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Background

If there were any stages for creating Kashmir 'the Paradise on Earth,' Anantnag would be the highest, without a doubt. This assertion is supported by its rivetting springs, babbling streams, tree-clad mountains, shrouded hills, perfumed meadows, delicious fruit orchards, and agreeable climate. This slice of paradise combines unique tourist destinations such as Chatpal, Achabal, Daksum, and Breng with well-known picturesque destinations like Pahalgam, Kokernag, and Verinag. Finding a geographical competitor to Anantnag would be extremely difficult. Anantnag, one of Kashmir's oldest districts, is known for its unrivaled beauty and sprawling serenity, which is attributed to the coming together of various faiths. Amarnath Cave, Kheer Bhawani, Aishmuqam Shrine, Baba Dawood Khakhi, and Chapel of John Bishop, to name a few, are among the many notable religious sites in Anantnag.

History

Anantnag is one of the world's oldest human settlements, having been continuously inhabited for almost 3000 years. Anantnag has been mentioned in legendary epics, ancient chronicles, and archival records as a natural-born historical city-state from the Neolithic age. The district's name, like everything else about it, symbolizes its fascinating history. The name Anantnag is a combination of the Sanskrit word 'Ananta,' which means countless, and the Kashmiri word 'naga,' which means water springs; thus, Anant-nga means 'land of countless springs.' According to archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein, the town was named after one of its springs, Ananta Naga, which emerges at the city's southern end. Almost every local historian backs up the claim. Another school of thought holds that the Nag in the name refers to serpents, and therefore Anantnag means "land of innumerable serpents." In Hindu legend, Anantnag is where Lord Shiva stopped to rest his many snakes on their way to the Amarnath caves.

Places To Visit

Ziarat Baba Hyder Reshi

The grave of Baba Hyder Reshi, also known as Harda Reshi or Reshi Molu, is located in Mohalla Reshi Sahab in Anantnag's Danter hamlet. The saint Baba Hyder Reshi's remains, as well as those of his 21 pupils, are interred here. Both Hindus and Muslims revere the shrine, which they frequently visit in order to seek spiritual blessings. Baba Hyder Reshi's countless miracles during his lifetime have given them faith in this shrine. He achieved these incredible spiritual abilities through intense meditation and abstinence. He didn't eat meat or onions for the rest of his life. On his anniversary, locals abstain from eating meat for a week in honor of him and to offer their respects.

Amarnath Cave

Amarnath cave is a holy shrine on Mount Amarnath's peak, at an elevation of 12,756 feet above sea level. Amarnath is the holiest shrine of Lord Shiva and one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus, built over a 5000-year-old cave. These caves are about 68 kilometers from Srinagar, the capital city. The cave is sacred because it is where Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvati, his companion, the knowledge of immortality and the creation of the universe. The Hindu scriptures reference the 'Amar Katha' narrative, which describes Shiva and Parvati's trek to these caverns for full isolation. Inside the mountain cave, water droplets drip down from the top and freeze into ice, forming an ice stalagmite known as Shiv Linga, which Hindus believe is a phallic emblem of Hindu God Lord Shiva. Shiv Linga's natural ice formation grows from May to August and then gradually wanes after that.

Martand Sun Temple

Martand Sun Temple is located in the district of Anantnag, around 71 kilometers from Srinagar. The temple is devoted to the Sun God, known as 'Martand' in Sanskrit, another name for the sun deity in Hinduism. It is perched on top of a plateau and surrounded by amazing views. The temple complex, which covers 32,000 square feet, provides a spectacular panoramic perspective of Kashmir's valley. Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karkota Dynasty built the temple in the medieval era, between the 7th and 8th centuries AD. Because it was developed by integrating the world's best architectural forms, the temple design and construction style is unique in world history. Kashmiri Hindu architects used strong square limestone bricks to create the spectacular architectural marvel, blending Gandharan, Gupta, Chinese, Roman, and Syrian-Byzantine forms. Even though it is in ruins now, the temple serves as a living laboratory for historians, archaeologists, architects, and religious scholars.

Tourist Places and Sightseeing in Anantnag

Achabal

Achabal, commonly known as 'the princess's place,' is a spectacular Mughal garden in the Anantnag region of Kashmir, some 58 kilometers south of Srinagar. It was once known as Begumbad, after Empress Noor Jehan, Queen of Jahangir, who created the garden around 1620. It sits at the foot of a Himalayan hill, whose rocks and trees blend in wonderfully with the garden's stone and trees. A sacred mountain spring, which enters the garden as a cascade and smashes down between two modest pavilions into a wide basin, creates an attractive scene. The garden is modeled after Chahar Bagh, a Persian pleasure garden. It is divided into four sections, each featuring clusters of Chinars, lush plants, and gorgeous blossoms. The terraced terraces of the garden are adorned with glistening water cascading from fountains, amplifying its attractiveness. The garden of Achabal is separated into three terraces. Along the north-south axis, a strong water stream rushes through the center. Two paths border this creek, where visitors frequently wander and rest while taking in the splendor of this beautiful garden.

Kokernag

Anantnag is 27 kilometers away from Kokernag, which is located in the Breng Valley. Visitors to Kokernag describe it as a personified Monet painting, and one visit to the lovely tourist destination would confirm their assessment. Kokernag is all gardens and forest, spanning 300 kanals of land. It has a variety of intriguing hypotheses associated with its name, as it is endowed with numerous tiny natural springs. When viewed as a whole, the small spring growing throughout the area resembles the claw-foot of a Koker, which means chicken in Kashmiri, and Nag is Kashmiri for spring, therefore the name Kokernag. The water has digestive and curative characteristics, earning it the moniker Papashudan Nag (sin-cleansing spring), and its medicinal properties have been mentioned in Ain Akbari. The stream bubbles in seven spots at the foot of the forested mountain, and the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department has created beautiful plant gardens around it.

Daksum

Daksum, a natural sanctuary about 40 kilometers southeast of Anantnag, is located at an elevation of 2438 meters above sea level. It is tucked away in a thickly forested ravine by the snow-capped Pir Panjal mountain. With its blanketed coniferous trees, undulating lush meadows, bubbling brooks, shepherd cottages, and uncharted topography, Daksum epitomizes an undiscovered picturesque beauty. It is known for its flora and animals and is associated with pleasant peace. The sound of the rushing Bringhi river or an occasional shepherd tending his flock is complemented by the serenity of this dreamland. Daksum, on the other hand, is more than just a perfect hideaway; it's also a trekkers' paradise and an angler's haven. The mountain river here is home to an abundance of Daksum's legendary trout, and anglers can enjoy catching them. Fishing equipment is available from the tourism office in Anantnag.Daksum's scenery is varied and full of surprises for trekkers.

Chatpal

Chatpal, a non-tourist-infested area 17 km from Anantnag, is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The off-the-beaten-path journey to this place of unspoilt beauty is crisscrossed by breath-taking stretches of greenery in varying shades of green, splashed with brightly colorful wildflowers. Milky white springs gushing down, massive towering mountains, and a tiara of clouds hovering above one head are all part of Chatpal's enchanting environment. This low-cost hideaway is ideal for anyone looking for a calm break away from the city's hustle and bustle.