Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir stands on the Dal Lake and the Jhelum River is the  heart  of  the valley. The  lush greenery of the valley with its terraced rice fields, fruit orchard and swirling waterways spills into the city of Srinagar via the Dal Lake and great avenues of popular  chinar  trees . This  fresh  natural   atmosphere  combined  with  the commercial glamour of the old city’s  twisting  streets  gives   Srinagar  a  distintive  and vitalising flavour.Located in the heart of the Kashmir valley, Srinagar spreads out on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Valley's beauty is further enhanced by  the  Dal   lake  and Nagin lake. The rule of the hindu dynasties ended in 1339, and was followed  by Muslim and Mughal rulers, the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Dogras, who secured it from the British under the treaty of Amritsar in 1846. Srinagar is truly a tourist's  delight .  There  are  waterways   with  their  unique  lifestyle, houseboat, handicrafts ,  souvenirs.  Srinagar  is  56  kms   from  Gulmarg  which  is the country's  premier  winter  sport  resort. In  another   direction ,  lies  Pahalgam, a  place renowned for its natural beauty. It is also the starting point for  well    known   treks   and excursions.