The city of Srinagar in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India, originally had seven wooden bridges across the Jhelum River. The seven bridges — Amira, Habba, Fateh, Zaina, Aali, Nawa and Safa — were constructed between the 15th and 18th century. This number remained unchanged for at least five centuries.[1] In the Kashmiri language, these bridges are known as kadals.[2] Localities around them have been eponymously named.[3]
The old seven bridges are of similar construction and made of Cedrus deodara. Apart from heavy rocks used to add weight to the foundation, the entire bridge was made of wood.[4] A number of passages allow for the flow of water making them considerably strong against water level and flow changes.[4] They have been reconstructed a number of times.[4] In 1841, bridges 3 to 7 were washed away.[5] In 1893, bridges 2 to 7 were washed away.[5][6]
Bridges across the Jhelum edit
.jpg)
.JPG)
| Name | Year | Length | Breadth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The original seven | ||||
| Amira Kadal | 1773[5] | 122 m (400 ft)[4] | 20 ft (6.1 m)[4] | The first bridge;[7][8] was renamed Pratap Kadal on reconstruction but the old name continues to be used.[9] Alternately spelt Amiri,[10] Amiran,[2] Ameeri.[11] |
| Habba Kadal | 1550[5] | 88 m (289 ft)[4] | 24 ft (7.3 m)[4] | The second bridge; a row of shops ran along the edges.[11] Has also been spelt as Hubba.[10] The New Habba Kadal bridge is a few meters off.[7][8][12] |
| Fateh Kadal | 1499[5] | 80 m (260 ft)[4] | 17 ft (5.2 m)[4] | The third bridge;[12][8] also spelt Fatteh,[10] Fati.[11] |
| Zaina Kadal | 1426[5] | 87 m (285 ft)[4] | 24 ft (7.3 m)[4] | The fourth bridge;[7][8][13] |
| Aali Kadal | 1417[5] | 74 m (243 ft)[4] | 17 ft (5.2 m)[4] | The fifth bridge; alternate date of construction 1415.[7] Other spellings that have been used include Haili[10] and Alli.[11] |
| Nawa Kadal | 1666[5] | 68 m (223 ft)[4] | 18 ft (5.5 m)[4] | The sixth bridge; rebuilt in 1953.[7] Also spelt Naya.[10] |
| Safa Kadal | 1670[5] | 100 m (330 ft)[4] | 19 ft (5.8 m)[4] | The seventh bridge; alternately built in 1664.[14] Alternate spellings used Saffa,[10] Safr,[2] Suffa.[11] |
| Newer bridges | ||||
| Zero Bridge | 1950s | 160 m (520 ft) | 9 m (30 ft) | [15][16] |
| Abdullah Bridge | 1990s | 200 m (660 ft) | 14 m (46 ft) | |
| Lal Mandi Footbridge | 2005[17] | 125 m (410 ft) | 4 m (13 ft) | [18] |
| Budshah Bridge | 1957 | 100 m (330 ft) | 25 m (82 ft) | Also known as Alamgir bridge. |
| New Habba Kadal | 2001 | 100 m (330 ft) | 12 m (39 ft) | |
| New Fateh Kadal | ||||
| New Zaina Kadal | ||||
Other bridges edit
.png)
| Name of Canal / Drain | Bridges |
|---|---|
| Former | |
| Nallah Mar (Mar Canal, Mar Kol, Nahari Mar) |
Rajwir/ Rajauri.[9] Naopura, Naid, Bhuri, Sraf, Kadi, Razawar, Khwadar, Gao, Duma, Pucha.[10] |
| Existing | |
| Kutte Kol (Keth Kul, Kutte Kul, Kutekul, Tsueth Kol, Katha Kul) |
Tankipora, Kanni, Zaladager, Nawa Bazar, Shah/ Watal.[20] Tainki, Darash, Chutsa, Kanhayya, Bozagar, Watal.[10] |
| Tsoont Kol (Chonth Kul, Tsoont Kol) |
Sonawar/ Aziz, MA, Fakhr-e-Kashmir/ Mirza Afzal Beigh, Barbar Shah, Gaw.[20] Gao, Rainawari, Naidyar.[10] Githa |
| Sunnar Kul (Soner Kol) |
Shah Mohalla Footbridge, Darish, Chatta Bal, Syed Mansoor.[20] |
Oont Kadal edit
Oont Kadal (camel bridge) is a 17th century structure located on the Dal Lake. It was restored with Germany's assistance in 2018-2021.[21][22]
References edit
- ^ Sufi, G. M. D. (1949). Kashmir A History of Kashmir. Vol. 2. University of Panjab. pp. 521–522 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c Lawrence, Sir Walter Roper (1895). The Valley of Kashmír. H. Frowde.
