Lal Chowk — "Red Square" — is the commercial and symbolic centre of Srinagar. The name was given by leftist political activists in the 1930s who were inspired by Moscow's Red Square, and the area has been a centre of political as well as commercial life ever since. The clock tower that rises from the intersection is the most photographed urban landmark in Kashmir. The surrounding streets contain the densest concentration of shops, banks, photocopy stalls, and street food sellers in the city.
As a sight, Lal Chowk is more interesting historically than visually — the architecture is largely unremarkable and the traffic is intense. But it is the real working centre of Srinagar and worth spending an hour in, particularly in the evening when the market is busy. The streets immediately north and east lead into the old city bazaars; the street south leads to Residency Road and the main restaurant strip. The area has been the site of numerous political demonstrations and some violent incidents over the decades; the security presence remains heavy.