112-553: Rainawari is a location in Srinagar , Kashmir . Rainawari lies on NH "Srinagar-Leh" road about 4 km from Lalchowk . Rainawari was known as Rajanavatika in Ancient times an was considered the largest suburbs of Srinagar falling on North side traversed by numerous canals coming from Dal Lake . Rainawari is located at 34°05′52″N 74°49′23″E / 34.097858°N 74.823088°E / 34.097858; 74.823088
224-616: A Hindu place of worship into Muslim shrine in Kashmir also appears from Srinagar under Sikandar's rule. Sikandar's successor Zain-ul-Abidin undertook several constructions in and around Srinagar. He built the Zainakadal bridge connecting the two halves of the city on either side of the Jhelum river, the Mar canal and two islands inside Dal lake called Sona Lank and Rupa Lank. He also built
336-512: A convulsion in the world's most militarized zone, the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, an unprecedented and deadly civil unrest that is beginning to change a few things on the ground. [...] Little known and relatively anonymous resistance activists emerged, organizing an unarmed agitation more fierce than the armed rebellion against Indian rule two decades earlier. And apparently aware of the post 9/11 world, young Kashmiris, children of
448-537: A day after the successful completion of discussions between the Indian Prime Minister and Jammu and Kashmir political leaders, a drone based attack was reported at the technical area of Jammu Airport which is under the control of the IAF. In the first three months of 2022, there was a 100% increase in the number of Indian soldiers killed by Kashmiri militants compared to the same period in 2021. Following
560-454: A dispute over local autonomy. Democratic development was limited in Kashmir until the late 1970s, and by 1988, many of the democratic reforms provided by the Indian government had been reversed and non-violent channels for expressing discontent were limited, which caused a dramatic increase in support for insurgents advocating violent secession from India. In 1987, a disputed election held in
672-461: A former President of Pakistan , Pervez Musharraf , admitted that the Pakistani state had supported and trained insurgent groups in Kashmir throughout the 1990s. Several new militant groups with radical Islamist views emerged during this time and changed the ideological emphasis of the movement from that of plain separatism to Islamic fundamentalism . This occurred partly due to the influence of
784-522: A higher death toll. The insurgency has also forced the large-scale migration of non-Muslim minority Kashmiri Hindus out of the Kashmir Valley. Since the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the Indian military has intensified its counter-insurgency operations in the region. After independence from colonial rule India and Pakistan were engaged in a war over
896-619: A large number of Muslim jihadist militants who began to enter the Indian-administered Kashmir Valley through Pakistani-controlled territory across the Line of Control following the end of the Soviet–Afghan War in the 1980s. India has repeatedly called on Pakistan to end its alleged " cross-border terrorism " in the region. The conflict between militants and Indian security forces in Kashmir has led to
1008-416: A large number of casualties; many civilians have also died as a result of being targeted by various armed militant groups. According to government data, around 41,000 people—consisting of 14,000 civilians, 5,000 security personnel and 22,000 militants—have died because of the insurgency as of March 2017 , with most deaths happening in the 1990s and early 2000s. Non-governmental organisations have claimed
1120-453: A large scale from Pakistan. In Kashmir JKLF operated under the leadership of Ashfaq Majid Wani, Yasin Bhat, Hamid Shiekh and Javed Mir. To counter this growing pro-Pakistani sentiment in Kashmir, Indian media associated it exclusively with Pakistan. JKLF used distinctly Islamic themes to mobilise crowds and justify their use of violence. They sought to establish an Islamic democratic state where
1232-598: A metro system in the city. The feasibility report for the Srinagar Metro is planned to be carried out by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation . In December 2013, the 594m cable car allowing people to travel to the shrine of the Sufi saint Hamza Makhdoom on Hari Parbat was unveiled. The project is run by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC), and has been envisioned for 25 years. An investment of 300 million INR
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#17327721528111344-523: A newly constructed 11 km long Banihal tunnel, and subsequently to the Indian railway network after a few years. It takes approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds for a train to cross the tunnel. It is the longest rail tunnel in India. This railway system, proposed in 2001, is not expected to connect the Indian railway network until 2017 at the earliest, with a cost overrun of 55 billion INR. The train also runs during heavy snow. There are proposals to develop
1456-581: A part of those laid by the Mughal emperors across the Indian subcontinent. Those of Srinagar and its close vicinity include Chashma Shahi (the royal fountains); Pari Mahal (the palace of the fairies); Nishat Bagh (the garden of spring); Shalimar Bagh ; the Naseem Bagh. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in the city, set up in 1969. The Indian government has included these gardens under "Mughal Gardens of Jammu and Kashmir" in
1568-516: A period of internal instability in the valley, and added it to their Kabul province. Mughal emperor Akbar visited the valley three times. During his second visit in 1592, an elaborate Diwali celebration was held in Srinagar. On the final such visit, he was accompanied by the first recorded European visitors to the area. Akbar built fortifications around the Hari Parbat hill, and established
1680-456: A stone shrine for his Islamic teacher at Madin Sahib , and a brick mausoleum for his mother constructed using materials from a Hindu structure and showing Timurid influences, where he was also buried after his death. He is also credited with establishing industries around the arts of shawl and carpet weaving, papier-maché, and wood carving in Srinagar. The Mughals annexed Kashmir in 1586 after
