AVANTIPUR

FACTS & FIGURES

Languages
Kashmiri, Hindi, and English
Best Time to Visit
April to July

INTRODUCTION

Avantipur is situated in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir around 29 km south of Srinagar, the capital of the state. Avantipur extends between latitude 33°50' in the north and longitude 74°57' in the east. The place is connected to Srinagar by a good road network.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Summers are mild in Avantipur with the temperature averaging around 25°C. Winters are harsh and the temperature can go below 0°C quite a few times. Light cottons are the recommended clothing for the summers and heavy woolens for winter.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

Avantipur was founded by king Avantivarman who reigned from AD 855 - 883. The site has two temples. The larger one, Shiva-Avantishvara, is marked by massive walls some half a mile beneath the town on the outskirts of village Jaubror. The subsidiary shrines are to the rear corner of the courtyard. But the complex has, over the years, lost its grandeur and has been reduced to ruins, though it is still visited by the devout.

The temples here have groups of figures of both sexes, engaged in drinking, making love, and other such things. The sculptured reliefs are principally found on the walls of the entrance and the flank walls of the stairs. It is probable that not only the plain wall surfaces but also the reliefs were covered with a fine coat of lime plaster, on which the addition of colour defined the more delicate details of decoration. The base is either a plain square block with the upper edge rounded off or is elaborately molded. Half a mile up is Avantisvami-Vishnu, a better-preserved temple.

PLACES AROUND AVANTIPUR

Dating back to the third century BC, founded by Emperor Ashoka, Srinagar grew on both banks of the river Jhelum in the heart of the Kashmir valley. It is the state capital and the Dal Lake is its waterfront. Between the lake and the mountain ranges are the Mughal gardens; Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chasm-e-Shahi, and Pari Mahal.

Pahalgam, at a distance of around 70 km from Avantipur is a famous hill station and trekking base for the shrine of Amarnath.

WHERE TO STAY

We offer excellent accommodation facilities in and around Avantipur.

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR - The nearest airport is Srinagar 29 km away and connected to Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jammu by regular flights.

BY RAIL - The nearest railway station is Jammu around 329 km away. There are many trains that connect Jammu with the other parts of the country.

BY ROAD - There are regular buses that connect Avantipur with Srinagar, the state capital.

Tourism-of-India.com provides complete information about tourism in Avantipur.Tourism-of-India.com offers various tour packages to make you visit comfortable. You can pick the one that suits you most.