There are strong
cultural and geographical contrasts in J&K. The Kashmir
Valley, or Vale of Kashmir, is a fertile, verdant region enclosed by
the high snow-capped ridges of the Pir Panjal range to the west and
south, and the main Himalaya range to the east. It's
population is over 60% Muslim, with a rich Islamic history that can
be traced back to the 14th century. South of Kashmir Valley is
the region of Jammu. It includes the city of Jammu, situated
on the north Indian plains, a short distance from the rolling
Siwalik Hills. North of Siwaliks, the rest of the Jammu region
is drained by the Chenab River whose vast catchment area includes
several narrow valleys that extend deep into the high
Himalayas. The region of Jammu is predominantly Hindu,
although there are small Muslim communities in the vicinity of
Banihal and Kishtwar immediately south of the Kashmir valley.
The political
violence in the Kashmir Valley since the late 1980s has discouraged
most travelers from visiting the region. Until 1989, a stay on
the famous houseboats of Dal Lake close to the city center of
Srinagar was considered a must for anyone visiting northern India,
while the treks out of Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam were among
some of the most popular in the Himalayas. Before the outbreak
of violence, more than 600,000 Indian tourists and 60,000 foreign
tourists visited Kashmir throughout the summer season, from early
June until mid-October.
Jammu & Kashmir -
History
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Jammu Region
STD
Code: 0191
Population: 260,000
Jummy is J&K's
second-largest city and its winter capital. In summer it is a
sweltering contrast to the cool heights of Kashmir. From
October it becomes much more pleasant. Jummy actually consists
of two towns. The old town sits on a hilltop overlooking the
river, and several kilometers away across the river is the new town
of Jammu Tawi.
Jammu to
Srinagar
Along the Jammu to
Srinagar route are the hill resorts of Katra, Kud, Patnitop and
Batote. Four million pilgrims walk the 12km from Katra to the
Vaishno Devi cave shrine each year. East of Kud and Patnitop
is the improtant Sudh Mahadev Shiva Temple. Farther along,
Sanasar is a beautiful valley where Gujar shepherds gather each
summer.
Before the
completion of the Jawahar tunnel, Shrinagar was often cut off from
the rest of India. The 2.5km-long tunnel is 200km from jammu
and 93km from Shrinagar and has two separate passages; inside it's
very damp and full of fumes. From Banihal, 17km south of the
tunnel, the Kashmiri region begins and people speak Kashmiri as well
as Dogri. At the northern end of the tunnel is the lush Vale
of Kashmir.
Kashmir Valley
This is one of
the most beautiful regions of India, but since 1989 it has
been racked by political violence.
Among
Kashmir's greatest attractions were the Dal Lake
houseboats. During the Raj period Kashmir's ruler would
not permit the British (who were as fond of Kashmir's cool
climate as the Mughals) to own land here. So they
adopted the solution of building houseboats - each one a
little bit of England afloat on Dal Lake. A visit to
Kashmir was not complete until you had stayed on a houseboat.
Srinagar
STD Code:
0194
Population: 725,000
Srinagar, the
summer capital of Kashmir, stands on Dal Lake and the
picturesque Jhelum River. It is a city with a distinctly
Central Asian flavor; when you head south from Srinagar it is
always referred to as 'returning to India'.
The old city
is in the vicinity of Hari Parbat Hill and includes the
labyrinth of alleyways, mosques and houses that constitute the
commercial heart of the city. The more modern part of
city is farther up the Jhelum River, which sweeps through
Srinagar.
East of the
city is Dal Lake, much of it a maze of intricate
waterways. Dal comprises a series of lakes, including
Nagain Lake some 8km from the city center. Most of the
more mordern houseboats are on these lakes. The famous
Mughal gardens, including the Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh,
are on the far (east) side of Dal Lake.
Pahalgam
Pahalgam is
about 95km east of Srinagar, at an altitude of 2130m. At
the junction of the East and West Lidder Rivers, Pahalgam was
a popular trekking base before the present troubles.
Each year in July/August the Sri Amarnath Yatra (pilgrimage)
attracts thousands of Hindu prilgrims, who approach the
Amarnath cave from this area.
Gulmarg
The large
meadow of Gulmarg is 52km south-west of Srinagar at
2730m. The name means Meadow of Flowers and in spring
it's just that. Also once a popular trekking base,
Gulmarg used to be India's premier skiing resort.
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