1792-403: A township called Nagar Nagar there. He also built a shrine for Hamza Makhdoom , a Sufi mystic of Kashmir's Rishi order , on the southern slope of Hari Parbat which was later expanded several times. His successor Jahangir was particularly fond of the Kashmir valley and frequently visited it. His rule brought prosperity to Srinagar, and several Mughal gardens were built in the city and around
1904-747: Is 14 km (8.7 mi) north of Srinagar, and is a world class wetland spread over 13.75 km (5.31 sq mi) including lake and marshy area . It is the most accessible and well-known of Kashmir's wetlands which include Hygam, Shalibug and Mirgund. A record number of migratory birds have visited Hokersar in recent years. Birds found in Hokersar are migratory ducks and geese which include brahminy duck , tufted duck , gadwall , garganey , greylag goose , mallard , common merganser , northern pintail , common pochard , ferruginous pochard , red-crested pochard , ruddy shelduck , northern shoveller , common teal , and Eurasian wigeon . Under
2016-657: Is Islam with 96% of the population being Muslim. Hindus constitute the second largest religious group representing 2.75% of the population. The remaining population constitutes Sikhs, Buddhist and Jains. Kashmiri Hindus constituted 21.9% of Srinagar's population as per 1891 census and 2.75% as per 2011 census. The city is served by many highways, including National Highway 1A and National Highway 1D . Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport has regular domestic flights to Leh , Jammu , Chandigarh , Delhi and Mumbai and occasional international flights. An expanded terminal capable of handling both domestic and international flights
2128-533: Is a secular state, Muslims are politically, culturally and economically marginalised when compared to Hindus in India as a whole. The government's decision to transfer 99 acres of forest land near the Amarnath Temple in Kashmir division to a Hindu organisation (for setting up temporary shelters and facilities for Hindu pilgrims) solidified this feeling and led to one of the largest protest rallies in Jammu and Kashmir. Psychologist Waheeda Khan, explaining
2240-405: Is a wetland situated near Srinagar. Thousands of migratory birds come to Hokersar from Siberia and other regions in the winter season. Migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia use wetlands in Kashmir as their transitory camps between September and October and again around spring. These wetlands play a vital role in sustaining a large population of wintering, staging and breeding birds. Hokersar
2352-499: Is also broadcast. The city is home to the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium , where international cricket matches have been played. The first international match was played in 1983 in which West Indies defeated India and the last international match was played in 1986 in which Australia defeated India by six wickets. Since then no international matches have been played in the stadium due to the security situation (although
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#17327721528112464-564: Is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts like the Kashmir shawl (made of pashmina and cashmere wool ), papier-mâché, wood carving, carpet weaving, and jewel making, as well as for dried fruits . It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the Himalayas (after Kathmandu , the capital of Nepal). Founded in the 6th century during the rule of the Gonanda dynasty according to
2576-486: Is approx. 5 km (3.1 mi) towards North from district headquarters in Srinagar . The area is bounded by Badamwari and Khanyar from West, Dalgate from South and Dal Lake from North and East. Srinagar Srinagar (English: / ˈ s r iː n ə ɡ ər / ; Kashmiri pronunciation: [siriːnagar] ) is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in
2688-468: Is conducted by the same authority accused of the crime raises serious questions about the independence and impartiality of those proceedings", adding that according to the international law, an independent authority that is not involved in the alleged violations has to investigate such crimes. These human rights violations are said to have contributed to the rise of resistance in Kashmir. The Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence has encouraged and aided
2800-512: Is one of several places that have been called the " Venice of the East ". Lakes around the city include Dal Lake – noted for its houseboats – and Nigeen Lake . Apart from Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake, Wular Lake and Manasbal Lake both lie to the north of Srinagar. Wular Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia. Srinagar has some Mughal gardens , forming
2912-626: Is redeveloped for the particular sport in 2015. Srinagar is home to professional football club of I-League , Real Kashmir FC and Downtown Heroes FC of I-League 2 . There are certain other sports being played but those are away from the main city like in Pahalgam (Water rafting) and Gulmarg (skiing). Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir [REDACTED] India Political Parties: Armed groups: Supported by: (Nov 2019, including soldier posted at international border (LoC)) The insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir , also known as
3024-475: Is said to have halved the city's population. Consequently, due to the famine and forced labour in the villages, a considerable number of people migrated to Srinagar. The Darbar Move was introduced in 1872 by Ranbir Singh , whereby the capital moved to Jammu for six months during the winter albeit later phased down by Hari Singh who "fixed his headquarters permanently at Jammu". The Ministers and Heads of Departments continued to followed it, nevertheless, it
3136-543: Is −20.0 °C (−4.0 °F) recorded on 6 February 1895. Srinagar has been ranked 43rd best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India. In November 2011, the City Mayors Foundation – an advocacy think tank – announced that Srinagar was the 92nd fastest growing urban areas in the world in terms of economic growth, based on actual data from 2006 onwards and projections to 2020. Srinagar
3248-541: The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) sponsors and oversees separatist militant groups in Kashmir. In 2019, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan publicly discouraged Pakistani people from going to Kashmir to do a jihad . People who went to Kashmir will do an "injustice to the Kashmiri people". Most of the Pakistani militants who had crossed the border over the years and were caught by
