Srinagar (Garhwal) — Former Kingdom Capital & River Town
Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand · heritage town
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Srinagar (Garhwal) — not to be confused with the Kashmiri city of the same name — is the largest town of the upper Alaknanda valley and one of the most historically layered settlements in Uttarakhand. Spread along the left bank of the Alaknanda at a modest elevation of about 560 metres, roughly 104 km up National Highway 58 from Rishikesh, it served for centuries as the capital of the Garhwal kingdom. The Panwar (Parmar) rulers, who traced their line back many generations, consolidated the region's scattered garhis (hill forts) into a single kingdom, and King Ajay Pal shifted the capital here from Chandpur Garhi in the early sixteenth century. Srinagar remained the seat of the Garhwal Raj until the Gorkha conquest of 1804, when Raja Pradyumna Shah was defeated; the town passed to British-administered hands after 1815.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-vegetarian bhojanalayas along the main bazaar and NH-58 — Garhwali and North Indian thalis, chholey-bhature and chai; look for the "Shudh Shakahari" boards, common in this temple-and-university town (confirm the day's menu locally).
- ✦GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) tourist rest-house dining, when open — dependable, no-fuss vegetarian thali meals for Char Dham travellers (hours seasonal; call ahead).
- ✦Prasad and simple snack stalls near Kamleshwar Temple — sweets, pakoras and tea for pilgrims; entirely vegetarian around the shrine.
- ✦University-area student dhabas — budget vegetarian plates, parathas and Maggi-style snacks; verify each place is pure-veg before ordering, as this is a mixed hill town.
About
Srinagar (Garhwal) — not to be confused with the Kashmiri city of the same name — is the largest town of the upper Alaknanda valley and one of the most historically layered settlements in Uttarakhand.
- Spread along the left bank of the Alaknanda at a modest elevation of about 560 metres, roughly 104 km up National Highway 58 from Rishikesh, it served for centuries as the capital of the Garhwal kingdom.
- The Panwar (Parmar) rulers, who traced their line back many generations, consolidated the region's scattered garhis (hill forts) into a single kingdom, and King Ajay Pal shifted the capital here from Chandpur Garhi in the early sixteenth century.
- Srinagar remained the seat of the Garhwal Raj until the Gorkha conquest of 1804, when Raja Pradyumna Shah was defeated; the town passed to British-administered hands after 1815.
- Little of the medieval city survives above ground.
- The old town, with its palace and relics, was largely swept away when the Gohna Lake dam-burst flood roared down the Alaknanda in the late nineteenth century — a reminder of how the river both sustained and periodically remade this valley settlement.
- What stands today is a busy, workaday market town rebuilt on the flats, its character defined less by monuments than by two living forces: pilgrimage and learning.
- Srinagar is a natural overnight and refuelling halt for travellers bound up-valley to Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and the Char Dham shrines, and it is the seat of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (founded 1973, a Central University since 2009), which fills the bazaars with students and a lively, unpretentious energy.
- The town's spiritual anchor is the Kamleshwar Temple, an ancient Shiva shrine celebrated across Garhwal for its Baikunth Chaturdashi fair, when devotees — traditionally couples seeking the blessing of children — keep overnight vows holding lit lamps through the night.
- Other modest shrines and maths dot the riverbank and lanes, and the ghats along the Alaknanda draw a quiet flow of pilgrims at dawn and dusk.
- The setting is dramatic: a broad river braiding between steep, terraced ridges, best appreciated on a slow riverside walk.
- For vegetarian travellers, Srinagar is easy and welcoming.
- As a temple and university town it has a strong pure-vegetarian street, with simple bhojanalayas serving Garhwali and North Indian thalis, chholey-bhature, and endless chai — look for the boards marked "Shudh Shakahari" (pure vegetarian) along the main bazaar and NH-58.
- It makes a sensible, culturally rich pause on the long climb toward the high shrines.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Main Bazaar / NH-58, on the left bank of the Alaknanda, Pauri Garhwal district, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, 246174
How to Reach: On NH-58, about 104 km up-valley from Rishikesh (roughly 3.5–4 hours by road). Shared and private taxis and state/private buses run frequently from Rishikesh and Haridwar toward Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag, halting at Srinagar. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh (~104 km) and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant / Dehradun (~130 km); road is the only practical approach — confirm current road conditions in the monsoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Srinagar in Uttarakhand the same as Srinagar in Kashmir?
No. This is Srinagar (Garhwal) in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, a river town on the Alaknanda and the former capital of the Garhwal kingdom. It is entirely different from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. They share only a name.
Why is Srinagar Garhwal historically important?
It was the capital of the Garhwal kingdom for roughly three centuries. King Ajay Pal shifted the capital here from Chandpur Garhi in the early sixteenth century, and Srinagar remained the seat of the Garhwal Raj until the Gorkha conquest of 1804. Much of the medieval town, however, was later destroyed by a dam-burst flood down the Alaknanda, so it is the history rather than surviving monuments that defines the place today.
How do I reach Srinagar Garhwal from Rishikesh?
It sits on National Highway 58 about 104 km up-valley from Rishikesh, roughly a 3.5–4 hour drive. Shared and private taxis and buses bound for Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag stop here regularly. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant (Dehradun), about 130 km away — road is the only practical way in, and it's worth checking conditions during the monsoon.
What is there to see and do in Srinagar Garhwal?
The main draw is the ancient Kamleshwar Temple, a revered Shiva shrine famous for its Baikunth Chaturdashi fair. Beyond that, Srinagar is a lively university town (home to HNB Garhwal University) with riverside ghats, bustling bazaars and dramatic Alaknanda-valley scenery. It is best enjoyed as a cultural and refuelling halt on the way to the Char Dham shrines rather than a monument-heavy sightseeing stop. Plan a half-day.
When is the best time to visit, and is there an entry fee?
There is no entry fee to the town — it is a free, open river settlement, and its temples are free to enter. The best months are March–June and September–November, matching the Char Dham pilgrimage season; the Kamleshwar fair in November is especially atmospheric. Peak summer can be uncomfortably hot in the valley, so carry water and light clothing.
Where can I find good vegetarian food in Srinagar Garhwal?
Very easily — as a temple and university town, Srinagar has plenty of pure-vegetarian eateries. Look for the "Shudh Shakahari" boards along the main bazaar and NH-58 for Garhwali and North Indian thalis, chholey-bhature and chai; the GMVN rest-house serves dependable veg thalis when open; and stalls near Kamleshwar Temple offer sweets and snacks. Since this is a mixed hill town, just confirm a place is pure-vegetarian before ordering.