Jammu and Kashmir

The place is more beautiful than heaven and is the benefactor of supreme bliss and happiness. It seems to me that I am taking a bath in the lake of nectar here. Kailash (the mythical mountain abode of Lord Shiva) is the best place in the three worlds (Trilok), Himalayas the best place in Kailash, and Kashmir the best place in Himalayas" - Kalidasa.

Famed for its majestic beauty, the land of Jammu & Kashmir has been eulogised by poets, saints and travellers. The great Mughals, including a homesick Babur fell in love with its beautiful valleys and the Emperor Jahangir was so overwhelmed by the beauty of its lakes and rivers that he transformed the state into a garden paradise.

With immaculately maintained gardens, rows of golden chinar trees, sparkling rivers, alpine pastures and the backdrop of snow peaks, Kashmir became the most sought-after destination. Jammu & Kashmir is the jewel in the crown of the Indian Republic. Lying deep in the folds and foothills of the sentinel range of the Himalayas, one of the most beautiful of Indian states has become its most fiercely embattled region. A bone of contention between India and Pakistan, after partition in 1947, the Kashmir valley with a Muslim majority has been fought over for the past five decades. In this bitter struggle for supremacy, the land has been fractured, thousands of lives lost and the economy in shambles.

The largest of India’s mountain states, it is divided into three regions, the subtropical foothills of Jammu, the luxuriant Kashmir valley between Pir Panjal and Higher Himalayas and the cold desert of Ladakh. Ladakh, with its severe landscape, high mountain passes, deep gorges, remained isolated from the rest of the country. A remote land with hardy people struggling against great physical and climatic odds, Ladakh had close ethnic and economic links with Tibet. Only in recent times has the region opened up to the outside world, revealing its ancient monasteries, rich cultural heritage and imposing landscape.

Travel Advisory! All foreign visitors to Jammu & Kashmir are strongly advised to check with their embassies for travel advisories or with the Government of India’s External Affairs offices. While the regions of Jammu and Ladakh are safe for travel, the Kashmir Valley is the worst affected by the current political unrest and militant activity. Militant groups often target foreigners and non Kashmiri Indians making it unsafe for most travellers.

Mother Nature has generously endowed the Kashmir Valley with unmatched natural beauty. High snow clad mountain ranges, picturesque green valleys, deep blue mountain lakes that reflect nature’s bounty and sparkling silver rivers, thick forests and picture postcard perfect formal gardens and waterfalls make Kashmir amongst the most beautiful of places in the world.

Kashmir is a great tourist place for tourists whether domestic or foreign. Unfortunately, the surcharged atmosphere and constant border skirmishes do not make it an ideal holiday destination. A few of the main tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir are Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam Sonamarg, Leh and Dachigam National Park. Kashmir has as well a few places of pilgrim interest such as Amarnath and Vaishno Devi, both these places being accessible, although Amarnath needs a special government permit.

Jammu was the stronghold of Hindu Dogra kings. Its religious heritage is evident in an abundance of temples, pilgrimages and popular temples like the shrine of Vaishno Devi. The region is also well known for its scenic beauty as it lies against a splendid background of mountains and secluded forest retreats.

Srinagar: Dating back to the 3rd century BC, Srinagar was founded on the banks of the River Jhelum by Emperor Ashoka, in the very heart of the Kashmir valley. Modern Srinagar lies around the picturesque Dal Lake.

Between the lake and the mountain ranges are the formal Moghul gardens laid out by the Emperor Jahangir, the Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chasm-e-Shahi and Pari Mahal.
Ladakh is the northern most province of the state, with an almost moonscape like topography in its topmost reaches. The Ladakhis lead a tranquil life, completely at one with their surroundings and the Tibetan Buddhist influence is very palpable. It can be seen at the numerous monasteries that seemingly cling precariously to hilltops and cliffsides making Ladakh one of the most vibrant repositories of the living tradition of Tibetan Buddhism anywhere in the world.

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