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 Template:Em dash Amira, Habba, Fateh, Zaina, Aali, Nawa and Safa Template:Em dash 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
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
| Name | Year | Length | Breadth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The original seven | ||||
| Amira Kadal | 1773[5] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[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] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[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] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[4] | The third bridge;[12][8] also spelt Fatteh,[10] Fati.[11] |
| Zaina Kadal | 1426[5] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[4] | The fourth bridge;[7][8][13] |
| Aali Kadal | 1417[5] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[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] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[4] | The sixth bridge; rebuilt in 1953.[7] Also spelt Naya.[10] |
| Safa Kadal | 1670[5] | Template:Convert[4] | Template:Convert[4] | The seventh bridge; alternately built in 1664.[14] Alternate spellings used Saffa,[10] Safr,[2] Suffa.[11] |
| Newer bridges | ||||
| Zero Bridge | 1950s | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | [15][16] |
| Abdullah Bridge | 1990s | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | |
| Lal Mandi Footbridge | 2005[17] | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | [18] |
| Budshah Bridge | 1957 | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | Also known as Alamgir bridge. |
| New Habba Kadal | 2001 | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | |
| New Fateh Kadal | ||||
| New Zaina Kadal | ||||
Other bridges
.png){kind=link}
| 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
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]Template:Clear
References
- ↑ Kashmir A History of Kashmir{{#if:Sufi|, Sufi}. University of Panjab(1949)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Valley of Kashmír{{#if:Lawrence|, Lawrence}. H. Frowde(1895)
- ↑ Picturesque Bridges of Srinagar. Miraas({Template:Date).
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}(1890)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Geography Of The Jammu And Kashmir State{{#if:Koul|, Koul}. Thacker, Spink and Company(1925)
- ↑ Afoot Through the Kashmir Valleys{{#if:Doughty|, Doughty}. Sands & company(1901)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 The historical connectors, Firdous, Saba. The Kashmir Walla(2012-09-07). Retrieved 2022-02-14.Template:Cbignore
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Kadal Nama: A brief history of historical connectors, Achakzai, Khawar Khan. Free Press Kashmir(2021-04-25). Retrieved 2022-02-14.Template:Cbignore
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kashir, Being a History of Kashmir{{#if:Sufi|, Sufi}(1948)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Journals Kept in Hyderabad, Kashmir, Sikkim, and Nepal{{#if:Temple|, Temple}. W. H. Allen & Company(1887)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 The Happy Valley: Sketches of Kashmir & the Kashmiris{{#if:Wakefield|, Wakefield}. Sampson Low, Marston, Rivington(1879)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 In Kashmir seven Historic bridges losing sheen gradually. Ground Report(2021-02-16). Retrieved 2022-02-14.Template:Cbignore
- ↑ City of Seven Bridges-II, Rasool, Jamsheed. Greater Kashmir(14 March 2015). Retrieved 2022-02-14.Template:Cbignore
- ↑ Kashmir The Land Of Streams And Solitudes{{#if:Pirie|, Pirie}. John Lane(1890)
- ↑ Kashmir's iconic Zero Bridge dismantled. NDTV(4 April 2012). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
- ↑ 0 Bridge 2.0, Raafi, Muhammad. Kashmir Life(2016-05-10). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
- ↑ District Census Handbook, Srinagar. Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir(2011).
- ↑ Lal Mandi Footbridge, Hassan, Sameer Ul. Greater Kashmir(14 March 2015). Retrieved 2022-02-15.
- ↑ A stream buried, Irfan, Shams. Kashmir Life(2011-03-14). Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Maps. Official Website of Srinagar Municipal Corporation(2022-02-20). Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ↑ Kashmir's Mughal-era camelback-shaped bridge restored to its glory, Saxena, Prasanth. The Federal(2021-04-17). Retrieved 2022-02-22.
- ↑ J&K: 17th century Oonth Kadal to get fresh lease of life. The Times of India(1 October 2018). Retrieved 2022-02-22.
Further reading
- Books
- Jhelum, the River Through My Backyard{{#if:Ahmad|, Ahmad}. Bookman Publishers(2001)
- A dictionary of Kashmiri proverbs{{#if:Knowles|, Knowles}. Education Society's Press(1885)
- Papers
- Architecture of the Jhelum Waterfront - Srinagar. Image and Impressions. Himalayan and Central Asian Studies({Template:Date).
- [{{{url}}} Bridges of Medieval Kashmir; An outline historical study based on construction and architectural work].
- Conflict, Space, and Public Architecture: Tracing Transformations of Loss through Bridges in Kashmir, Mushtaq, Mariyeh. Zanaan Wanaan(2020-11-11).
- Articles
- The Canals of Pre-Modern Kashmir. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress({Template:Date).
- Srinagar— Historic seven bridges losing sheen gradually, Gul, Owais. Kashmir Convener(16 February 2021).Template:Cbignore
- Srinagar — Historic seven bridges losing sheen gradually. Kashmir.Today(2021-02-15).
- Nallah Mar, a stream that once was, Noor, Shabir Ibn. Kashmir Images(31 May 2020).
- Breathing life into old water transport project in Valley, Majid, Zulfikar. Deccan Herald(2017-12-02).
- Kashmir's Pittsburgh: Srinagar - The City of Bridges. Rising Kashmir(18 April 2018).
- "Venice of Asia" Canals Disappearing, Byerly, Rebecca. Science. National Geographic(2010-06-09).
- Bridges in Srinagar being facade lighted to enhance their appearance. Kashmir Life(2019-10-21).
- Towards Glorious Past: These Six Heritage Sites Will Soon Welcome Tourists In Kashmir, Bukhtiyar, Idrees. IndiaTimes(2022-01-31).
- Residents demand reopening of old Habba Kadal bridge, Bashir, Saif Ullah. Kashmir Life(2019-12-22).
- 'Farooq broke his fast with a bullet': Ramzan massacre on Fateh Kadal bridge, Kaur, Bhavneet. Wande Magazine(2017-06-20).