The city spreads across both banks of the Jhelum — called Vyath in Kashmiri — connected by nine historic bridges that have defined its character for centuries. Famous for its lakes, Mughal gardens, houseboats, traditional handicrafts, and dried fruits, Srinagar is where Kashmir's culture is most alive.

Hokersar, a world-class wetland 14 km north of Srinagar, draws thousands of migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia each winter — brahminy ducks, greylag geese, northern pintails, and more. It is one of the most accessible and ecologically significant wetlands in the valley, alongside Hygam, Shalibug, and Mirgund.