Botanical Garden is one of the few popular gardens in Srinagar not built by the Mughals. The garden was built in 1969 and fashioned in modern style, over an area of 80 hectares. Sandwiched between Dal Lake and Zabarwan Mountain, the gentle slope is just near the road that circles Dal Lake.
The garden is characterized by many flowers and greenery and the 17 hectares lake at the entrance. The Zabarwan Mountain loomed just behind the garden and gives a nice backdrop to the garden.
Botanical gardens are often run by universities or other scientific research organizations, and often have associated herbaria and research programmes in plant taxonomy or some other aspect of botanical science. In principle, their role is to maintain documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display, and education, although this will depend on the resources available and the special interests pursued at each particular garden.
The origin of modern botanical gardens can be traced to European medieval medicinal gardens known as physic gardens, the first of these being founded during the Italian Renaissance in the 16th century. This early concern with medicinal plants changed in the 17th century to an interest in the new plant imports from explorations outside Europe as botany gradually established its independence from medicine.
Over the years, botanical gardens, as cultural and scientific organisations, have responded to the interests of botany and horticulture.
Most botanical gardens display a mix of the themes mentioned and more; having a strong connection with the general public, there is the opportunity to provide visitors with information relating to the environmental issues being faced at the start of the 21st century, especially those relating to plant conservation and sustainability.