Lalit Grand Palace

Srinagar


This 1910 former Maharaja’s palace is set in hectares of manicured lawns with many historical heirlooms dotted about the suave interior. Only suites occupy the original palace building, but modern rooms in the long new wing are effortlessly stylish; those on the ground floor have walk-out garden balconies and offer the best value. The Chinar garden restaurant is charming.

Autorickshaws are not allowed past the gate, from where it's a five-minute walk to reception.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Srinagar attractions

1. Pari Mahal

0.68 MILES

Pari Mahal (literally 'Palace of the Fairies') is a 17th-century former Sufi centre built by the eldest son of Shah Jahan. The terraced lawns and arched…

2. Botanical Garden

1.26 MILES

Less formal and not quite as busy as many of the older Mughal gardens, the Botanical Gardens have some well-maintained lawns and a wide variety of tree…

3. Shankaracharya Mandir

1.26 MILES

On top of thickly forested Shankaracharya Hill, this small Shiva temple is built from hefty blocks of ancient grey stone. Previously known as Takht-i…

4. Tulip Garden

1.28 MILES

Crowds throng Asia’s biggest Tulip Garden, just behind the Botanical Garden, during March and April. Its long, straight rows of blooming tulips (60…

5. Cheshmashahi Garden

1.3 MILES

En route to Pari Mahal you'll pass the small Cheshmashahi Garden, folded amid the wooded mountain foothills. Its central feature is a square fountain pool…

6. Dal Lake

1.61 MILES

Over 15km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar's jewel, a vast sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the…

7. First Row Houseboats

1.72 MILES

For guests, the first-row houseboats can prove noisy and lacking in privacy. However, as an attraction they collectively form Srinagar's signature image.

8. Floating Vegetable Market

1.77 MILES

In the maze of channels at the edge of Dal Lake, the dawn vegetable market is a photogenic sight, even if vendors flogging souvenirs and saffron can…