Noon Chai: The Soul of a Lost Srinagar

Noon Chai and Srinagar are never two separate things, they are one - a seamless bond of culture, tradition, and kindness that touches every home, every heart, and every street. Kashmir's soul feels incomplete without that special pink tea, brimming with salt, history, and the fragrance of simple, honest lives stretching across centuries.

- BY SYED MAJID GILANI

Noon Chai and Srinagar are never two separate things, they are one — a seamless bond of culture, tradition, and kindness that touches every home, every heart, and every street. Kashmir's soul feels incomplete without that special pink tea, brimming with salt, history, and the fragrance of simple, honest lives stretching across centuries.

Even today, anyone who truly knows Srinagar will tell you that its soul lies in its warmth, in its old rituals, in memories that refuse to fade. Noon Chai is not just a drink, it is a tradition. It starts conversations, ends quarrels, offers comfort in sorrow, and quietly remains a part of every important moment in a Kashmiri’s life.

If you ask those who remember old Srinagar, they will tell you the heart of the city was Shehr-i-Khaas, the old town. This was where skilled artisans created beauty with their hands. Paper-mâché, carpet weaving, Namda making, Tilla work, Pashmina weaving, wood carving, copper work, and embroidery weren't just trades, they were inheritances, handed down with pride from generation to generation. As hands worked, the samavor simmered, and cups of Noon Chai circulated.

Maharaj Gunj, Bohri Kadal, and Zainakadal weren't merely markets, they were the city’s living rooms. Traders, shopkeepers, and neighbours gathered there daily. Deals were sealed with a handshake and mutual trust, often over a shared cup of pink tea.