3360-624: The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front was intensified. Over six months more than a hundred officials were killed to paralyse government's administrative and intelligence apparatus. The daughter of then interior affairs minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was kidnapped in December and four militants had to be released for her release. This event led to mass celebrations all over the valley. Farooq Abdullah resigned in January after
3472-520: The Kashmir insurgency , is an ongoing separatist militant insurgency against the Indian administration in Jammu and Kashmir , a territory constituting the southwestern portion of the larger geographical region of Kashmir , which has been the subject of a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947. Jammu and Kashmir, long a breeding ground of separatist ambitions, has experienced
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3584-533: The Köppen climate classification , Srinagar has a four-season humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) with hot summers and cool winters. The valley is surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides. Due to influence from Himalayan rain shadow and western disturbances , Srinagar has year-round precipitation; the spring season is the wettest while autumn is the driest. The region also has less rain in the summer due to lying in
3696-487: The Line of Control which divides Indian and Pakistani Kashmir started to hold public protests against the activities of the insurgent groups. In 2016, violence erupted in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani by security forces. Since then, militants belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed group carried out the 2016 Uri attack and the 2018 Sunjuwan attack . In February 2019,
3808-827: The Pir Panjal region of Jammu and Kashmir over several years. The subsequent operations led to the death of over 60 militants and uncovered the largest network of militant hideouts in the history of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir covering almost 100 square kilometers. Cinema houses were banned by some militant groups. Many militant organisations like Al baqr, People's league, Wahdat-e-Islam and Allah Tigers imposed restrictions like banning cigarettes, restrictions on Kashmiri girls. Beginning in 2004 Pakistan began to end its support for insurgents in Kashmir. This happened because militant groups linked to Kashmir twice tried to assassinate Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf . His successor, Asif Ali Zardari has continued
3920-651: The Pulwama attack occurred, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber. In August 2019, the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked , following which the Indian Army intensified its counter-insurgency operations. In June 2020, Doda district was declared militancy free while Tral was declared free from Hizbul Mujahideen militants. In July, a Kashmir police tweet from an official twitter handle said "no resident of # Srinagar district in terrorist ranks now". On 27 June 2021,
4032-666: The Rajatarangini , the city took on the name of an earlier capital thought to have been founded by the Mauryas in its vicinity. The city remained the most important capital of the Kashmir Valley under the Hindu dynasties, and was a major centre of learning. During the 14th–16th centuries the city's old town saw major expansions, particularly under the Shah Mir dynasty , whose kings used various parts of it as their capitals. It became
4144-522: The Sanskrit name shri-nagara which have been interpreted distinctively by scholars in two ways: one being "The city of "Shri " (श्री), the Hindu goddess of prosperity, meaning " City of Lakshmi " and other being sūrya-nagar , meaning " City of the Surya " (trans) "City of Sun ." The name was used for an older capital in the vicinity of the present-day city, before being used for it. Between
4256-541: The Sikh Empire assumed control of Kashmir. Under them, Srinagar , the old name of the city, was restored. The situation in the city did not improve much under Sikh rule, and the city remained in a state of decay. They also imposed several restrictions on Muslim religious expression, and closed the gates of the Jamia Mosque, which remained closed until 1843. A Shia-Sunni riot happened in the city in 1837. With
4368-601: The disputed Kashmir region. It is the largest city and summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an Indian-administered union territory . It lies in the Kashmir Valley along the banks of the Jhelum River , and the shores of Dal Lake and Anchar Lakes , between the Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya hills. The city is known for its natural environment, various gardens, waterfronts and houseboats . It
4480-447: The 'stone-pelters' are school and college going students. Large number of these people get arrested during these events for allegedly resorting to stone pelting, after which some of them are also tortured. According to political activist Mannan Bukhari, Kashmiris made stone, an easily accessible and defenseless weapon, their weapon of choice for protest. Kashmiri senior journalist Parvaiz Bukhari remarked: The summer of 2010 witnessed
4592-484: The 14th and 19th centuries, and especially during Mughal rule, the city was also referred to simply as Kashmir or Shahr-i-Kashmir ( lit. ' City of Kashmir ' ). According to the Rajatarangini of Kalhana , a capital city by the name of Srinagari was built in the Kashmir valley by Ashoka . Kalhana calls this capital puranadhisthana , Sanskrit for 'old capital', identified as present-day Pandrethan, 3.5 kilometres south-east of Srinagar. A 'new capital'
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4704-508: The 1990s. Pakistan, with whom India has fought three major wars over the Muslim-majority region , has officially claimed to be giving only its "moral and diplomatic" support to the separatist movement. The Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence has been accused by both India and the international community of supporting and supplying arms as well as providing training to " mujahideen " militants in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2015,
