on Dal Lake to finish the day
