Tree Bridge: Bijbehara Bridge, 1870


Came across this image over at ebay. It was getting sold without much detail besides a date. Took sometime to identify the place. But in the end , its distinctive look, trees growing on the bridge, made it easy.

Bijbehara bridge,
1870
Photographer: Unknown. (Probably Bourne)
[Update: Photographer: Francis Frith. An album dating around 1850s to 1870s. via: Victoria and Albert Museum.]

About the Bijbihara Bridge, Pandit Anand Koul in his book ‘Geography of The Jammu and Kashmir State’ (1925)’ given the date of erection of the bridge as 1631 and name of builder as Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh. In additional remarks he states that the bridge was originally a little higher up.

Illustrated Kashmir, 1870

Found these in ‘Letters from India and Kashmir’ by J. Duguid, 1870. [The illustrations are by MR. H. R. ROBERTSON, and engraved by MR. W. J. PALM KB, principally from the writer’s Sketches.]

View from Shankarachary . Can’t take camera up the hill these days.

If you take the road to Srinagar, a somewhat similar scene will greet you welcome.
Another familiar scene from Gulmarg. Godawalla and his Goda.
Familiar sound. Panic of Murgies.
Shawl-Wallas
Sheer Chai time.
Woman
Manasbal
On Sind river. Believed at once time to be the longest bridge ever in Kashmir having twelve arches.
Suspension bridge at Uri.
YouTube
YouTube
Instagram
RSS