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Rising up behind the boulevard, beside
Dal Lake, the hill was once known as
Takht-i-Sulaiman, the throne of Solomon. The philosopher Shankaracharya
stayed at this place when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive "Sanatan
Dharma". 
Earlier Sites
Before this date, the temple was known as "Gopadri", as King
Lalitaditya built an earlier edifice on the same site in the 6th century
AD. In fact, the road below the hill, with residences of high- ranking
State Government officials, is still known as "Gupkar" Road.
Built on a high octagonal plinth and approached by a flight of steps with
side walls that once bore inscriptions, the main surviving shrine consists
of a circular cell. It overlooks the Valley and can be approached by a
motorable road. A modern ceiling covers the inner sanctum and an
inscription in Persian traces its origin to the reign of Emperor Shah
Jehan. The original ceiling was dome- shaped and the brick roof, it
appears, is not more than a century old.
View The Entire City
There's a road running up the hill to the TV transmitting station, just
below the temple, but it's a very pleasant stroll to the top. Going up
early, when the sky is clear, and the visitor is rewarded with fine views
over the houseboats, on the lake directly below, and out, across
Srinagar to the
mountains in the distance.
There are paths leading up from the Nehru Park at the end of the
boulevard or from the hospital at the tourist reception centre end of the
boulevard. There's also a steep trail to the top from directly behind the
hotels and bazaar at Dal gate.