4816-411: The 2730 bodies uncovered in 4 of the 14 districts, 574 bodies were identified as missing locals in contrast to the Indian governments insistence that all the graves belong to foreign militants. Military forces in Jammu and Kashmir operate under impunity and emergency powers granted to them by the central government. These powers allow the military to curtail civil liberties, creating further support for
4928-640: The Central Government and the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi , who had his government toppled with the help of his brother-in-law G. M. Shah . GM Shah was the chief minister during the 1986 Anantnag Riots until he was removed and replaced by Farooq Abdullah. A year later, Abdullah reached an accord with the new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and announced an alliance with the Indian National Congress for
5040-540: The Dal lake and Jhelum river. A long embankment was constructed on the Jhelum by Pravarasena to protect the city from floods, parts of which have survived to the present day. The two capitals are also mentioned in the chronicle of Chinese traveller Huein Tsang who visited the city in 631 CE. Although several other capitals of Kashmir were constructed by other rulers over the next few centuries, Pravarasena's Srinagar survived as
5152-650: The Dal lake during his and his successor Shah Jahan 's reign, including the Shalimar and Nishat Bagh . Empress Nur Jahan built the Pathar Mosque on the left bank of Jhelum river opposite the Khānqāh-e-Moula in 1623, the mosque was however deemed unfit for worship soon after its construction and used instead for non-religious purposes. Shah Jahan made Kashmir into a separate Subah (province) with its administrative seat at Srinagar in 1638. The Aali Masjid
5264-467: The Indian government has continued to send large numbers of troops to the Indian border. There have been widespread protests against the Indian army presence in Kashmir. Once the most formidable face of Kashmir militancy, Hizbul Mujahideen is slowly fading away as its remaining commanders and cadres are being taken out on a regular interval by security forces. Some minor incidents of grenade throwing and sniper firing at security forces notwithstanding,
5376-671: The Indian security forces were found to belong to the Punjab province of Pakistan. After the Mujahideen victory in the Soviet–Afghan War , Mujahideen militants, under the Operation Tupac with the aid of Pakistan , slowly infiltrated Kashmir with the goal of spreading a radical Islamist ideology to wage Jihad against India in the region. The majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir practise Islam . Indian-American journalist Asra Nomani states that while India itself
5488-748: The Kashmir independence movement through an insurgency due to its dispute on the legitimacy of Indian rule in Kashmir, with the insurgency as an easy way to keep Indian troops distracted and cause international condemnation of India. Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in Oct 2014 said during TV interview, "We have source (in Kashmir) besides the (Pakistan) army...People in Kashmir are fighting against (India). We just need to incite them." The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) , in their first ever open acknowledgement in 2011 in US Court, said that
5600-538: The Kashmir valley, and 'Srinagar' fell into disuse as a name for it. During the rule of Qutbuddin, Islamic preacher Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani visited the valley and established his seat of preaching in Srinagar. Sultan Sikandar Shahmiri (1389–1413 CE) built the Khanqah-e-Moula at this location, and also built the Jamia Mosque at Nowhatta in 1402. The oldest surviving example of forcible conversion of
5712-580: The North-Eastern insurgency. The challenge to them in this situation was not posed by armed insurgents but by the stone pelters. Their inexperience caused at least 50 casualties in Gawkadal massacre. In this incident the underground militant movement was transformed into a mass struggle. To curb the situation AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) was imposed on Kashmir in September 1990 to suppress
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#17327721528115824-591: The accession of the state to India. However, Sheikh Abdullah would fall in and out of favour with the central government and would often be dismissed only to be re-appointed later on. This was a time of political instability and power struggle in Jammu and Kashmir, and it went through several periods of president's rule by the Federal Government . After Sheikh Abdullah 's death, his son Farooq Abdullah took over as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir . Farooq Abdullah eventually fell out of favour with
5936-412: The action was not taken in the cases of human rights violations by Army personnel. On 24 October 2010, he has said that 104 Army personnel had been punished in Jammu and Kashmir in this regard, including 39 officers. He also said that 95% of the allegations of human rights abuses against Indian Army were proved to be false, of which he remarked, had apparently been made with the "ulterior motive of maligning
6048-412: The administration of the state grew. During this time, Srinagar, and in turn the Kashmir Valley, was connected to the rest of India via roads, which saw increased trade with Punjab . In 1886, a municipality was established for the city of Srinagar. Works for sanitation and urban development undertaken by the municipality were often met with stiff opposition by the residents, who were averse to changes. In
6160-500: The appointment of Jagmohan Malhotra as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, J&K was placed under Governor's Rule under Article 92 of state constitution . Under JKLF's leadership on 21–23 January large scale protests were organised in the Kashmir Valley. As a response to this largely explosive situation paramilitary units of BSF and CRPF were called. These units were used by the government to combat Maoist insurgency and
6272-501: The armed forces". However, according to Human Rights Watch, the military courts in India, in general, were proved to be incompetent to deal with cases of serious human rights abuses and were responsible in covering up evidence and protecting the involved officers. Amnesty International in its report in 2015, titled "Denied"-Failures in Accountability in Jammu and Kashmir , says, "...with respect to investigations, an inquiry that
