Old Kashmir Images

Srinagar Market scene 1963.
This is Hazratbal backyard market being spread on every Friday and on festivals here. Still in vogue near Tailbal Adda.

Middle of 20th century Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
The Burza mud roofing with grass was a buffer against heat and cold and also used to confine fires.

1929 Young Englishmen Paddling a Boat In Dal Lake.
"Dastaar" in those days was one of the essential part of the Dress Code. Just one look at Dastaar would indicate whether the wearer is A Hindu or Muslim. Even the sub caste/ trade could be made out from the attire of the Dastaar it would indicate the wearer to be one of elites ,carpenter, mason , boatman,Grocer,molvi etc etc same was the case with Kp's.Every body from a small kid to an old man used to wear it.

Srinagar Boulevard Road 1970s - 1980s

Hari Singh High Street Srinagar Kashmir.
Photograph of Hari Singh High Street taken from Amira kadal side in early 1940's. HSHS was built under the orders of Maharajah Hari Singh its construction was started in 1928 & was completed in late 1931. The charge of Major Public Works was under Mr. G.E.C Wakefield CIE OBE Head of The Council of Minister in administration. Engr. Francis Green who was Chief Engr. Of Bombay Presidency was specially brought in for execution of this work & other prestigious projects like The Karan Boulevard ,under ground Sewage System of up town Srinagar & Karan Nagar Road etc.
At HSHS 20 Shopping cum Residential Blocks were constructed to line both sides of the Road, which more or less still survive. Each block had Eight Shops in GF above them each one has Eight Apartments(aka Sets) in 1st& 2nd Floors. The blocks were Auctioned to general public in 1932 with a rider that A Person / Family could buy only one block.

Photograph taken in 1896 AD by an unknown photographer showing a vegetable seller (Green Grocer) and his customers. 

There are two Kashmiri Pandit customers on the right who are identifiable by their way of wearing turban( Dastaar) and Baen on the collar of their pherans. The vegetables I could identify in the shop are
#1 Munjea....(Knol Khol)
#2 Aalle....(Gourd)
#3 Wangen...Brinjel...Aubergine
#4 Aallo...Potatoes
#5 Rohen...Garlic
#6 Hoogard... Sun dried Fish
#7 Masheid Aalle...Pumpkin
In those days no vegetables could be imported from out side the state due to logistics.