Community Moments & Daily Routines in Old Kashmir Photographs

A collection of old photographs showing everyday life and community scenes in Kashmir from the late 19th century to the 1980s. The pictures include the Fateh Kadal riverfront in Srinagar during the 1940s with its bridge and dense buildings along the Jhelum River; two boys in a wooden boat among lotus plants on Dal Lake in 1981; British-era tents at Sonawar Bagh camping ground in Srinagar in 1911; a group of children gathered near Dal Lake in the 1970s; Kashmiri women spinning wool and pashmina yarn using traditional yander wheels in homes and courtyards; and portrait of renowned oral storyteller Hatim Tilwoun from Panzin village in Kangan in 1896. Simple views of old Kashmir.

This photograph from the 1940s presents a view of Fateh Kadal in Srinagar, with the bridge spanning the Jhelum River and a dense cluster of buildings lining its banks. During this period, the riverfront around Fateh Kadal functioned as an important commercial and cultural zone, housing several well-known Kashmiri art and craft showrooms. The close placement of shops, residences, and the bridge reflects how trade, daily life, and river transport were closely interconnected. The architecture visible along the embankment illustrates traditional urban construction adapted to the river’s edge. The image serves as a valuable visual record of Srinagar’s mid twentieth century riverfront economy and the central role of the Jhelum in shaping the city’s commercial and cultural landscape.

This photograph from 1981 shows two Kashmiri boys seated in a narrow wooden boat on Dal Lake in Srinagar, surrounded by dense lotus vegetation. The image reflects the close relationship between local communities and the lake, where boats were used not only for transport but also formed part of everyday childhood experience. Dal Lake functioned as a living space, providing livelihood, mobility, and recreation for families residing along its shores. The calm water, traditional boat, and natural setting capture a moment of confidence and familiarity with the environment, offering an authentic visual record of life on Dal Lake during the late twentieth century before intensified environmental and commercial pressures transformed the lake’s character.

This photograph from 1911 shows Sonawar Bagh in Srinagar, which served as a major camping site during the British period. The image records rows of tents set amid open grounds and tall poplar trees, reflecting the seasonal presence of British officials, military personnel, and visitors who established temporary camps in Kashmir. Sonawar Bagh was valued for its open landscape, proximity to the city, and favorable climate, making it suitable for organized encampments. The scene illustrates how large portions of Srinagar’s outskirts were adapted for administrative and residential use during the colonial era. As a historical document, the photograph preserves an important record of land use, colonial presence, and the transformation of Kashmiri landscapes in the early twentieth century.

This photograph from the 1970s shows a group of Kashmiri children gathered near Dal Lake in Srinagar, captured in an informal and unposed moment. The image reflects everyday childhood life in Kashmir, where children spent much of their time outdoors within their neighborhoods and lakeside environments. Their simple clothing, bare feet, and relaxed expressions illustrate modest living conditions and a close connection to surrounding spaces. Dal Lake and its adjoining areas functioned not only as economic and residential zones but also as social environments where children played and interacted freely. The photograph preserves a valuable visual record of childhood, community life, and social atmosphere in Kashmir during the late twentieth century.

This composite photograph documents Kashmiri women engaged in the traditional practice of spinning wool and pashmina yarn using hand-operated spinning wheels, locally known as yander. Such work was carried out within homes and courtyards, often alongside daily household responsibilities, and required long hours of patience and physical effort. Spinning formed an essential source of supplementary income for families and was widely regarded as honest and dignified labor. Earnings from this work contributed to household needs, social obligations, and family events, including the preparation of dowries. The images collectively preserve a powerful visual record of women’s economic contribution, resilience, and central role in sustaining Kashmiri domestic and craft traditions before mechanized production gradually replaced these practices.

This photograph from 1896 depicts Hatim Tilwoun of Panzin village in Kangan, one of the most celebrated oral storytellers in the history of Kashmir. Hatim Tilwoun was a master reciter of folk tales, songs, and narratives drawn from history, mythology, and lived experience, preserving them through memory and spoken word. His performances took place across towns and villages of the Kashmir Valley, where he sang, recited, and narrated stories to attentive audiences. His oral tradition was later carefully recorded by Sir Marc Aurel Stein, whose documentation helped preserve these narratives for future generations. The image represents a rare visual record of Kashmir’s hereditary storytelling tradition, highlighting the importance of oral culture in preserving collective memory before the widespread use of written literature.