6384-460: The availability of weapons and people becoming familiar to violence after having exposed to conflict for so long. Waheeda Khan remarks, the major concern is that generations of children who are experiencing long-term violence in their lives, may reach adulthood perceiving that violence is a fair means of solving ethnic, religious, or political differences. High unemployment and lack of economic opportunities in Kashmir are also said to have intensified
6496-480: The capital. The city was divided into several parts, each with its own guardian deity, which continue to be worshipped by Hindu Kashmiris . The 8th century scholar Adi Shankara visited the city and founded the Shankaracharya Temple here, at the site of the earlier Jyeshteshwara Temple. The city gradually extended to the left bank of the Jhelum river, and in the early 12th century the royal palace
6608-616: The centre. Their slogan was wanting the law of the Quran in the Assembly. But the MUF won only four seats, even though it had polled 31% votes in the election. However, the elections were widely believed to be rigged, changing the course of politics in the state. The insurgency was sparked by the apparent rigging of state elections in 1987 . Indian troops entered the valley to quell the insurgency after it began. Some analysts have suggested that
6720-415: The city and the urban agglomeration has average literacy rate of approximately 70%. The child population of both the city and the urban agglomeration is approximately 12% of the total population. Males constituted 53.0% and females 47% of the population. The sex ratio in the city area is 888 females per 1000 males, whereas in the urban agglomeration it is 880 per 1,000. The predominant religion of Srinagar
6832-710: The city depict the historical cultural and religious diversity of the city as well as the Kashmir valley. There are many religious holy places in Srinagar. They include: Additional structures include the Dastgeer Sahib shrine, Mazar-e-Shuhada, Roza Bal shrine, Khanqah of Shah Hamadan , Pathar Masjid ("The Stone Mosque"), Hamza Makhdoom shrine, tomb of the mother of Zain-ul-abidin, tomb of Pir Haji Muhammad, Akhun Mulla Shah Mosque, cemetery of Baha-ud-din Sahib, tomb and Madin Sahib Mosque at Zadibal. Apart from these, dozens of smaller mosques are located all over
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#17327721528116944-620: The city, which has a human population of just under 900,000. In a survey conducted by an NGO, it was found that some residents welcomed this program, saying the city was overrun by dogs, while critics contended that more humane methods should be used to deal with the animals. The situation has become alarming with local news reports coming up at frequent intervals highlighting people, especially children being mauled by street dogs. Religion in Srinagar City (2011) As of 2011 census Srinagar urban agglomeration had 1,273,312 population. Both
7056-458: The city. Several temples and temple ghats are located on the banks of river Jhelum in Srinagar, including Shurayar temple, Gadhadhar temple, Pratapishwar temple, Ganpatyar Ganesh temple, Purshyar temple, Sheshyar temple, Raghunath Mandir, Durga Patshala and Dhar temple. Gurdwaras are located in Rainawari, Amira Kadal, Jawahar Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Shaheed Gunj, Maharajpur and Indra Nagar areas of
7168-426: The city. The city expanded rapidly between 1891 and 1941, partly due to increased migration from the countryside as a result of famines and due to improvements in sanitation and urban development as well as economic expansion, in particular the growth of the textile and tourism industries in the city. Many Punjabis also settled in Srinagar during this time for trade, commerce and administration. Srinagar emerged as
7280-467: The city. There are three Christian churches in Srinagar. The Sheikh Bagh Cemetery is a Christian cemetery located in Srinagar that dates from the British colonial era. The oldest grave in the cemetery is that of a British colonel from the 9th Lancers of 1850 and the cemetery is valued for the variety of persons buried there which provides an insight into the perils faced by British colonisers in India. It
7392-404: The conflict, made stones and rocks a weapon of choice against government armed forces, side-stepping the tag of a terrorist movement linked with Pakistan. The unrest represents a conscious transition to an unarmed mass movement, one that poses a moral challenge to New Delhi's military domination over the region. Islamic separatist militants are accused of violence against the Kashmir populace. On
7504-513: The displaced vary from 170,000 to 700,000. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits had to move to Jammu because of targeted attacks by Islamic radical organizations. The Indian government has increasingly relied on military presence to control the insurgency. The military has allegedly committed human rights violations. The government would often dissolve assemblies, arrest elected politicians and impose president's rule. The government also rigged elections in 1987. In recent times there have been signs that
7616-425: The elections of 1987. The elections were allegedly rigged in favour of Abdullah. Most commentators state that this led to the rise of an armed insurgency movement composed, in part, of those who unfairly lost the elections. Pakistan supplied these groups with logistical support, arms, recruits and training. In the second half of 1989 the alleged assassinations of the Indian spies and political collaborators by
7728-417: The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir created a catalyst for the insurgency when it resulted in some of the state's legislative assembly members forming armed insurgent groups. In July 1988, a series of demonstrations, strikes, and attacks on the Indian government effectively marked the beginning of the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, which escalated into the most severe security issue in India during
7840-701: The establishment of Dogra rule following the 1846 Treaty of Amritsar , Srinagar became the capital of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir . Taxes were increased and the production of silk, saffron, paper, tobacco, wine, and salt, as well as the sale of grain, became the monopoly of the state. It was a capital offence for a Muslim to kill a cow as late as the 1920s; later, the penalty was reduced to ten years of imprisonment and still later to seven years (Section 219 of Ranbir Penal Code ). The Dogras found Srinagar deteriorating, filthy and overcrowded. The city used to see several break-outs of cholera , as well as earthquakes, floods, fires and famines. The famine of 1877–79
