Dastageer Sahab, or Dastgeer Sahib, is an 1806 Sufi shrine at Khanyar in Srinagar dedicated to Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani. Fire gutted the building in 2012, but the relics survived in a fireproof vault and rebuilding began at once. The interior is among the finest examples of Kashmiri woodwork and papier-mache in the city.
Duke Kashmir Travels has guided old-city mornings in Srinagar since 2011 under Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978. Kashmir packages start about ₹6,350 per person, twin sharing.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- Built in 1806 at Khanyar, in Shahr-i-Khaas.
- Dedicated to Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani, the eleventh-century Sufi of Baghdad.
- Holds relics, including a handwritten Quran attributed to Hazrat Ali.
- Five graves inside are held to be those of the saint's students.
- Burned in 2012; the relics were saved and the shrine was rebuilt.
- The Urs draws crowds from across the valley.
Who is the shrine dedicated to?
Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani, the Sufi teacher of Baghdad whose followers across Kashmir call him Dastgeer Sahib, the helper.
He never came to Kashmir; the shrine honours him and holds relics associated with him. Five graves inside are traditionally identified as those of his students. The Urs, marking his death anniversary, is the shrine's biggest gathering.
What happened in the 2012 fire?
The building burned down in June 2012. The relics had been stored in a fireproof vault and came through unharmed, and reconstruction started soon after.
The rebuilt shrine follows the old plan, and craftsmen restored the papier-mache ceilings and carved panels that made the interior famous. It is a good example of how Kashmiri shrine architecture is maintained: repeatedly rebuilt, always to the same design.
What should visitors know?
Dress modestly, remove shoes at the threshold, and expect separate areas for men and women. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome in the outer sections.
Fridays and the Urs days are extremely busy. The lanes around Khanyar are narrow, so vehicles wait outside while you walk in from Jamia Masjid or Khanqah-e-Moula. The full Srinagar list has the rest of the old-city stops.
Booking this with us
Duke Kashmir Travels works out of Nowhatta Chowk in Srinagar, registered as JKTA00003978 since 2011, IATO allied member since 2016 and a TAAK member. See About Us for the rest.
Share your travel dates and group size and we will price the trip around this stop. Phone +91 9018 44 0000, write to info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or open the contact page.
About the founder
Founder Rayies Ahmad Zargar opened Duke Kashmir Travels in Srinagar in 2011, sits in TAAK, co-founded the JK Tourism Council, and signs off the guides on this site. Find him on LinkedIn.