- ^ Tiku, Deepak (October–December 2012). "Picturesque Bridges of Srinagar". Miraas. 5 (4): 28– – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak. Calcutta. 1890. pp. 411, 775 – via Internet Archive.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Koul, Pandit Anand (1925). Geography Of The Jammu And Kashmir State. Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Company. pp. 82, 103.
- ^ Doughty, Marion (1901). Afoot Through the Kashmir Valleys. Harvard University. Sands & company. p. 168.
- ^ a b c d e Firdous, Saba (7 September 2012). "The historical connectors". The Kashmir Walla. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d Achakzai, Khawar Khan (25 April 2021). "Kadal Nama: A brief history of historical connectors". Free Press Kashmir. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ a b Sufi, G. M. D. (1948). Kashir, Being a History of Kashmir. Vol. 1 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Temple, Sir Richard Carnac (1887). Journals Kept in Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim, and Nepal. W. H. Allen & Company.
- ^ a b c d e Wakefield, W (1879). The Happy Valley: Sketches of Kashmir & the Kashmiris. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Rivington.
- ^ a b "In Kashmir seven Historic bridges losing sheen gradually". Ground Report. 16 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Rasool, Jamsheed (14 March 2015). "City of Seven Bridges-II". Greater Kashmir. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Pirie, H R (1890). Kashmir The Land Of Streams And Solitudes. John Lane – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Kashmir's iconic Zero Bridge dismantled". NDTV. Indo-Asian News Service. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Raafi, Muhammad (10 May 2016). "0 Bridge 2.0". Kashmir Life. Archived from the original on 11 May 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "District Census Handbook, Srinagar" (PDF). Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2017.
- ^ Hassan, Sameer Ul (14 March 2015). "Lal Mandi Footbridge". Greater Kashmir. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ Irfan, Shams (14 March 2011). "A stream buried". Kashmir Life. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ a b c "Maps". Official Website of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. 20 February 2022. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ Saxena, Prasanth (17 April 2021). "Kashmir's Mughal-era camelback-shaped bridge restored to its glory". The Federal. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "J&K: 17th century Oonth Kadal to get fresh lease of life". The Times of India. PTI. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
Further reading edit
- Books
- Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (2001). Jhelum, the River Through My Backyard. Bookman Publishers.
- Knowles, J.H. (1885). A dictionary of Kashmiri proverbs. Calcutta: Education Society's Press.
- Papers
- Tiku, Neerja (April–June 1997). "Architecture of the Jhelum Waterfront - Srinagar. Image and Impressions" (PDF). Himalayan and Central Asian Studies. 1 (1).
- Rashid, Waseem, Bridges of Medieval Kashmir; An outline historical study based on construction and architectural work, Academia.edu
- Mushtaq, Mariyeh (11 November 2020). "Conflict, Space, and Public Architecture: Tracing Transformations of Loss through Bridges in Kashmir". Zanaan Wanaan. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020.
- Articles
- Khan, Zahoor A. (1995). "The Canals of Pre-Modern Kashmir". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 56: 287–292. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44158631.
- Gul, Owais (16 February 2021). "Srinagar— Historic seven bridges losing sheen gradually". Kashmir Convener. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022.
- "Srinagar — Historic seven bridges losing sheen gradually". Kashmir.Today. 15 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021.
- Noor, Shabir Ibn (31 May 2020). "Nallah Mar, a stream that once was". Kashmir Images. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020.
- Majid, Zulfikar (2 December 2017). "Breathing life into old water transport project in Valley". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017.
- Hussain, Yawar (18 April 2018). "Kashmir's Pittsburgh: Srinagar - The City of Bridges". Rising Kashmir. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019.
- Byerly, Rebecca (9 June 2010). ""Venice of Asia" Canals Disappearing". Science. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022.
- "Bridges in Srinagar being facade lighted to enhance their appearance". Kashmir Life. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019.
- Bukhtiyar, Idrees (31 January 2022). "Towards Glorious Past: These Six Heritage Sites Will Soon Welcome Tourists In Kashmir". IndiaTimes. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022.
- Bashir, Saif Ullah (22 December 2019). "Residents demand reopening of old Habba Kadal bridge". Kashmir Life. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020.
- Kaur, Bhavneet (20 June 2017). "'Farooq broke his fast with a bullet': Ramzan massacre on Fateh Kadal bridge". Wande Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017.
External links edit
Media related to List of bridges in Srinagar at Wikimedia Commons
