The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 22.3.4

22.3.4

The name of the city is Srinagar, and the Bihat river flows through the midst of it. They call its fountain-head Vir-nag. It is 14 koss to the south. By my order they have made a building and a garden at that source. There have been built in the city four very strong stone and wooden bridges, over which people come and go. They call a bridge in the language of this country hadal. There is a very lofty mosque in the city, one of the marks of Sultan Sikandar, made in 795 (1393). After a time it was burnt, but was rebuilt by Sultan Husain. It had not been completed when the mansion of his life fell down. In 909 (1503-04) Ibrahim Maqri, Vizier of Sultan Husain, finished it handsomely. From that day till now it is 120 years since it has been in existence. From the Mihrab to the eastern wall it is 145 yards, and its breadth is 144 yards, containing four (taq) alcoves. On all sides of the hall they have erected beautiful cloisters and pillars. In short, no better memorial of the rulers of Kashmir has been left than this. Mir Sayyid ‘Ali of Hamadan (may his grave be sanctified !) was for some time in this city. There is a monastery to his memory. Near the city there are two large lakes full of water all the year round. Their flavour does not vary; they are the means for coming and going of the people, and for the conveyance of grain and firewood on boats. In the city and parganas there are 5,700 boats, with 7,400 boatmen.