1980s Srinagar Neighborhoods & Riverbank Life in Old Photos

A collection of old photographs showing everyday street and riverside life in Srinagar during the 1980s. The pictures include narrow residential lanes with traditional multi-storey wooden houses, brick extensions, balconies, overhead wires, and pedestrians going about daily routines; groups of children in simple clothing standing together in neighborhood streets; the Khanqah-e-Moula (Shah-e-Hamdan) shrine with its carved wooden architecture, visitors, and caretakers managing donations; densely built houses along the Jhelum River with stone steps, moored dunga boats, and reflections on the water; a traditional metal utensil shop with hanging pots and vessels; and broader views of the river with bridges, houseboats, and tightly packed riverfront buildings. Simple views of old Kashmir.

This photograph from the 1980s captures a residential street scene in Srinagar, offering a close view of everyday urban life away from formal commercial centers. Traditional multi-storey wooden houses line the narrow street, some with brick extensions and visible balconies, reflecting gradual architectural transitions during this period. Pedestrians of different ages move through the lane, including children and adults engaged in routine activities, while small street-side setups and household items indicate mixed residential and informal economic use of space. Overhead electrical wires crisscross above the street, illustrating expanding urban infrastructure within older neighborhoods. The uneven road surface, scattered debris, and presence of domestic birds emphasize the lived-in, organic character of Srinagar’s inner localities during the late twentieth century. The image documents ordinary life as it unfolded daily, preserving a realistic and unembellished view of the city’s residential environment in the 1980s.

This color photograph from the 1980s shows a group of children standing together on a street in Srinagar, offering a direct and unposed glimpse into everyday childhood during the late twentieth century. The children are dressed in simple, well-worn clothing, some barefoot, reflecting modest living conditions and the realities of daily life in the city at the time. Their expressions range from curiosity to quiet seriousness, suggesting awareness of the camera rather than staged performance. The close grouping highlights companionship and shared experience, common among children growing up in closely knit neighborhoods. The image documents clothing styles, physical surroundings, and social conditions that defined urban childhood in Srinagar during the 1980s, preserving an authentic visual record of a generation shaped by ordinary routines rather than formal settings.

This photograph shows the Khanqah-e-Moula, also known as the shrine of Shah-e-Hamdan, one of the most important Sufi landmarks in Srinagar and the oldest khanqah in the Kashmir Valley. Situated along the banks of the Jhelum River in the Old City, the structure is renowned for its distinctive Kashmiri wooden architecture, featuring carved arches, painted panels, and decorative motifs influenced by Islamic traditions. Built originally in 1395 in association with the Sufi saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani, the khanqah has long served as a central spiritual and social institution for the region. The presence of visitors seated and moving within the shrine reflects its continued role as a living religious space rather than a static monument. This image documents both the architectural richness and the enduring devotional life of one of Srinagar’s most historically significant sacred sites.

This 1980 photograph shows traditional residential houses built along the banks of the Jhelum River in Srinagar, with a dunga boat moored at the water’s edge. Multi-storey wooden and stone houses rise directly from the riverbank, reflecting the historic pattern of settlement where waterways functioned as primary access routes for transport, trade, and daily life. Stone steps descending into the river indicate regular interaction with the water, while the presence of people and the dunga highlights the continued use of river transport during this period. The architecture combines timber balconies, masonry walls, and compact layouts shaped by limited space and long-established urban traditions. Reflections of the buildings on the calm river surface emphasize the close relationship between housing and water in Srinagar’s old neighborhoods. The image documents a lived riverside environment that defined the city’s social and spatial character well into the late twentieth century.

This photograph from 1980 presents a detailed view of densely built residential houses lining the banks of the Jhelum River in Srinagar, with dunga boats moored directly below the structures. The multi-storey buildings, constructed from a combination of timber, brick, and stone, display characteristic Kashmiri architectural features such as wooden balconies, lattice windows, and extended upper floors. The proximity of homes to the river reflects a long-established pattern of river-oriented urban living, where waterways served as essential routes for transport, supply, and daily movement. The presence of large dunga boats, used as floating homes and storage vessels, highlights the continued functional role of the river well into the late twentieth century. Weathered surfaces, varied building additions, and closely packed layouts illustrate organic growth shaped by generations rather than planned development. This image documents the intimate relationship between housing, water, and everyday life that defined Srinagar’s historic riverfront neighborhoods.

This photograph from the 1980s shows caretakers and donation collectors at the Khanqah-e-Moula, also known as the shrine of Shah-e-Hamdan, one of the most important Sufi institutions in Srinagar. The men are seated at the entrance area of the khanqah, dressed in traditional attire, reflecting their roles as custodians responsible for managing offerings, maintaining order, and supporting the daily spiritual activities of the shrine. A prominently displayed cloth with religious symbols and inscriptions indicates the organized collection of donations contributed by devotees. Such caretakers formed the administrative backbone of the khanqah, ensuring its upkeep, ritual continuity, and service to the community. The carved wooden and stone architectural elements visible in the background reinforce the historic character of the shrine. This image documents the human dimension of Shah-e-Hamdan’s khanqah, highlighting how religious heritage was sustained through everyday custodial work in Srinagar during the late twentieth century.

This photograph from the 1980s shows a traditional residential house built along the banks of the Jhelum River in Srinagar, illustrating the close relationship between domestic architecture and waterways in the old city. The multi-storey structure combines brick masonry with wooden balconies, windows, and roof detailing, reflecting characteristic Kashmiri building practices of the period. Stone steps descend directly from the house to the river, indicating regular daily interaction with the water for household and communal activities. A small group of people standing near the steps emphasizes the human scale of the setting and the river’s role as a shared public space. The elevated foundation and retaining walls demonstrate adaptation to seasonal water levels and riverbank conditions. This image documents everyday riverside living in Srinagar during the late twentieth century, preserving an architectural and social landscape that shaped life along the Jhelum for generations.

This photograph from the 1980s presents a broad view of the Jhelum River in Srinagar, capturing the layered relationship between water, housing, and transport that defined the city’s historic core. Large dunga boats are moored along the riverbank, while smaller shikara boats rest in the foreground, highlighting different scales of rivercraft used for living, storage, and daily movement. Across the river, tightly packed residential and commercial buildings rise from stepped embankments, reflecting long-established patterns of riverside settlement. A bridge spans the Jhelum to the right, connecting neighborhoods and reinforcing the river’s role as both a divider and a link within the urban landscape. The calm water surface mirrors the surrounding architecture, emphasizing the visual and practical integration of the river into everyday life. This image documents a period when the Jhelum remained central to Srinagar’s social, economic, and spatial organization during the late twentieth century.

This photograph from 1980 captures a traditional metal utensil shop in Srinagar, illustrating an important aspect of everyday urban commerce during the late twentieth century. A wide variety of aluminum and metal vessels, including water pots, cooking containers, and storage items, are densely displayed by hanging them from beams and stacking them along the storefront. The shopkeeper is seated within the display, emphasizing the small-scale, family-run nature of such businesses. These utensils were essential household items, widely used for cooking, water storage, and daily domestic needs across Srinagar. The crowded arrangement reflects both limited shop space and a practical method of showcasing goods to passersby. This image documents local retail practices, and material culture that defined market life in Srinagar during the 1980s, preserving a familiar scene from everyday economic life.