In Srinagar, river Jhelum passes through the different seven bridges thus making it ‘City of Bridges’ and the first one overpasses through the wooden Zero or Zo’er Bridge in the Rajbagh area.
The Zero or Zo’er Bridge is the first bridge wherein Jhelum makes an entry into Srinagar.
The bridge is believed to be constructed somewhere in 1956 by a deaf constructor and was named as Zo’er bridge that later was changed to Zero bridge.
The bridge was built on an ancient cantilever principle, and a few years back it was re-constructed. Nowadays, the bridge is being visited by several tourists and locals every day.
It is said that the first bridge was named as Zo’er Kadal which later was changed to Zar Kadal and nowadays is known as Zero Bridge.
Besides the Zero bridge, the river Jhelum passes through five other bridges among which some are also believed to be renamed from time to time.
Purportedly, the initial name of the second bridge in Srinagar was Omra Kadal that was later changed to Womra Kadal and finally was named Amira Kadal.
Similarly, the third bridge wherein Jhelum enters Srinagar’s Downtown area is Habba Kadal.
It is believed that the first name of the bridge was Habb’e Kadal that was later called Habba Kadal.
The fourth bridge is Fateh Kadal and the first name of the fifth bridge was Zaein Kadal that was later changed to Zaina Kadal.
Srinagar’s fifth bridge is Aali Kadal.
The first name of the bridge was A’el Kadal was later changed to Ali Kadal or Aali Kadal.
The sixth and seventh bridges in Srinagar are Nawa Kadal and Safa Kadal.
It is believed that the first name of the sixth bridge was Naw-Kadal that was later changed to Nawa Kadal and in the case of the seventh bridge, it is said that it was called Saifa Kadal that was changed to Saf Kadal and after sometime, it was again changed to Safr Kadal. Nowadays, the bridge is known as Safa Kadal.
