Sher Garhi Palace

[1] Situated south of the Old City of Srinagar, along the banks of the Jhelum River, its name,"Sher Garhi," translates to "Fort of the Lion,"highlighting its role as a prominent seat of power.

Under all Amir Khan Jawansher's successors, both Afghan and Dogra and including the current Indian government, the palace and its direct surroundings remained the main power center in Kashmir.

[4] When Maharaja Ranjit Singh passed away in 1839, his empire began to fragment, and the British East India Company grew increasingly influential.

[4] In exchange for 7.5 million Nanakshahi rupees (the Sikh currency of the time), Gulab Singh was recognised by the British as the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, acquiring all territories between the Indus and Ravi rivers, including Chamba (though not Lahul, in present-day Himachal Pradesh.

The buildings in the complex were designed with a quadrangular layout, constructed primarily from stone, and featured intricate wooden doors, ceilings, and roofs.

[5] By the 1930s, Maharaja Hari Singh (1895–1961) commissioned the construction of the Gulab Bhavan palace as his new residence in eastern Srinagar, overlooking the Dal Lake.

Subsequently, Sher Garhi Palace saw a decline in its use as a royal residence and increasingly served administrative purposes, housing the civil services of the princely state.

"Situated on the left bank, it presents to the river, which flows along its eastern side, a long loop- holed wall, with bastions rising between twenty and thirty feet above the general level of the water, surmounted by roomy, but lightly-built, houses.

Its southern and western sides are protected by a wide ditch ; the Kut-i-Kul canal bounds it on the north, and in its interior are grouped a number of dwelling- houses for the officials of the court, government offices, and barracks.

"On its wall, facing the river, and perched upon one of the bastions, is a large double-storied house, the abode of the Dewan or Prime Minister, and just below his residence is a long lofty building, the government treasury, containing shawls, ‘pushmeena,’ coin, and other valuable property.

"A curious-looking wooden building comes next, the Rang Mahal or ‘audience hall,’ a part of the royal residence, which is just below it, styled the Baradarri, and which is unquestionably the most important modern structure in Srinagar.

"Adjoining is the temple frequented by the ruler and family, called the Maharaj-ke-Mandir, the domed roof of which is covered with thin plates of pure gold, which glitters in the sunlight, causing it to be plainly perceptible a long distance away.

"To reach the interior of the palace, one ascends by the before -mentioned steps, which at all times of the day appear thronged with people, some waiting to prefer petitions to the sovereign or his ministers as they descend to their boats, others to obtain a hearing or justice, which is here administered in open court daily by the governor.

To the more private portion of the palace they have no access; for, guarding the gateway at the top of the stairs which leads directly into the royal abode, stands a sentry, a warrior belonging to the Kashmir, army, and near by is the guard-room, what we should call in our service the main-guard."

A long vista of broad river with reflections of magnificent buildings and gliding of boats on its placid waters backed by the distant mountain ranges makes a most picturesque scene.

The Shah family, historically recognized for their significant contributions to business and infrastructure development in the Anantnag district, played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s architectural landscape.