7952-557: The government is taking local elections more seriously. The government has also funneled development aid to Kashmir and Kashmir has now become the biggest per capita receiver of Federal aid. The Pakistani central government originally supported, trained and armed the insurgency in Kashmir, sometimes known as "ultras" (extremists), however after groups linked to the Kashmiri insurgency twice attempted to assassinate president Pervez Musharraf, Musharraf decided to end support for such groups. His successor, Asif Ali Zardari has continued
8064-528: The hands of the Afghan Durrani Empire . The Afghans undertook reconstructions in Srinagar and built the palace at Shergarhi at the site of a pre-existing ancient palace, as well as the fort atop Hari Parbat. However, contemporary accounts describe the city as filthy and deteriorating, and it also saw worsening inter-community relations during Afghan rule, with repeated Hindu-Muslim and Shia-Sunni riots, and state persecution of Pandits. In 1819,
8176-489: The hub of political activity within the Kashmir valley during later Dogra rule. Kashmiris at large despised the Dogra rule and considered the dynasty an "alien rule". Many Muslim leaders competed for influence and control over Muslim shrines in the city through which they sought to become representatives of Kashmiri Muslims . Sheikh Abdullah , and his National Conference (NC), eventually succeeded in doing so. In 1947, after
8288-572: The insurgency by giving armed forces the powers to kill and arrest without warrant to maintain public order. During this time the dominant tactic involved killing of a prominent figure in a public gathering, such as Wali Mohammad Itoo in 1994, to push forces into action and the public prevented them from capturing these insurgents. This sprouting of sympathisers in Kashmir led to the hard-line approach of Indian army. With JKLF at forefront large number of militant groups like Allah Tigers, People's League and Hizb-i-Islamia sprung up. Weapons were smuggled on
8400-498: The insurgency in 2014, army records showed, with most joining the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba , which was responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attacks . Two of the new recruits have doctorates and eight were post graduates, the army data showed. According to BBC , despite a Pakistani ban on militant activity in Kashmir in 2006, its militants continue to attempt infiltration into Indian-administered Kashmir. These attempts were curtailed however when people living along
8512-412: The insurgency since 1989. Although the failure of Indian governance and democracy lay at the root of the initial disaffection, Pakistan played an important role in converting the latter into a fully-developed armed insurgency. Some insurgent groups in Kashmir support complete independence, whereas others seek the region's accession to Pakistan. More explicitly, the roots of the insurgency are tied to
8624-587: The insurgency. The insurgents have also abused human rights, driving away Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley, an action that has been called ethnic cleansing The government's inability to protect the people from both its own troops and the insurgency has further eroded support for the government. Amnesty International accused security forces of exploiting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that enables them to "hold prisoners without trial". The group argues that
8736-530: The late 19th and early 20th century, modern tourism began to take hold in the city, especially on and around the Dal lake, with houseboats being built to accommodate British officers and their families who came in the summers seeking respite from the heat of the plains of northern India. The Shergarhi Palace was greatly modified by the Dogras, who used it as their official residence in the city. Pratap Singh and his successor Hari Singh also laid out several parks in
8848-453: The law, which allows security to detain individuals for as many as two years "without presenting charges, violating prisoners' human rights". The Army sources maintain that "any move to revoke AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir would be detrimental to the security of the Valley and would provide a boost to the terrorists." Former Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh rejected the accusations that
8960-525: The leadership of a Mayor . The Srinagar district along with the adjoining Budgam and Ganderbal districts forms the Srinagar Parliamentary seat . Srinagar's city government attracted brief international attention in March 2008 when it announced a mass poisoning program aimed at eliminating the city's population of stray dogs. Officials estimate that 100,000 stray dogs roam the streets of
9072-413: The leeward side of the rain shadow which blocks the monsoon winds from the south. Winters are colder in the region than most areas with monsoon climates due to these influences and its elevation, with daily maximum temperatures averaging 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) in January and dropping below freezing point at night. Moderate to heavy snowfall occurs in winter and the highway connecting Srinagar with
9184-501: The minority Hindus—particularly the Kashmiri Pandits —during the insurgency which resulted in their ultimate exodus . Kashmiri Hindus constituted 8.39% of Srinagar's population in the 1981 census and 2.75% in the 2011 census. The Gawakadal massacre took place in the city in January 1990, resulting in 50–100 deaths. As a result, bunkers and checkpoints are found throughout the city, although their numbers have come down in
9296-580: The most well-known. After passing through the hands of the Afghan Durranis and the Sikhs in the late 18th and early 19th century, it eventually became the summer capital of the Dogra kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir in 1846. The city became a popular tourist destination among Europeans and Indian elites during this time, with several hotels and its iconic houseboats being built. In 1952, the city became
