Mid-20th Century Srinagar River & Street Life in Old Photos

A collection of old photographs showing everyday movement and community scenes in Srinagar during the mid to late twentieth century. The pictures include houseboats moored along the Jhelum River near Budshah Bridge in 1969 with integrated riverside neighborhoods; Kashmiri women gathered in a public setting in the 1950s wearing traditional clothing; a man in traditional attire with a walking stick at a communal event in 1960; residents along the shores of Wular Lake in 1958 engaged in washing, fishing, and social activities beside stone embankments; small boats on the Jhelum River at Zaina Kadal in 1985 with dense riverbank buildings; and people crossing Amira Kadal bridge in 1962 using bicycles, tongas, and foot traffic. Simple views of old Kashmir.

This 1969 color photograph shows a line of houseboats moored along the Jhelum River near Budshah Bridge in Srinagar. The river served as the main waterway of the Kashmir Valley, supporting transport, trade, and residential life along its banks. Houseboats on the Jhelum functioned as permanent dwellings, guest accommodations, and commercial spaces, closely integrated with bridges and riverside neighborhoods. Budshah Bridge appears in the background, linking urban quarters on both sides of the river. The image documents river-based living and the architectural relationship between water, housing, and infrastructure in Srinagar during the late twentieth century, before major changes in river use and urban planning altered this landscape.

This photograph from the 1950s presents a close view of Kashmiri women gathered in a public setting, their expressions calm, direct, and unadorned. Dressed in simple traditional clothing with head coverings, the women reflect the everyday social presence of women in mid twentieth century Kashmir. Such gatherings were part of communal life, whether linked to religious occasions, local events, or shared public spaces. The image captures a moment of quiet dignity and sincerity, preserving facial expressions and attire that convey the social values, modesty, and simplicity characteristic of the period. It serves as a powerful visual record of women’s presence and participation in Kashmir’s public life during this era.

This photograph from 1960 shows a Kashmiri man standing at a public gathering, dressed in traditional attire that reflects the clothing practices of the period. The long outer garment, loose trousers, and walking stick were common elements of everyday dress among older generations, particularly during public and communal events. Such attire represented practicality, cultural continuity, and social identity within Kashmiri society. The image captures a moment of generational presence and preserves a visual record of traditional dress forms that were widely worn in mid twentieth century Kashmir.

This 1958 photograph documents everyday life along the shores of Wular Lake in Kashmir, one of the region’s most important freshwater bodies. Residents are seen gathered near the water’s edge beside stone embankments and traditional dwellings, reflecting a way of life closely linked to the lake environment. Activities around the shoreline included washing, water collection, fishing, and social interaction, all shaped by seasonal water levels and local geography. The image preserves a visual record of human settlement living in balance with the lake ecosystem during the mid twentieth century, before large-scale environmental and infrastructural changes altered the character and extent of Wular Lake.

This 1985 photograph shows the Jhelum River at Zaina Kadal in Srinagar, with small boats navigating the water and dense riverside buildings rising along the banks. By this period, boat-based crossings and regular shikara movement on the Jhelum had begun to decline as bridges and road transport became more dominant. The image captures a transitional phase in the river’s use, when traditional water travel still existed but was no longer central to daily movement. Reflections of historic structures along the riverbank highlight the close relationship between architecture and waterways that once defined Srinagar’s urban character. The photograph preserves a late twentieth century view of river life at Zaina Kadal before further changes reshaped the Jhelum’s role in the city.

This 1962 photograph captures daily movement across Amira Kadal bridge in Srinagar at a time when tongas and bicycles were the primary modes of urban transport. The bridge is seen filled with cyclists, pedestrians, and a horse-drawn tonga carrying passengers, reflecting a slower, human-paced rhythm of city life. With no motor vehicles present, transport relied on physical movement and animal power, shaping both traffic flow and social interaction. The image documents an era before widespread motorization, preserving a visual record of everyday mobility, street culture, and public space in mid twentieth century Srinagar.