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Jammu & Kashmir
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General
Information |
| Area
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222,236 sq km |
| Population
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10,069,917 |
| Capital
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Srinagar
(Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
| Languages
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Urdu, Kashmiri,
Hindi, Dogri, Pahari, Ladakhi |
| Best Time to
Visit : |
April to June
(Kashmir Valley), October to March (Jammu Region) |
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Situated in the northern part of India, Jammu & Kashmir
is the essence of everything that is Indian-its culture, history,
tradition, people, and natural splendor. The state has a long history
encompassing around 4,000 years and there are many prehistoric sites,
which give indication of human settlement in this region in those times. The state was integrated as a part of India in 1948, when
the then ruler of Jammu & Kashmir agreed to join the Indian federation
and the state was given a special status under article 370 of the Indian
constitution.
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| Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty and has often been
referred to as the 'Switzerland of the East'. The heart of the area is the
fertile Vale of Kashmir (known as The Valley), which lies between the
Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. Here the climate is mild and
the soil well watered. The Indus river flows through Kashmir. The river
Jhelum flows through the Vale of Kashmir. The mountains have much precious
forests. |
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| About 12 million people live in Kashmir, of which around
70% are Muslims. The rest include Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Hindus live
mostly in the south and around the city of Jammu. To the east is the
Ladakh region, where the majority of the people are Buddhists and of
Tibetan origin. Most of the Kashmiri people work on farms. Others are
engaged in small industries making shawls, rugs and carpets. Kashmir is
well known for its wool and, in particular, its shawls and carpets. |
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Much of the farmland is under intense cultivation,
producing corn, wheat, rice and saffron amongst other crops. Fruit and
nuts are also produced in quantities including pears, apples and walnuts.
The capitals of Indian-held Kashmir are Srinagar in the summer and Jammu
in the winter; whilst the capital of Azad Kashmir is Muzaffarabad. |
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| Kashmir is again making headlines. This time over about the
revival of Tourism Industry. One of the most favored travel destinations
of Asia, it has captured within its landscape the essence of all the
elements that poetry demands of nature. The Great Mughals celebrated the
beauty by laying world famous gardens. They also left behind a heritage of
exquisite arts. This is a land about which myriad holiday ideas take
shape. There is therefore a felt need to reach out to the prospective
travelers with news and views about the place.... |
| Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is poised for
resurgence, this was evident with the huge pavilion of the state at the
recently concluded TTF and is also a clear indication of the efforts to
promote tourism in the state. ‘Chalo Kashmir’ is the new slogan of
Jammu and Kashmir tourism department and the state government, which has
drawn up ambitious plans to boost tourism by augmenting room capacity,
sprucing up lakes and encouraging private sector investment. |
| The state has also introduced new products like golf
tourism and adventure tourism. After a gap of 20 years, the National
Institute of mountaineering started skiing courses this year. The valley
also boasts of a 18-hole golf course built at cost of Rs 37 crore designed
by Robert Trent Jr, the well- known US golf course designer. |
Tourist Places
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Srinagar
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| Srinagar
is
located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an
altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both
sides of the river
Jhelum
. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque
setting, while the changing play of the seasons and
the salubrious climate ensures that the city is
equally attractive to visitors around the year. |
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| Kalhana,
the author of 'Rajtarangini’, states that Srinagri
was founded by Emperor Ashoka (3rd Century
BC). |
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The
present city of
Srinagar
was founded by Pravarasena-II, and Hiuen Tsang, who
visited
Kashmir
in 631 AD, found it at the same site as it is today.
Laltaditya Muktapida was the most illustrious ruler of
Kashmir
in the Hindu period, which ended in 1339 AD. King
Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70 AD), popularly known as ‘Budshah’,
was a great patron of Sanskrit. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Gulmarg
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| Gulmarg the meadow of Flowers
is a world famous tourist spot in the Baramulla Distt of Kashmir. The
altitude of Gulmarg is 2730 meters. surrounded by dense forests of tall
conifers ,Gulmarg is known for unparalled beauty nad is rated as one of
the matchless tourist spots of the world.It is famous for Golf hikes and
boasts of a beautiful highland golf course. It is premier resort for
winter sports in the country. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Drass
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| Drass (3230 m), 60 km west of
Kargil on the road to Srinagar, is a small township lying in the centre of
the valley of the same name. It has become famous as the second coldest
inhabited place in the world by virtue of the intense cold that descends
upon the valley along with repeated snowfalls during winters. Winter
temperature is sometimes known to plummet to less than minus 40 degrees. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Jammu
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| Situated on the banks of the Tawi river against the
ravishing backdrop of the majestic Trikuta ranges, the winter capital of
the state is Jammu. It is believed that King Jambulochan, considered the
place to be auspicious because he saw a tiger and goat drinking water from
the same pool. He laid the foundation of a new city, Jammu Nagri. In 1832,
Gulab Singh merged Jammu with Kashmir to form the present state. Jammu has
a large number of temples and shrines, the soaring spires of which seem to
perforate the skies above. Katra, 48 kms from Jammu is the starting point
of the heavily thronged shine of Vaishno Devi. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Pahalgam
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| The Village of nomad is
unspoilt by the ravages of progress. This is a quaint little village
nestled on the banks of river Lidder. This place is an angler's delight
and even an amateur can catch a rainbow trout from the rushing
streams. the large brown bear is a natural inhabitant of the thick Pine
and Cedar forests. Pahalgam has a golf course at 2400 meters above the sea
level. Camping equipment, ponies and skiing equipment is readily
available. Kolahoi is a popular destinantion via Aru a
charming meadow. Pahalgam is base camp for the pilgrims of Amarnath. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Sonammarg
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| Sonammarg The Golden Meadow
is at an altitude of 2740 meters and is gateway to Ladakh.It has brilliant
forests of sycamore and alpine flowers, silver birch,fir and pine;
Sonamarg is a place of enthralling beauty. Three lakes viz
Kishensar,Vishensar and Gangabal can be viewed from Nichnai Pass. 20
Kms east of Sonamarg is Zoji-La Pass at 3540 mtrs which leads into
Ladakh Plateau. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Patnitop
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| 112 kms from Jammu. This famous
hill resort is perched on a beautiful plateau, at an altitude of 2024
metres across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. Enveloped by
thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers beautiful picnic spots,
peaceful walks and breathtaking views of the mountainscape of
the Chenab basin. In winter, the resort is generally covered with a thick
mantle of snow thusproviding
opportunities for various snow games including skiing.
It is the best developed tourist spot of Jammu and is second to none in
its natural charm, climate, pine forests and lush green cover. The
occupancy of the huts and Dak Banglow is full in summer months. There is
ambitious plan of Patnitop Development Authority to develop Patnitop, Kud,
Sud-Mahadev, Mantalai circuit. The costruction work of Mall Road at Kud is
also proposed to be taken up. Trekking route from Kud to Patnitop-Sanasar
has already been completed. The complete tourist circuit covers Jammu-Katra-VaishnoDeviji,
Kud-Sanasar, Patnitop-Gourikund, Sudmahadev, Mantali, extending upto
Latti-Dhuna. |
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(Click
here for more Information)
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Suggested
Tours
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