Urban Order & Family Moments in Old Kashmir Photographs

A collection of old photographs showing everyday life and community scenes in Kashmir from around 1900 to the early 1980s. The pictures include a bird's-eye view of Amira Kadal bridge in Srinagar in 1952 with orderly pedestrians and moored boats along the riverbank; large crowds calmly arriving at Eidgah ground in Srinagar for Eid prayers in 1954; a group resting during winter skiing in Gulmarg in 1947 with snow-covered slopes; a village girl standing in open rural fields in 1955; people gathering and conversing along a canal-side ghat in Kralyar, Rainawari around 1900; a young girl with her younger brother in a tender family moment in 1977; and a bustling Lal Chowk street market in Srinagar in the early 1980s with shops, pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. Simple views of old Kashmir.

This rare 1952 photograph presents a bird’s-eye view of Amira Kadal, one of Srinagar’s most important historic bridges, captured during a period of calm urban order and collective discipline. The bridge is occupied entirely by pedestrians, all moving through designated footpaths, reflecting an era before motor vehicles became dominant in the city. Below the bridge, traditional wooden boats are moored along the riverbank, with one vessel clearly heading toward the Chowk area, highlighting the continued reliance on river transport for daily movement and trade. The Bund Road and the road leading toward Chowk appear as quiet extensions of the bridge, free from congestion and visual disorder. Surrounding wooden residences, civic buildings, and a visible gurdwara structure near the bridge illustrate the architectural diversity and communal fabric of mid-twentieth-century Srinagar. The image captures a slower, orderly phase of urban life that defined the city during this period.

This historic photograph from 1954 shows large crowds of people arriving at the Eidgah ground in Srinagar to offer Eid prayers, capturing a moment of collective religious observance and social harmony. Men of different ages are seen walking calmly across open ground toward the prayer area, dressed in a mix of traditional attire and formal coats, reflecting the cultural and social fabric of mid-twentieth-century Kashmir. The orderly movement of the crowd highlights a strong sense of discipline and shared purpose, with no visible signs of congestion or disturbance. Trees, distant structures, and open space frame the gathering, emphasizing the scale of participation and the importance of Eidgah as a central religious and communal space. The image documents not only a religious occasion but also everyday social order, public behavior, and dress patterns in Srinagar during the 1950s.

This 1947 photograph captures a winter recreation scene in Gulmarg, one of Kashmir’s most prominent hill resorts during the late colonial period. A mixed group of individuals is seen resting on a snow-covered slope, surrounded by skis and winter equipment, indicating organized skiing activity rather than casual travel. The presence of European-style clothing, ski poles, and structured gear reflects Gulmarg’s status as a favored seasonal retreat for British officials and visitors before 1947. During this period, Gulmarg hosted summer camps and administrative facilities used by British residents, reinforcing its role as both a leisure destination and a strategic high-altitude settlement. The mountainous backdrop, dense tree line, and expansive snowfields illustrate the natural environment that made Gulmarg suitable for winter sports and alpine recreation. The image documents an early phase of skiing culture in Kashmir and highlights the region’s integration into colonial-era recreational practices.

This 1955 photograph portrays a village girl from rural Kashmir, standing calmly in open fields under an expansive sky. Her relaxed posture and natural smile convey a sense of quiet confidence and contentment rooted in everyday village life. Dressed in simple, traditional clothing, she represents a generation shaped by agrarian routines, close community ties, and minimal material dependence. The surrounding landscape, likely cultivated farmland, situates her within the rhythms of rural labor and seasonal cycles that defined much of Kashmir’s social fabric during the mid-twentieth century. The image reflects an era marked by simplicity, authenticity, and social balance, before rapid modernization altered rural environments and lifestyles. More than a personal portrait, the photograph serves as a visual record of the cultural values, attire, and lived realities of Kashmiri village society in the 1950s.

This photograph from around 1900 depicts the Kralyar area of Rainawari in Srinagar, centered around a canal-side ghat that served as an important space for daily social and economic activity. Stone steps descend directly into the water, where men and women are seen sitting, conversing, and moving about in small wooden boats, reflecting the deep integration of waterways into everyday urban life. The structure in the background, likely a local religious or communal building, anchors the scene as a shared public space rather than a private setting. Clothing styles, relaxed postures, and informal gatherings illustrate a society accustomed to modest living conditions and close community interaction. While material resources appear limited, the image conveys resilience, routine, and continuity across generations. This scene offers a valuable visual record of early twentieth-century Srinagar, where water, architecture, and social life were closely interwoven.

This 1977 photograph captures a tender moment between a young girl and her younger brother, reflecting the close-knit family bonds that shaped everyday life in Kashmir during the late twentieth century. The girl’s protective posture and steady gaze convey responsibility and care beyond her years, while the younger child’s expression suggests quiet dependence and trust. Their simple clothing and the outdoor setting indicate an ordinary day rather than a staged portrait, emphasizing authenticity and lived reality. Scenes like this were common in households where older siblings often played an active role in caring for younger children, especially in working or modest-income families. The image preserves a timeless expression of affection, resilience, and familial duty, offering insight into childhood relationships and social values in Kashmir during this period.

This early 1980s photograph captures a bustling street and market scene at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, viewed from the direction of Amira Kadal toward the Gantaghar area. The image reflects the commercial heart of the city during a period of steady urban activity, with pedestrians, shopkeepers, cyclists, cars, and livestock sharing the same roadway. Multi-storey wooden shopfronts line both sides of the street, displaying goods and signage that illustrate the dense commercial character of the area. The presence of vehicles alongside traditional modes of movement highlights a transitional phase in Srinagar’s urban life, where modern transport coexisted with older street practices. Overhead electrical lines, crowded pavements, and active storefronts convey the rhythm of daily commerce and social interaction. This photograph serves as an important visual record of Lal Chowk as a central economic and civic space in Srinagar during the late twentieth century, documenting everyday life before later political and infrastructural transformations.