srinagarcity

More Shikara riders and a large hotel on the shores of Dal Lake
by shankar s.

Repeat selfie to show that this is the outer shrine, that is the inner shrine
by shankar s.

My friend and host then shows me the right way to pose
by shankar s.

A local resident glides past- maybe a tea stall closed for the day?
by shankar s.

My friend on the steep steps in the Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden
by shankar s.

Typical Mughal style wall inside the Mughal Nishat Garden
by shankar s.

It was difficult to get a good selfie at this spot thanks to the continuous flow of tourists, all stopping for several selfies at the same spot
by shankar s.

A sign about the ubiquitous Chinar tree, found all over Kashmir
by shankar s.

A houseboat, a Shikara, a service boat, the verandah of a house- all on Dal Lake
by shankar s.

I was fascinated that this bush in my hotel grounds resembled the map of India!
by shankar s.

My friend and host strikes a pose on those steep steps
by shankar s.

Too many people resting after climbing the steep steps leading into the Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden
by shankar s.

Shikaras at rest- I was seeing these boats without canopy for the first time
by shankar s.

Stately entrance to the Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden in Srinagar
by shankar s.

Lal Chowk was until recently not a safe place to hang about
by shankar s.

My friend insists I sit and take a more leisurely selfie
by shankar s.

Entrance to the Mughal Nishat Garden in Srinagar
by shankar s.

It was off season, so all saffron fields were devoid of flowers
by shankar s.

All the Shikaras are literally funneled into a market area with overpriced handicrafts
by shankar s.

A look at the lawns and flower beds of the Mughal Nishat Gardens
by shankar s.

I tried to zoom in on the snow capped peaks to the extent possible
by shankar s.

Here is a final selfie against the Avantipora temple ruins
by shankar s.

A view of the outer fringes of the Dal Lake seen from the Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden
by shankar s.

Shikaras and houseboats lined up on the Dal Lake at night
by shankar s.

The mandatory selfie against the clock tower on Srinagar's Lal Chowk
by shankar s.

Some repair and restoration work has been attempted in the Avantipora temple
by shankar s.

I later spotted a group on a Shikara buying something from another convenience store on the Dal Lake
by shankar s.

Gliding past Lilies and a cluster of buildings on the shores of Dal Lake
by shankar s.

Gliding past the rear of one of the houseboats- what tall grass!
by shankar s.

Another pose by my friend in the ruins of the inner shrine of the Awantipora temple
by shankar s.

A hotel on the Dal Lake- yet not directly on the Dal Lake
by shankar s.

Such selfie spots have now sprung up on the shores of Dal Lake
by shankar s.

Ascending the steps to what was once the main sanctum sanctorum
by shankar s.

A better view of the dry water channel. minus the nylon ropees
by shankar s.

Funneled into a narrow market street with idle Shilaras parked to one side
by shankar s.

Just look at those luscious, beautiful red Tulips!
by shankar s.

A local fruit vendor in the suburbs of Srinagar city
by shankar s.

A sprinkling of tourists and the Himalayas towering over the Chashme Shahi Mughal Garden
by shankar s.

How large and grand the temple once was is evident from these steep steps leading to it
by shankar s.

A canopy-less Shikara- I think this is local transport used by locals living on Dal Lake
by shankar s.

Once again my friend and host shows me an interesting pose
by shankar s.

A selfie against the Mughal style wall in the Mughal Nishat Garden
by shankar s.

It was a sorry sight to see this once grand temple now in complete shambles
by shankar s.

Local shepherds herd their flock of sheep
by shankar s.

A selfie against what remains of the inner shrine at Avantipora
by shankar s.

Just the briefest of glimpses of snow capped peaks behind the typical Kashmiri houses in Srinagar
by shankar s.

The Char Chinar (four Chinar trees) landmark on Dal Lake
by shankar s.

A cluster (flotilla?) of Shikaras so far from the shore
by shankar s.

Time to leave Avantipora now, this is an overview of the temple from the entrance path
by shankar s.

Signage at the entrance to the Avantipora Hindu temple ruins outside Srinagar
by shankar s.

All that is left of the Avantipora Hindu temple are bits and pieces of debris
by shankar s.

A French Fries shop- plop in the middle of Dal Lake
by shankar s.

My friend and host absolutely insists I sit there for a more leisurely selfie
by shankar s.

The videos I took of the cascade refused to load on Facebook
by shankar s.

A closer look at what remains of the inner shrine of the Avantipora temple ruins
by shankar s.

Looking out towards the outer shrine from the ruins of the inner shrine
by shankar s.

Though on a damaged temple part, this ancient Hindu sculpture is relatively intact in comparison
by shankar s.

A rather large cafeteria across the waters on the Dal Lake
by shankar s.

A set of steps leads to an inner shrine at Avantipora
by shankar s.

Looking over one of the dried fountains in Nishat Garden towards Dal Lake
by shankar s.