Twentieth-Century Social Life & Public Spaces in Old Kashmir Photos

A collection of old photographs showing everyday social interactions and public spaces in Kashmir during the twentieth century. The pictures include Amira Kadal bridge in Srinagar in 1965 with pedestrians and a horse-drawn tanga; a group waiting outdoors for medical care in 1912 beneath trees; the Jhelum River at Nawakadal in the 1940s with a covered donga boat and lightly built riverbanks; women carrying woven baskets of household items along a riverbank in the 1950s; a group of women in traditional attire gathered outside a stone and wooden structure in the late 1950s; and a narrow commercial lane near Habba Kadal Chowk in Srinagar in 1982 with shops, pedestrians, and a car. Simple views of old Kashmir.

A mid twentieth century photograph showing Amira Kadal bridge in Srinagar during 1965, when horse-drawn tanga carriages served as a common mode of urban transport. Pedestrians are visible using the footpaths while a tanga moves along the roadway, reflecting an orderly pattern of movement within the city. At this time, non-motorized transport played a significant role in daily travel, supporting local livelihoods connected to horse ownership and carriage operation. The image documents a transitional period in Srinagar’s transport history, capturing street discipline, bridge design, and everyday mobility before motor vehicles became dominant.

A group photograph from 1912 showing Kashmiri men, women, and children gathered outdoors while waiting for medical attention. The patients are seated and standing beneath trees, dressed in everyday clothing of the period, reflecting the conditions under which early medical services operated in Kashmir. During the early twentieth century, treatment was often provided in temporary or open-air settings before the establishment of permanent hospital infrastructure. This image documents an important moment in the history of healthcare in Kashmir, illustrating both community reliance on emerging medical services and the social realities of illness and care during the colonial era.

A photograph from the 1940s showing the Jhelum River flowing through the Nawakadal area of Srinagar, with a covered donga boat moving calmly along the water. The riverbanks are lightly built and bordered by trees, reflecting the lower population density and open landscape of the period. Religious and residential structures are visible in the background, illustrating how settlements developed closely alongside the river. During this time, the Jhelum served as a primary route for transport, trade, and daily movement within the city. The image documents a quieter phase of Srinagar’s river life before later urban expansion significantly altered the character of its banks and waterways.

A photograph from the 1950s showing women walking along a river bank in Kashmir while carrying woven baskets filled with household and kitchen utensils balanced on their heads. The group is dressed in everyday clothing typical of the period, reflecting the practical routines of daily life centered around rivers and water access. Such scenes were common when rivers served as essential spaces for washing, cleaning, and transporting household items. The image documents women’s labor and mobility in mid twentieth century Kashmir, highlighting the close relationship between domestic work, waterways, and community life before the widespread availability of modern infrastructure.

A late 1950s photograph showing a group of Kashmiri women gathered together, dressed in traditional everyday clothing with head coverings drawn closely around their faces. The image reflects common modes of dress and modesty practiced in rural and urban communities during this period. The women appear outside a stone and wooden structure, suggesting a domestic or neighborhood setting. Such photographs offer valuable insight into social customs, attire, and expressions of daily life in Kashmir during the mid twentieth century, preserving details of appearance and community interaction before rapid social and economic changes transformed local lifestyles.

A street scene photographed in 1982 near Habba Kadal Chowk in Srinagar, showing a private car moving through a narrow commercial lane lined with shops and residential buildings. Pedestrians are visible along both sides of the street, reflecting the dense yet orderly flow of everyday urban life in this historic area. The architecture, signage, and street layout illustrate the character of Srinagar’s inner neighborhoods during the early 1980s, before later infrastructural changes altered traffic patterns and connectivity. The image documents a period when traditional marketplaces and mixed residential streets continued to function as active social and commercial spaces within the city.