Nishat Bagh Gardens & Srinagar Urban Life in Old Photos

A collection of old photographs showing everyday spaces and routines in Srinagar and surrounding areas from the 1870s to the mid twentieth century. The pictures include the terraced layout of Nishat Bagh garden in the 1870s with stepped pathways toward Dal Lake; the early site of the SPS Library in Srinagar in the 1890s with its stone building and verandas; a traditional wooden granary structure with raised floor and thatched roof in a rural Kashmiri house from the early twentieth century; the market street in Gulmarg with multi-storey wooden shops, pedestrians, and ponies; a narrow urban lane in Srinagar in the mid twentieth century with men conversing and cyclists; and riverside bath houses along the Jhelum River near Habba Kadal in 1964 with wooden platforms and residential buildings. Simple views of old Kashmir.

This 1964 photograph shows a row of traditional bath houses and riverside structures along the Jhelum River in Srinagar, near the Habba Kadal area. The buildings include multi-storey residential and commercial houses facing the river, with wooden bathing platforms extending down to the water. Such bath houses formed an important part of daily life, providing access to the river for washing, bathing, and household use. The surrounding structures housed storage rooms and small shops connected to nearby market areas, reflecting the close integration of river activity with urban commerce. The image preserves a detailed view of riverbank life in mid twentieth century Srinagar, highlighting architectural forms and water-based practices that have since largely disappeared.

This early twentieth century image shows a traditional Kashmiri house commonly known as a granary structure, used for storing paddy and maize. Built primarily of wood with a thatched roof, such houses featured raised floors to protect grain from moisture and pests, with access provided by an external wooden ladder. These storage houses formed an essential part of rural household architecture, closely linked to agricultural cycles and food security. The scene reflects everyday domestic life and building practices in Kashmir, preserving a visual record of vernacular architecture and traditional grain storage methods that were once widespread across the region.

This photograph from the 1870s shows Nishat Bagh with its terraced garden layout extending toward the edge of the lake, creating a visual and physical connection between landscaped space and water. The image documents an early phase of the garden’s setting, when open grounds and pathways linked the garden complex to nearby routes along the base of the Zabarwan range. The stepped terraces and built structures reflect Mughal-era garden planning adapted to Kashmir’s landscape. The scene preserves a rare nineteenth century view of Nishat Bagh before later road construction and changes to the lakefront altered movement patterns and spatial relationships in the area.

This early twentieth century photograph shows the market street of Gulmarg, lined with multi-storey wooden shop buildings and active pedestrian movement. The market functioned as the primary commercial center of the town, serving residents, traders, and visitors arriving through the main approach routes. Shops displayed goods under extended verandas, while ponies were commonly used for transport of people and supplies. The scene reflects the architectural character and everyday commerce of Gulmarg before major political and social disruptions later altered the townscape. The image preserves a detailed record of market life, transport practices, and built form in a prominent hill settlement of Kashmir.

This photograph from the 1890s shows the building associated with the first public library in Srinagar, established in 1898 during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh. Known as the SPS Library, it marked an important step in promoting public access to books and learning in Kashmir. The image captures the architectural setting of the library, with stone railings, verandas, and a landscaped hillside environment. Figures standing near the structure reflect the quiet, formal atmosphere of the site, which functioned as a center for reading and intellectual activity. The photograph preserves a rare visual record of an early cultural institution that contributed to the development of education and public knowledge in Srinagar at the close of the nineteenth century.

This mid twentieth century photograph captures a quiet street scene in Srinagar, showing men standing and conversing along a narrow urban lane while cyclists and pedestrians move through the background. The image reflects everyday social interaction in the city, with traditional attire, walking sticks, and street architecture visible in detail. Such streets formed the backbone of urban life, serving as spaces for conversation, movement, and routine exchange among residents. The photograph preserves a moment of ordinary daily life in Srinagar, documenting the social fabric, street layout, and lived environment of the city during this period.