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Garden Of Char Minar

Tucked away in the scenic realms of Rainawari in capital Srinagar is the lesser known Garden of Char Minar. This beautiful garden was built under orders of Emperor Jehangir in 1616 and pays rich tribute to magnificence of the Mughal Period gone by. Char Minar Garden manifests the undying love of Jehangir for his beloved wife Noor Jehan.

This garden boasts of low lying terraces, rows of beautiful flowers and ornamental plants, frothy fountains in backdrop of the Dal Lake. Visitors are also awed by the beauty of lush Chinar and Cypress trees lining the high mountain ranges capped by snowy peaks beyond.

The best way to reach this beautiful garden is by booking a shikhara or an ornamental boat on Dal Lake. This boat ride to Char Minar Garden introduces tourists to sparkling waters of Dal Lake, plenty of houseboats lining its fringes, pretty Kashmiri ladies selling flowers and attractive artifacts and mesmerizing beauty of the mountains here. A shikara ride can be taken to this garden and it is the cheapest way of reaching Char Minar Gardens.

About the Place

Char Minar Garden is located in Srinagar, which has footprints of the biggest empires which reigned over Indian Sub Continent. Situated on the fringes of beautiful Jhelum River, Srinagar is a commercial and political capital of Jammu & Kashmir. Its close proximity mountain ranges, lush green hill sides, Jhelum--a tributary of River Indus and beautiful terrains makes it a place worth visiting.

Appropriately called Venice of the Himalayas, Srinagar is also famous across for its houseboats and picturesque lakes. Tourists from all parts of the world travel to Kashmir to experience natural bounties here and participate in several outdoor sports and other activities.

The region is best known for its snow covered peaks of Karakoram, Zanskar and Pir Panjal. Home to beautiful natural bounties, medicinal springs, scenic valleys and long winding roads, Srinagar lures travelers of all ages and from all walks of life.

Located in the midst of a scenic Kashmir Valley, Srinagar is a much favored tourist destination. Its invigorating climate, mind boggling tourist attractions, houseboats, flower laden shikaras and temples make it the much loved summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. This city was established by King Pravarasen II and is located beside Jhelum River. Nagin Lake, Anchar Lake and a host of other smaller water bodies set against the backdrop of lush Himalayan Mountains make Srinagar all the more romantic and captivating.

Garden of Char Minar occupies a place of pride in Srinagar, which is a beautiful mountain city boasting of Dal Lake, snow capped peaks, historic wooden mosques and never ending rows of quaint shops selling artifacts, saffron, Pashmina shawls and other handicrafts.

Points to Remember

Char Minar Garden is often confused with the landscaped gardens surrounding Char Minar in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. This garden is one of the most striking examples of Mughal style gardens in Srinagar and has a unique character of its own. A shikara ride takes tourists to the beautifully landscaped precincts of this garden.

How to Reach


By Air

Srinagar Airport is well connected to Mumbai, Chandigarh, Delhi and Shimla. Tourists flying in from other countries may reach Srinagar via Delhi. After arriving in Srinagar, they can avail easy transport facilities to visit the Garden of Char Minar.

By Rail

The nearest railhead to Srinagar is at Udhampur, which is located at a distance of 60 km to the north of Jammu. Jammu Tavi railway station is well connected to most important towns and cities of India and is situated at a distance of 293 km from Srinagar. Travelers from Chennai, Trivandrum, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and other important centers can book themselves easy and comfortable train journeys to reach Jammu.

After arriving in Jammu, they can hire a taxi or avail regular bus services to complete the 12 hours journey to Srinagar.

By Bus

Jammu Tavi is well connected to Srinagar by private coaches, regular bus services and a host of taxis. National Highway 1A links Srinagar to the rest of India and passes through beautiful mountain terrains, long tunnels and scenic valleys. Srinagar can be accessed from Leh and Kargil in summers.

Entry Fees

Entry fee is nominal. Tourists should however be prepared to pay up to INR 500 for their shikara ride. This boat ride is a great way to enjoy natural bounties surrounding Char Minar Gardens.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Srinagar is during summer months when it comes alive with flowers and snow capped mountains. Visits to Mughal gardens, shikara rides and sightseeing activities are best enjoyed from April to June. Whether it is about savoring the delights of three famous Mughal ornamental gardens or relaxing in a shikara ferrying passengers to Char Minar Gardens, tourists are certainly spoilt for choice at the scenic city of Srinagar.

Tourists should appropriately book themselves a trip to Kashmir in spring and autumn months which lasts from February to April and September to October respectively. The garden is in full bloom during this period with chinar trees changing their colors from green to orange and then to brown. These periods are also the best time for outdoor activities like trekking, hiking, boating and biting. Weather is congenial with snowy peaks shine in all their glory throughout the day.

Trivia

Char Minar Garden was built for Noor Jejan or Mehrunnisaa. Well educated, bold, charismatic, beautiful and strong, she was one of the most powerful empresses of the Mughal Dynasty. Jehangir was smitten by her beauty and called her “Light of the World”. This garden portrays eternal love of the couple and it stands as a proof of that.

Timing

Garden of Char Minar is open from 9.00 am to 7pm during peak tourist season.

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