5 best sunset spots in Srinagar, Kashmir.

“Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, hameen ast-o, hameen ast-o, hameen ast. “A famous couplet by one of the best Sufi poets of the time, Hazrat Amir Khusrau translated as “If there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this” sums up the beauty & serenity of the valley of Kashmir. From it’s towering mountains to it’s flowing rivers, from it’s crystal clear lakes to it’s dense forests, Kashmir perfectly exemplifies the definition of paradise on earth. What magnifies the spectrum of this paradise are the mesmerizing sunsets of the place.

The sunsets in Kashmir are always a sight to cherish, whether that be a sunset immersing in the lakes or a sunset playing peek-a-boo behind the mighty mountains of the valley. Ever since I was a kid, I was intrigued by sunsets. I used to watch sunsets from my bedroom window and often I used to drift away into another dimension all together. Even now, whenever I look out into the sun, the sunset is my reminder that yes indeed, everything will be alright.

The light & the grace of the sunsets are unmatched and the cherry on the top are the “Golden Hours” which always seem unreal to me. I decided to write this blog on sunsets as my tribute to this amazing phenomenon of nature and this got me thinking of another person who is as crazy about sunsets as I am, my friend Shyamli who many of you might know as yourfemalemusaafir.
Shyamli was born and brought up in the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh but decided to settle in the mountains of Kashmir. She’s an artist, a full time traveler and part time student. She’s a fashion communication student at NIFT Srinagar.
Quoting Shyamli, “I use this platform to share some of my adventure stories, mountain madness and my life journeys with all of you.”
What was interesting is when we decided to do this collaboration we both agreed upon the following five places very quickly. So, here are the five places which we both think are perfect in the city of Srinagar to enjoy the tranquility of sunsets.

1) Char Chinari, Dal Lake –
Char Chinari is an island located in the Dal lake which was famous for having four mighty Chinar trees on it, although now only three Chinars are there with the forth one withering away. Char Chinari is accessible via a Shikara. The sunsets at Char Chinari are extremely beautiful & what sets them apart is the fading light of the sunset that blends in with the waves of the Dal Lake making it one of the best sunset spots in Srinagar.
“Shymali’s take” – ‘A place where there are four Chinars’ was the line which made me curious about the place. I fell in love when I first saw Dal lake during the sunset. Oh! what a gorgeous view, I couldn’t take my eyes off it. And before I knew, I had already fallen in love with this jewel. The Kehwa at Dal, Tujj, Shikara rides, Houseboats and so much more. My heart found peace as the sound of water hit my ears & the freshness of the breeze brushed against my skin. Everything about a sunset at Dal lake heals my tired soul’.

2) Astanmarg, Srinagar –
Astanmarg is a beautiful meadow which is just about 6 kilometres away from the famous Harwan garden. This place provides a panoramic view of the whole Srinagar city with amazing view of the Dal Lake, Golf course and Hari Parbat. The sunsets at Astanmarg are so beautiful because at sunset, all the layers of the adjacent mountains light up. So, if you want to relish the beauty of sunsets in mountains, Astanmarg is the place for you.
“Shyamli’s take” – ‘Astanmarg is yet another favorite spot of mine where I’ve witnessed the most beautiful sunsets of my life. When you stand on a rock of that huge mountain and you see the sky changing it’s colors, that my friend, that feeling is called peace.’

3) Shankaracharya Hill, Srinagar –
Also known as “Takht-e-Sulaiman”, Shankaracharya Hill is home to the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva – the Shankaracharya temple. Shankaracharya Hill is part of the Zabarwan range of mountains which overlooks the whole city of Srinagar. The view from the Shankaracharya Hill is quite spectacular as from one side it overlooks the whole city and from the other side it overlooks the dense forests. The light striking against the tall dense coniferous trees makes the sunset here one of it’s kind.
“Shyamli’s Take” – ‘I have seen around 2-3 sunsets from Shankaracharya. Breathtaking I would say. I’ve been a sucker for seasons & colors that mother nature has to offer. I’m a very observant person as to how things change. I hiked up-to the hill and stood still looking at the clouds, happily dancing in the air and it got me thinking of how lucky I am to be alive to see such creations of God.

4) Hari Parbat, Srinagar –
Also known as “Koh-e-Maraan”, Hari Parbat is a fort situated just 5 kilometres away from the heart of the Srinagar city, Lal Chowk. The fort was built during the time of Mughals by an Afghan Governor, Atta Mohammad Khan in 18th century. What makes Koh-e-Maraan special is that it is surrounded by religious structures of Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism which is unique in itself. So at the time of the sunset, God’s divine light illuminates all the three structures which makes the view extra special.
“Shyamli’s Take” – ‘I’ve seen only one sunset from Hari parbat. I could see the whole of the downtown or “Sheher-e-Khaas” change it’s shades from bright to subtle. The fort gives you vibes of vintage ruins, you’ll feel what these walls have been through and the sunsets
here take your breath away.

5) Dargah Hazratbal, Srinagar –
The Hazratbal Shrine, located on the left bank of the Dal lake is the holiest Muslim Shrine in the valley of Kashmir since it houses an important relic “Moi-e-Muqaddas”, the sacred hair of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It took about 11 years for this Shrine to be completed and it remains the only domed mosque in Kashmir. The sunsets at Hazratbal are nothing short of Divine. When the beams of sunlight hit the astonishing structure of the Shrine, they light up the whole place with the gracious light of the almighty which makes the whole view, Mystical.
“Shyamli’s take” – ‘Dargah is the most peaceful place I’ve ever been to in Srinagar. I actually feel the need to visit this Shrine of peace once a month. I take a shared taxi from my home to Lal Chowk and from Lal Chowk to Hazratbal. It’s quite a distance but the vibe of the place keeps me sane. I feel like It’s the almighty who pulls me like gravity towards this place, where I leave all the negativity of the world aside and sit alone with my feet dipped in water and watch the sun go down. Hey, this is home.’

So these are the five of the best spots in Srinagar to watch a sunset and drown in the feeling of the colorful abyss, a sunset or as Shyamli says “The beauty of sunsets is a feeling I can’t explain. I fall in love with them over and over again. So tell me, “don’t you fall in love with sunsets?”

“some of the photos of yourfemalemusaafir are taken by a very talented, up-and-coming photographer – Imbesat ahmad. you can check out his work on Instagram under the username of ‘imbesat.ahmad’.”