New Habba Kadal

New Habba Kadal is a concrete bridge spanning the Jhelum River in Srinagar's Old City with a width of approximately 12 meters. The structure carries both vehicles and pedestrians across the river, connecting the two sides through this central part of town.

The bridge was built in 2001 and functionally replaced the original wooden Habba Kadal bridge from 1551. The older wooden structure still stands a few meters downstream, showing the long history of crossings at this location.

The bridge carries the name of Habba Khatoon, a celebrated figure in Kashmiri folklore whose story is still known by residents. This connection to local heritage shapes how people refer to and experience this crossing in their daily movement through the city.

The bridge has protective fencing on both sides installed in 2018 to improve safety and reduce river pollution. Visitors should expect it to be busy and crowded during peak traffic times, especially in the mornings and evenings.

The new bridge stands just a few meters beside the original wooden structure, allowing visitors to see both crossing points from different eras at the same time. This side-by-side placement reveals how the city adapted its infrastructure while keeping the historic route visible and present.