9408-444: The number of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir is close to 600,000 although estimates vary and the government refuses to release official figures. The troops have been accused and held accountable for several humanitarian abuses and have engaged in mass extrajudicial killings, torture , rape and sexual abuse . Indian security forces have been implicated in many reports for enforced disappearances of thousands of Kashmiris whereas
9520-729: The oldest and earliest Institutions of the country including the University of Kashmir dating back to 1948 while the National Institute of Technology Srinagar was established during the second Five year plan . The educational institutions in the City include: Schools Medical colleges Universities General degree colleges Srinagar is broadcasting hub for radio channels in UT which are Radio Mirchi 98.3FM, Red FM 93.5 and AIR Srinagar . State television channel DD Kashir
9632-403: The other hand, the Indian army has also allegedly committed serious crimes like using pellet guns, torture, murder and rape, though many such incidents were subject to legal proceedings. The militants have kidnapped and killed many civil servants and suspected informers. Tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits have been forced to emigrate as a result of continued violence by the majority. Estimates of
9744-406: The past few years as militancy has declined. However, protests still occur against Indian rule, with large demonstrations happening in 2008, 2010 , 2013, and 2016 . After revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent devolution of the state into a union territory in August 2019, a lockdown was imposed in Kashmir, including in Srinagar. The city is located on both
9856-435: The policy, calling insurgents in Kashmir "terrorists", although it is unclear if Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence , thought to be the agency aiding and controlling the insurgency is following Pakistan's commitment to end support for the insurgency in Kashmir. Despite the change in the nature of the insurgency from a phenomenon supported by external forces to a primarily domestic-driven movement
9968-557: The policy, calling insurgents in Kashmir "terrorists". But the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence hasn't followed the lead of the government and has continued its support for insurgent groups in Kashmir In 2008, 541 people died due to insurgency, The Economist called it the lowest in two decades. The report cited a reduction in the support for militants by Pakistan and war fatigue among
10080-408: The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir . At the end of the war India controlled the southern portion of the princely state. While there were sporadic periods of violence there was no organised insurgency movement. During this period legislative elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir were first held in 1951 and Sheikh Abdullah 's secular party stood unopposed. He was an instrumental member in
10192-403: The princely state's accession to India following an invasion of the state by Pakistani irregulars in the aftermath of the partition of India , Indian forces were airlifted to Srinagar on 27 October to defend the city and the larger Kashmir valley. The National Conference also established a popular people's militia in the city to aid the army in their defence of the territory. Srinagar became
10304-497: The rebellious nature of the Kashmiris, says that because of the tense situations in the valley from the 1990s, the generation gap between parents and young generations has increased. Young generations tend to blame their parents for failing to do anything about the political situation. So they start experimenting with their own aggressive ways to show their curbed feelings and would go against any authority. A prominent psychiatrist of
10416-399: The rest of India faces frequent blockades due to icy roads, landslides and avalanches. Summers are warm to hot, slightly moderated from its elevation, with a July daytime average of 30.0 °C (86.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is around 697.5 millimetres (27.46 in). The highest temperature reliably recorded is 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) recorded on 10 July 1946, and the lowest
10528-483: The rights of minorities would be protected according to Quran and Sunna and economy would be organised on the principles of Islamic socialism. The Indian army has conducted various operations to control and eliminate insurgency in the region such as Operation Sarp Vinash , in which a multi-battalion offensive was launched against militants from groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba , Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami , al-Badr and Jaish-e-Mohammed who had been constructing shelters in
10640-445: The rise of Islamisation in the Kashmir valley, during the 1987 state elections, various Islamic anti-establishment groups including Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir were organised under a single banner named Muslim United Front (MUF), that is largely current Hurriyat . MUF's election manifesto stressed the need for a solution to all outstanding issues according to Simla Agreement , work for Islamic unity and against political interference from
10752-507: The security forces deny having their information and/or custody. This is often in association with torture or extrajudicial killing . Human right activists estimate the number of disappeared to be over eight thousand, last seen in government detention. The disappeared are believed to be dumped in thousands of mass graves across Kashmir. A State Human Rights Commission inquiry in 2011, has confirmed there are thousands of bullet-ridden bodies buried in unmarked graves in Jammu and Kashmir. Of
10864-637: The sides of the Jhelum River , called Vyath in Kashmir. The river passes through the city and meanders through the valley, moving onward and deepening in the Wular Lake . The city is known for its nine old bridges, connecting the two parts of the city. There are a number of lakes and swamps in and around the city. These include the Dal , the Nigeen , the Anchar , Khushal Sar , Gil Sar and Hokersar . Hokersar
10976-483: The situation has now improved quite considerably). Srinagar has an outdoor stadium namely Bakshi Stadium for hosting football matches. It is named after Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad . The city has a golf course named Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar located on the banks of Dal lake, which is considered one of the best golf courses of India. Football is followed by the youth of Srinagar and the TRC Turf Ground
