Markets, Bridges & Winter Views in Old Kashmir Photographs

A collection of old photographs showing everyday street life and neighborhood scenes in Kashmir from the 1860s to the early 1980s. The pictures include the vegetable market along the Jhelum River near Gow Kadal bridge in Srinagar in 1962 with boats loaded with produce moored at the riverbank; a British polo team on horseback in Gulmarg during the early twentieth century; a landscape view of the Sind Valley in the 1860s with the winding river through dense forests and mountains; a snowy winter scene at Zaina Kadal bridge in Srinagar in 1922 viewed from near the Shah Hamadan Mosque; Safa Kadal in Srinagar in 1964 at the confluence of waterways with river traffic and dense riverfront houses; Jehangir Chowk street in Srinagar in the early 1980s with shops, pedestrians, and light traffic; and children gathered on the banks of the Jhelum River in the early 1980s in a moment of relaxed play. Simple views of old Kashmir.

This photograph from 1962 shows the vegetable market operating along the banks of the Jhelum River near Gow Kadal bridge in Srinagar. Boats loaded with fresh produce are seen moored along the river edge, illustrating how waterways functioned as vital commercial corridors for the transport and sale of vegetables and other goods. Vendors and buyers gathered directly at the riverbank, integrating trade with river-based mobility. The wooden bridge structure, crowded river traffic, and densely built houses in the background reflect the intense economic and social activity concentrated around Srinagar’s bridges. Notably, several of the riverfront houses visible in the image remain standing decades later, making this photograph an important visual record of continuity in Srinagar’s urban landscape and market traditions.

This early twentieth century photograph shows a British polo team assembled on horseback at Gulmarg, one of Kashmir’s most prominent hill stations during the colonial period. Gulmarg became an important center for polo after the sport was introduced and popularized by British officers, who used the open alpine meadows for matches and practice. Polo grounds at Gulmarg were among the highest in the world and played a significant role in shaping the area’s social and recreational life during the summer months. The image documents the formal attire, mounted formation, and disciplined presentation of the team, preserving a visual record of colonial sporting culture and its lasting association with Gulmarg’s landscape.

This photograph from the 1860s presents a view of the Sind Valley in Kashmir, capturing the river as it winds through dense forests and mountainous terrain. Taken during the early period of photographic documentation in the region, the image reflects the pristine natural environment of the valley before modern development. The presence of figures standing along the riverbank provides scale and emphasizes the close relationship between people and the landscape. Such photographs were produced during extensive journeys undertaken by early British photographers who documented Kashmir’s scenery for audiences abroad. The image serves as an important visual record of Sind Valley’s natural character in the nineteenth century, preserving details of its forests, waterways, and unaltered terrain that defined the region’s ecological and geographic identity.

This photograph from 1922 captures a winter scene in Srinagar, showing the Zaina Kadal bridge and the Jhelum River as seen from the vicinity of the Shah Hamadan Mosque. Snow blankets the riverbanks, rooftops, and surrounding trees, reflecting the harsh yet serene character of Kashmiri winters in the early twentieth century. The image records the close relationship between the city and the river, with houses, bridges, and waterways forming an interconnected urban landscape. Taken from material published in the work of Tyndale Biscoe, the photograph serves as an important visual document of Srinagar’s winter environment, architectural setting, and daily life during a period when the city’s rhythms were closely shaped by seasonal change.

This color photograph from 1964 shows Safa Kadal in Srinagar as seen from Baraw Ghat, at the confluence of the Sunder Kol, Doodh Ganga, and the Jhelum River. The image captures the bridge, river traffic, and dense riverfront settlement that characterized this part of the city during the mid twentieth century. Wooden houses, ghats, and small boats line the banks, reflecting how residential life, commerce, and water transport were closely integrated along the Jhelum. The distant hill rising behind the settlement adds geographic context to the urban landscape. As an early color record, the photograph preserves valuable details of Srinagar’s river-based life and built environment before later infrastructural and environmental changes altered the character of the area.

This photograph from the early 1980s shows Jehangir Chowk in Srinagar, one of the city’s important commercial and transit hubs. The image captures a relatively open road layout with shops lining the street, pedestrians moving freely, and limited vehicular traffic compared to later decades. Buses and small vehicles are visible in the background, reflecting public transport patterns of the period. Jehangir Chowk functioned as a central point connecting markets, residential areas, and transport routes, making it a vital part of everyday urban life. The photograph serves as a visual record of Srinagar’s streetscape during a time when traffic density, noise, and pollution were significantly lower, preserving the atmosphere of the city in the early 1980s before rapid urban growth altered its character.

This photograph from the early 1980s shows a group of Kashmiri children gathered on the banks of the Jhelum River, captured in a moment of relaxed companionship and innocence. Dressed in everyday clothing, the children appear at ease within their natural surroundings, reflecting how riversides and wooded areas served as common social and play spaces in Kashmir. The image records an ordinary scene of childhood, marked by closeness, simplicity, and shared presence rather than any formal occasion. Such photographs preserve an important visual record of social life in Kashmir, highlighting how childhood experiences remained rooted in community and environment during a period of relative normalcy before later disruptions altered everyday rhythms.