Shankaracharya Mandir

Srinagar

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On top of thickly forested Shankaracharya Hill, this small Shiva temple is built from hefty blocks of ancient grey stone. Previously known as Takht-i-Sulaiman (Throne of Solomon), it’s now named for Hindu sage Adi Shankara who visited here in AD 750, but signs date the octagonal structure as 5th century and the site is even older.

Access is by a winding 5.5km road from a checkpoint near Nehru Park (₹300 return by autorickshaw). Walking up is not recommended as there are bears living in the intermediate forest. The road ends at another checkpoint, where you must leave phones and cameras before climbing five minutes up a stairway to the temple and its panoramic views of Srinagar and Dal Lake.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Morning view of Dal Lake

    Dal Lake

    1.17 MILES

    Over 15km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar's jewel, a vast sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the…

  • SRINAGAR, KASHMIR, JAMMU & KASHMIR, INDIA - 2013/06/01: The Shah Hamdan Mosque, or Shrine, is situated on the right bank of the Jhelum River, is dedicated to the memory of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani, a Muslim saint from Hamadan, Persia. It is an excellent example of indigenous wooden architecture that draws influence from Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic architecture. Constructed by San Sikandar and dedicated to the memory of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani, a Muslim saint from Hamadan, Persia, this mosque also serves as a khanqah. (Photo by Jeremy Horner/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    Khanqah Shah-i-Hamadan

    2.22 MILES

    This distinctively spired 1730s Muslim pilgrim hall is Srinagar’s most beautiful mosque. It was constructed without any nails, and both frontage and…

  • Nishat Bagh

    Nishat Bagh

    3.75 MILES

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  • Thajiwas Valley

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    28.51 MILES

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  • Hari Parbat Fort

    Hari Parbat Fort

    2.41 MILES

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  • Naranag Shiva temple ruins

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    20.25 MILES

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  • Jama Masjid

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    2.33 MILES

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  • Hazratbal Mosque

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Nearby Srinagar attractions

1. First Row Houseboats

0.59 MILES

For guests, the first-row houseboats can prove noisy and lacking in privacy. However, as an attraction they collectively form Srinagar's signature image.

2. Floating Vegetable Market

1.07 MILES

In the maze of channels at the edge of Dal Lake, the dawn vegetable market is a photogenic sight, even if vendors flogging souvenirs and saffron can…

3. Dal Lake

1.17 MILES

Over 15km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar's jewel, a vast sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the…

4. Mirzabagh Veg Boat Dock

1.28 MILES

Much of Srinagar's fresh produce is brought in from 'floating gardens' and landed at this tiny dock, making for photogenic scenes.

5. Pir Dastgir Sahib

1.76 MILES

This large, popular Sufi shrine was ravaged by fire in 2012 but the colourful paper mache interior work for which it was renowned has been restored. The…

6. Rozabal

1.85 MILES

At the north end of the triangular patch of grass near the Sufi shrine of Pir Dastgir Sahib is a small, green shrine known as Rozabal. A highly…

7. Bund

1.87 MILES

A few colonial-era half-timbered buildings remain along the northern towpath of the Jhelum River. The most splendid example is the former British…

8. Pari Mahal

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Pari Mahal (literally 'Palace of the Fairies') is a 17th-century former Sufi centre built by the eldest son of Shah Jahan. The terraced lawns and arched…

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