Srinagar is best experienced during the summer months from April to June when the weather is pleasant. You can plan your visit here till October before the onset of winter when it gets too cold to enjoy the locale and heavy snowfall also hampers movement.
Like when traveling in any other part of the world, when in Srinagar, one should not miss the local cuisine of Kashmir. The specialty is a 36-course banquet generally served in weddings and celebrations called the Wazwan. The Wazwan, like the regular Kashmiri simple meal is replete and rich in spices - cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, cloves. Rice is the main preparation in any Kashmiri meal. The
Wazwan, is a meat eater's delight, vegetarian items are minimal. Mutton, chicken and fish are the main preparations and the meal is generally finished off with
Kahva or green tea.
To taste authentic Wazwan, step into
Mughal Darbar and
Ahboos Hotel on Residency Road. If you are staying in a houseboat when in Srinagar, your host will probably prepare Wazwan for you.
There is little variety for other cuisines in Srinagar. Most hotels have good restaurants that serve Indian, Continental and Kashmiri cuisines. Other restaurants are mainly located on the Boulevard, Shervani (Residency) Road, Lambert Lane and Lal Chowk.
Tao Café Caffie Linz on Residency Road and Alka Salka and Hideout are attractive and cozy garden restaurants.
For light snacking and a spread of Indian sweets drop into
Modern, Bikaner Corner and
Shakti at Regal Chowk and
Nathu's on the Boulevard. Jan Bakery and Sultan Bakery are known for their patties, pastries and an assortment of Kashmiri breads like
'sheermal' and
'baqerkhani', without which no Kashmiri breakfast is complete
Srinagar is a handicraft lover's paradise. From roadside trinkets to collector's items, Srinagars traditional handicrafts cater to every taste and budget, making it impossible to leave the town without a piece of Kashmiri handiwork.
The favorites are Kashmiri shawls and carpets, papier mache items and intricately modeled walnut wood furniture and accessories.
While to the uninitiated tourist the prices can be quite confusing, it is to the trained eye that the details, craft and labour that has gone into each item is visible and hence an idea about the real cost conceivable.
Kashmiri carpets in wool and silk with their intricate Persian patterns are known to be a lifetime investment. Woolen shawls and crewel embroidery are famous here and are sold by the metre. There are a variety of items crafted out of papier mache and then painted with intricate patterns - ranging from jewellery boxes, table top items, jars, decorative items etc in every shape and size making it the most favorite memorabilia to carry back and gift others from the state. For those who like heavy furniture the state is known for its traditional models made out of walnut wood and replete with carvings. Small items like pen stands, wall hangings, mirror frames are also crafted out of walnut wood. Dry fruits, spices and saffron are also what tourists love to carry back from the city.
In the city Shaw Brothers and Boulevard are where you should head to for carpets. Solomon's Mine on Lambert Lane is known for its traditional silver jewellery. Tariq's in Polo View is ideal to check out rugs, furnishing fabric, crewel work and chain stitch items. You can pick up your stock of dry fruits, spices, saffron, honey etc from Amin bin Khaliq in Polo View. Asia Crafts at the Bund is where you can go for papier mache and walnut wood items and carpets.
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