Srinagar, Oct. 30 -- Every World Cities Day reminds us to think about what makes a city truly alive. Beyond roads or buildings, it's the soul that holds them together. In Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and one of South Asia's oldest living cities, this thought feels especially close.

Founded nearly two thousand years ago by King Pravarasena, Srinagar has witnessed empires rise and fade, from the Kushans and Mughals to the Dogras and modern India. Its lanes have felt the footsteps of Sufi saints, Persian poets, and Central Asian traders. Their influence still lives in its wooden homes, carved balconies, and gold-painted paper-mche ceilings. The Jhelum River, curving through the city, once carried silk, spices, and stories to t...