Urban Streets & Lakeside Routines in Old Kashmir Photographs

A collection of old photographs showing everyday street life, waterways, and public spaces in Kashmir from the late nineteenth century to the 1980s. The pictures include Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar in 1983 with wooden shops and light pedestrian traffic; Ali Kadal wooden bridge over the Jhelum River in late nineteenth-century Srinagar with dense riverbank buildings; people washing clothes along Dal Lake stone steps in 1977; a traditional donga boat carrying passengers on calm waters in the early twentieth century; Mercedes tour buses parked at Tangmarg en route to Gulmarg in the 1960s with a government cafeteria nearby; and Nishat Garden along Dal Lake in the late nineteenth century with terraced steps reaching the water and no road access. Simple views of old Kashmir.

A street view of Hari Singh High Street in Srinagar photographed in 1983, showing traditional wooden commercial buildings, small shops, and everyday pedestrian activity. The road appears lightly trafficked, with only a few private vehicles and bicycles visible, reflecting a period when motor traffic remained limited in the city center. Such streets functioned as important commercial and social corridors, balancing retail activity with residential life. The photograph captures a calm urban atmosphere characteristic of Srinagar during the early 1980s, before increased vehicle ownership and congestion significantly altered the character of its streets.

A nineteenth century photograph showing Ali Kadal bridge crossing the Jhelum River in Srinagar, viewed from the right bank of the river. The bridge, identified as the fifth bridge of the city, is seen with its distinctive timber and lattice construction supported by wooden piers resting in the flowing water. Surrounding buildings along the riverbank illustrate the dense urban settlement that developed around the Jhelum, which functioned as the primary artery of transport and commerce in Srinagar. Ali Kadal holds historical significance as one of the earliest bridges linking different quarters of the city, and this image provides a valuable visual record of Srinagar’s riverine architecture and urban landscape during the late nineteenth century.

A color photograph from 1977 showing groups of people engaged in washing clothes along the stone steps at the edge of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Men and women are gathered at the waterline, scrubbing garments and rinsing them in the lake, reflecting a common domestic routine before widespread access to private water supply and modern washing facilities. Such lakeside washing areas functioned as shared community spaces where daily labor, conversation, and social interaction took place. The image documents an everyday aspect of urban life in Srinagar during the late twentieth century, highlighting the close relationship between the city’s residents and its waterways.

An early twentieth century photograph showing a traditional donga boat carrying passengers on the calm waters of Kashmir. The covered wooden vessel, guided by an oarsman, reflects a popular form of leisure and transport during this period, when families and groups often hired dongas for day-long or multi-day outings. Such cruises commonly connected river ghats and lakeside locations, serving both recreational and practical purposes within the region’s water-based transport system. The image illustrates the social use of rivers and lakes in Kashmir, where boating formed an integral part of everyday life, travel, and seasonal recreation before the advent of modern motorized transport.

A color photograph from the 1960s showing Mercedes tour buses parked at Tangmarg, a key transit point on the route to Gulmarg. The buses reflect the organized tourist transport system that operated in Kashmir during this period, catering to visitors traveling to the region’s hill resorts. In the background stands a government cafeteria building, which served travelers and bus passengers, while nearby hotels and roadside facilities supported the seasonal flow of tourism. The image documents an era when road travel, guided tours, and state-managed services played a central role in shaping Gulmarg’s identity as a prominent tourist destination in Kashmir.

A late nineteenth century photograph showing Nishat Garden situated directly along the edge of Dal Lake, with garden buildings, terraced walls, and stone steps descending to the water. At the time this image was taken, there was no road access to the garden from the lakeside, and boats provided the primary means of approach. The steps touching the lake highlight the close relationship between Mughal garden design and Kashmir’s water landscape, where lakes and waterways formed essential routes of movement and leisure. The surrounding mountains and cultivated foreground reflect the secluded and carefully planned setting of Nishat during this period, offering a valuable visual record of the garden’s historical layout before later infrastructural changes.