Considered to be the holiest Muslim shrine in the Kashmir Valley, the Hazratbal Shrine is a Muslim shrine that is located on the left bank of the spectacular Dal Lake. Situated in Hazratbal in Srinagar, India, the shrine takes its name from the Kashmiri language, where Hazrat means 'holy', and the word bal stands for 'place'. Hazratbal thus literally means the 'Majestic Place' and is particularly famous since it houses a relic known as the Moi-e-Muqqadas, which is believed by many Muslims of Kashmir to be a hair of Muhammad, the Prophet. The hair has been preserved safely in the shrine and is brought before the general public only on specific occasions.
The shrine is thus considered to be sacred amongst the Muslims and attracts thousands of tourists to it from all across the country. In fact, the shrine is a symbol of the love and respect that the Muslims have for their Prophet Muhammad.
The Hazratbal Shrine was initially constructed as a pleasure house by Sadiq Khan. Later on, the place became a house of prayers and ultimately came to be used as a shrine. Known by multiple names such as Assar-e-Sharief, Madinat-us-Sani and Dargah Shari, the Hazratbal Shrine is a beautiful structure made of white marble. Visitors get a chance to witness the beautiful Dal Lake and the captivating Himalayas in the background, and the beauty of the shrine is as appealing as the spiritual aura of the place, giving visitors more than one reason to visit the magnificent shrine again and again.