Shankaracharya Hill


Shankaracharya Hill is a hill overlooking the Dal Lake and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous for the sacred Shankaracharya Temple, also known as Jyeshteswara, which occupies the top of the hill. It is the destination of hundreds of tourists each day. The hill top affords a commanding view of the Kashmir Valley for tens of miles. Before 1940, the forests occurring on this hill were depleted due to the removal of fuel wood, small timber and fodder. There came a stage when this hill became virtually devoid of trees. Thereafter, a massive afforestation and rehabilation programme was taken to increase the tree cover, which was met with considerable success. Today, the Shankaracharya Hill supports a good forest cover.