11088-523: The situation is under control and more or less peaceful. A record number of tourists including Amarnath pilgrims visited Kashmir during 2012. On 3 August 2012, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant commander, Abu Hanzulah involved in various attacks on civilians and security forces was killed in an encounter with security forces in a village in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. According to Indian Army data quoted by Reuters , at least 70 young Kashmiris joined
11200-464: The spiritual centre of Kashmir, and attracted several Sufi preachers. It also started to emerge as a hub of shawl weaving and other Kashmiri handicrafts. In the late 16th century, the city became part of the Mughal Empire , many of whose emperors used it as their summer resort. Many Mughal gardens were built in the city and around Dal lake during this time, of which Shalimar and Nishat are
11312-579: The struggle. Following the 2008 protests and 2010 unrest , the turmoil took on a new dimension when people, particularly young people of the Kashmir valley began pelting stones on security forces to express their aggression and protest for the loss of freedom. In turn they get attacked by the armed personnel with pellets, rubber bullets, sling shots and tear gas shells. This leads to eye-injuries and several other kind of injuries to many people. Security forces also face injuries, and sometimes get beaten up during these events. According to Waheeda Khan, most of
11424-443: The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir , a region administered by India as a state, with Jammu being its winter capital. It was the flashpoint of violence during the 1990s and early 2000s insurgency in the region. In 2019, it became the summer capital of a smaller region which is administered by India as a union territory, after the former state's reorganisation . The earliest records, such as Kalhana's Rajatarangini , mentions
11536-485: The summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir when it was established in 1952. In 1963–1964, the relic at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar briefly disappeared, causing political turmoil. Following this, the shrine was reconstructed between 1968 and 1979 in a Mughal-inspired style. In 1989, Srinagar became the focus of the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir . The city saw increased violence against
11648-672: The tentative list for sites to be included in world Heritage sites . The Sher Garhi Palace houses administrative buildings from the state government. Another palace of the Maharajas, the Gulab Bhavan , has now become the Lalit Grand Palace hotel. The Shankaracharya Temple lies on a hill top in the middle of the city. The city is run by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) under
11760-571: The valley, Margoob, described that children/teenagers are much more vulnerable to passionate actions and reactions, since the young minds are yet to completely develop psychological mechanisms. When they assume that they are "pushed against the wall", they get controlled by the emotions without bothering about the consequences. Also young people easily identify themselves with the "group" rather than with their individual identities. It leads to psychological distress which causes antisocial behaviour and aggressive attitude. Often, this situation gets worsened by
11872-411: Was built by king Pravarasena , called Parvarapura , in 6th century CE. Srinagari continued to be used as a name for this capital. This new capital was located at the base of the Hari Parbat hill on the right bank of the Jhelum, corresponding to the location of modern-day Srinagar. Kalhana describes the capital having several markets, mansions, wooden houses, grand temples and canals, and also refers to
11984-537: Was built during the reign of Aurangzeb (1658–1707), as was the Safa kadal bridge over the Jhelum. The moi muqaddas , a relic believed to be the hair strand of prophet Muhammad's beard, also arrived in Kashmir during this time, and was housed in a Mughal palace at Hazratbal , which became the Hazratbal Dargah . A number of Europeans visited the city during the later Mughal period. In 1753, Kashmir passed into
12096-521: Was damaged by floods in 2014. It contains a number of war graves. The notable interments here are Robert Thorpe and Jim Borst . Srinagar is home to various premiere Higher Education Institutes including the University of Kashmir , the Cluster University of Srinagar , Central University of Kashmir besides the National Institute of Technology Srinagar formerly known as Regional Engineering College (REC Srinagar). Most of these are among
12208-464: Was inaugurated on 14 February 2009 with Air India Express flights to Dubai . Hajj flights also operate from this airport to Saudi Arabia . Srinagar is a station on the 119 km (74 mi) long Banihal-Baramulla line that started in October 2009 and connects Baramulla to Srinagar, Anantnag and Qazigund . The railway track also connects to Banihal across the Pir Panjal mountains through
12320-571: Was made, and it is the second cable car in Kashmir after the Gulmarg Gondola . Whilst popular since the 7th century, water transport is now mainly confined to Dal Lake , where shikaras (wooden boats) are used for local transport and tourism. There are efforts to revive transportation on the River Jhelum . Like the territory of Jammu and Kashmir , Srinagar too has a distinctive blend of cultural heritage. Holy places in and around
12432-455: Was shifted to this side. Rinchana , a Buddhist convert to Islam who briefly ruled Kashmir in the early 14th century, built the first mosque in Kashmir on the site of a Buddhist temple in a colony of Srinagar built by him. The Muslim rulers that came after him established their capitals in areas of present-day old city Srinagar. During the rule of the Sultans, the city became synonymous with
12544-417: Was still a move which was resented by Kashmiris, particularly Pandits. The Raghunath Temple was also completed during Ranbir Singh's rule. With a global decline in shawl trade during late 19th century, the shawl weaving class of the city was upended. Several changes were ushered in during the reign of Pratap Singh (1885–1925). A British Residency was established in Srinagar and direct British influence on
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