Hari Parbat Fort Srinagar: The Hilltop Fortress Above the City

Hari Parbat - the Green Mountain - rises like a sentinel from the flat city below it. You can see the fort walls from Dal Lake, from the Boulevard, from the old city bazaars. It has been a fortified position since at least the Mughal period, when Akbar enclosed its lower slopes with a city wall (partially surviving), and the current fort was built by the Afghan governor Ata Muhammad Khan in 1808. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel - written by locals - and we think the Hari Parbat area is one of the most underappreciated cultural concentrations in Srinagar on viakashmir.in tours.

What is the history of Hari Parbat Fort?

The hill has been strategically significant since antiquity. The Mughal emperor Akbar ordered the construction of a wall around the hill and its lower slopes in the 1590s - sections of this Akbar Wall still stand. The current fort structure on the summit was built in 1808 by Ata Muhammad Khan, the Afghan governor of Kashmir during the Durrani rule. The Sikhs captured the fort in 1819 when Ranjit Singh's forces took Kashmir. The Dogra Maharajas maintained it and it served as a prison under Maharaja Hari Singh. During 1947 it had military significance.

• ✓Mughal period: Akbar's enclosure wall built 1590s; sections still visible on the lower slopes
• ✓Afghan fort: Built 1808 by Ata Muhammad Khan (Afghan governor)
• ✓Sikh period: Captured 1819; used as a military installation
• ✓Dogra period: Used as a prison (the cells are visible inside, when access is permitted)
• ✓Current status: ASI-protected monument; interior normally closed to general public
• ✓The hilltop: Contains the Sharika Devi temple (Goddess Sharika, a form of Durga) - the main Hindu shrine on the hill

What can I actually visit at Hari Parbat?

Most visitors access three things without needing any permission: the Badamwari garden, the Makhdoom Sahib shrine, and the exterior views from the lower fort walls.

• ✓Badamwari garden: On the lower northeastern slope; a formal garden of almond trees (1,100 trees) planted in the Mughal period; most spectacular in February-March when the trees are in full blossom; free entry, open sunrise to sunset
• ✓Makhdoom Sahib shrine: A small Sufi shrine on the hill slope, accessible via a stairway; dedicated to Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (1494-1576), a revered Kashmiri Sufi known as the Sultan-ul-Arifin; the view over old Srinagar from the shrine terrace is excellent
• ✓Sharika Devi temple: The hilltop temple to Goddess Sharika; accessible to Hindu devotees via the stairs; the goddess is considered the presiding deity of Srinagar
• ✓Fort exterior walls: The outer walls are visible and partially walkable from the road on the north side

Hari Parbat vs Pari Mahal for a morning visit?

• ✓Hari Parbat area: More culturally layered - almond garden, two shrines, fort history, views over old city; in the heart of the city and old bazaar area; most interesting in February-March (almond blossom)
• ✓Pari Mahal: Pure heritage garden; the terrace views over Dal Lake are among the finest in Srinagar; more serene and contemplative; best at any time of year
• ✓Recommendation: Hari Parbat area in the morning (Badamwari + Makhdoom Sahib + old city bazaar walk after); Pari Mahal in the late afternoon for the view over the lake at dusk

Frequently asked questions about Hari Parbat

How do I get ASI permission to enter Hari Parbat Fort?

ASI permission for the fort interior is not routinely granted to individual tourists. Applications can be made to the ASI office in Srinagar (near Lal Chowk), but the process is time-consuming and approval is not guaranteed. For most visitors, the accessible parts of the hill (Badamwari, Makhdoom Sahib, exterior walls) provide a satisfying visit without needing fort entry.

When is the Badamwari almond garden at its best?

The Badamwari almond blossom season runs from approximately mid-February to mid-March, depending on the year. This is the first visible sign of spring in Srinagar - the pale pink and white blossom covers the hillside before the leaves emerge. The J&K Tourism Department usually announces the exact bloom dates. Arrive early morning for the blossom against the blue sky before the crowds arrive.

Who is buried at Makhdoom Sahib shrine?

Makhdoom Sahib is the shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (1494-1576), one of the most revered Sufi scholars in Kashmiri history. Known as Sultan-ul-Arifin (King of the Mystics), he was instrumental in the deepening of Sufi tradition in Kashmir and is venerated across the Muslim community. His shrine is a living place of prayer visited daily.

Can the fort be seen from Dal Lake?

Yes. The fort walls on the Hari Parbat summit are clearly visible from the western shore of Dal Lake - from Hazratbal, from houseboats near the Nehru Park area, and from shikara rides on the lake. At night the hill and fort are illuminated and form a dramatic backdrop to the lake skyline.

Is the Akbar Wall still visible?

Sections of the Mughal enclosure wall built by Akbar in the 1590s survive on the northern and western slopes of Hari Parbat and can be seen from the road below the hill. Parts of the wall have been incorporated into later construction. The most visible sections are visible from the Hawal area road on the northern slope.

The Mughal Emperor Akbar built a wall around the entire base of Hari Parbat in the 1590s - a wall that enclosed much of what is now Srinagar's old city. Sections of this wall still stand nearly 430 years later, cutting through the modern city in fragments.

Kashmir Pulse Editorial

Travel Writer, Via Kashmir

Writing about Kashmir from the inside — hotels, culture, seasonal travel, and the stories that don't make it into guidebooks.