Riverfront Homes & Street Trade in Old Kashmir Photographs

A collection of old photographs showing everyday life along rivers and streets in Srinagar from the early twentieth century to the 1980s. The pictures include a downstream view of the Jhelum River at Habba Kadal with wooden houses lining both banks, small boats, and riverside settlements near Purshiyar Mandir; a dry fruit seller in 1970 weighing nuts on a traditional balance with children watching; a busy Lal Chowk street scene in the late 1970s–early 1980s with pedestrians, vehicles, shops, and mountains in the background; a group of children sitting outdoors, one braiding another's hair in a simple rural setting; the Jhelum River at Habba Kadal in 1934 with moored boats and riverfront houses against snowy mountains; and a postcard view from the Third Bridge showing dense riverbank neighborhoods and the bridge connecting them. Simple views of old Kashmir.

A downstream view of the Jhelum River as seen from Habba Kadal bridge in the early twentieth century. The photograph shows wooden houses lining both banks of the river, with small boats moving through the calm water. On the left side, the riverside settlement near Purshiyar Mandir is visible, while the opposite bank reflects dense residential quarters that grew closely around the river. The image captures a period when the Jhelum functioned as the main artery of movement, trade, and daily life in Srinagar, shaping the city’s neighborhoods and routines through its constant presence.

A street-side dry fruit seller in Srinagar in 1970 weighs nuts using a traditional balance while children stand nearby observing the scene. The stall displays walnuts and other local produce laid out on a cloth-covered table, reflecting everyday trade practices of the time. The presence of children, the simple setup, and the open public space together capture a moment of ordinary street life, where commerce, curiosity, and daily routine naturally intersected in the city.

A busy street scene at Lal Chowk in Srinagar during the late 1970s to early 1980s. Pedestrians, cars, and auto rickshaws move through the city’s main commercial junction, with shops and multi-storey buildings lining both sides of the road. Lal Chowk functioned as a central point for trade, transport, and everyday interaction, and the distant mountain backdrop reflects how urban life in Srinagar remained closely connected to its surrounding landscape. The photograph records the steady rhythm of daily movement in one of the city’s most important public spaces.

A group of Kashmiri children sit closely together on the ground in an open outdoor setting, wrapped in simple clothing and absorbed in a quiet moment. One child braids another’s hair while the younger ones rest nearby, suggesting care, familiarity, and shared routine. The bare landscape and tree trunks in the background place the scene in a rural or edge-of-settlement environment, where daily life unfolded simply and communally. The photograph reflects childhood as it was lived then, shaped by closeness, resourcefulness, and unspoken bonds within family and community.

A view of the Jhelum River at Habba Kadal in Srinagar, photographed in 1934. Wooden boats are moored along the riverbank while multi-storey houses and shopfronts rise directly from the water’s edge. In the distance, the snow-covered mountains frame the city, emphasizing the close relationship between Srinagar’s urban life and its natural setting. The image reflects a time when the river served as a primary route for transport, trade, and daily movement, shaping the rhythm of life in the city’s central neighborhoods.

An early postcard view of the Third Bridge spanning the Jhelum River in Srinagar, offering a wide perspective of the city’s riverfront neighborhoods. Multi-storey houses line the banks, rising closely from the water, while the bridge connects the dense settlements on either side. In the background, the hills frame the urban landscape, emphasizing the layered setting of river, town, and mountains. The postcard reflects a period when bridges like this served as key vantage points from which Srinagar’s everyday river life and built environment could be clearly observed.