| Area: |
222,236 sq km |
| Population: |
10.1 million |
| Capital City: |
Srinagar (summer), Jammu
(winter) |
| Best time to visit: |
April/May to October |
Languages:
|
Hindi, English, Urdu, Ladakhi,
and Purig |
|
 |
“The Indian Paradise,” Jammu and Kashmir,
is the northern-most state of India. Its landscape includes
dusty deserts as well as snow-capped mountains, adding
a touch of exclusivity to this wondrous land. Shrouded
in the mist of controversy, withholding a glorious history,
garnering the cultural diversity, this land is home
to some wonderful locales that silently guard its significance.
Jammu and Kashmir is the mysterious seraph that carries
the pride of the nation but is forced to lie low, away
from glamour and glory due to the political unrest and
chaos spread across the state.
Most of the state lies within the Himalayan region
sharing its borders with Himachal Pradesh, Pakistan,
and China. The political significance of this state
for India as well as Pakistan, and the consequent unrest
among these neighbors, has caused this valley to be
isolated from tourism since 1989. The three regions
of the state—Kashmir, Ladakh, and Jammu—embody
Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism respectively. The name
Jammu and Kashmir has been given to the state, reflecting
the two regions that have the highest population.
Today, with better government policies and measures,
the internal situation in Kashmir has improved. However,
there continues to be a whiff of hostility in the air
and perfect calm has still not been restored. Visitors
coming to this area require special permits from the
government of India. Treks and long-distance hikes are
not advisable in the Kashmir Valley. As a consequence,
tourists are wary of visiting Kashmir although it only
forms a small part of the state. Jammu, Ladakh, and
Zanskar are a perfect personification of heaven on earth;
however, the real McCoy, Kashmir, awaits the day it
can hold the world to a rapturous stance.
Local sites and tourist attractions Ladakh  The state of Jammu and Kashmir is divided into three
main regions—Ladakh, Jammu, and Kashmir—each
having its own individual culture and lifestyle. Ladakh
is all about the majesty of a chasm, a touch of asceticism
in its land, and a sea of precision. It has proudly
retained its individuality, untouched by the surrounding
terror and destruction.
Popularly called “Little Tibet,” this ancient
Buddhist land is located between the western Himalayas
and the Tibetan plateau. Ladakh chiefly consists of
Leh and Kargil. The Leh district of this region is the
largest district in the nation and occupies more than
half the area the state.
This is a land of river valleys that are lined by lakes
and bounded within the husky mountains. The extensive
mountain ranges date back to about 45 million years.
There are no major peaks in these ranges since the average
height of the Ladakh ranges is approximately 6000 meters.
Ladakh lies in a rain shadow area owing to the enormous
mass of the Himalayas, thus, giving it the status of
a high altitude desert.
The culture of Ladakh bears resemblance to that of
Tibet, which is reflected in the food, the language,
the festivals, the music, the clothes, and the religious
ceremonies. The local language followed by the people
is Ladakhi. The chief local dishes are Thukpa,
Momos, Tsumpa and the Skyu.
The architecture of this region has Tibetan influneces
along with Indian touches. Monasteries and Buddhist
relics adorn the plains which in turn feed the inspirations
and whims of nature lovers and pilgrims. A number of
activities such as camel safaris, trekking, mountaineering,
and white-water rafting are facilitated in this area.
Ancient rock carvings excavated from the region suggest
the existence of ancient civilizations. Ladakh was first
inhabited by the Khampa nomads. Some of the first settlements
in the region were established by Buddhist pilgrims
in the 2nd century. Around the same period,
the Bon religion was predominant in the area. From the
7th to the 14th century a number
of palaces, forts, and monasteries were established
in the region. The Gelugpa Buddhist order, headed by
the first Dalai Lama, was introduced in the late 14th
century leading to a boom of the religion within different
parts of the region.
Muslim invaders such as Ali Mir, King Takpabum, and
King Takbumde gradually began invading the districts,
weakening the state, and dividing it into Lower Ladakh
and Upper Ladakh. These invaders were overthrown by
King Basgo, who later renamed himself as Singge Namgyal,
and established a new dynasty with Leh as his capital.
During this period, Ladakh achieved a number of territorial
gains and with assistance from the royal family, the
Brokpa monks established stupas and gompas at Hemis
and Stakna.
In 1685, Ladakh was facing threats from the Mongol-Tibetan
army, which led to an alliance with the Mughals to overthrow
the foreign invaders. However, the Mughal rule was short-lived
and by 1830 the Dogra army, established by Gulab Singh,
invaded Ladakh from Jammu and Ladakh became a part of
the Dogra dynasty. In the recent past, Ladakhis
have been disturbed by the tension building up in Kashmir
and are keen for a separate state governed by the government
of India. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council
was established to cater to the needs of the people.
With a total population of approximately 200,000, a
majority of the people in Ladakh are Tibetan Buddhist
and the other half are Shia Muslims with a small percentage
of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and people following the
Tibetan Bon religion. The locals generally occupy themselves
with archery, which is followed by dances and celebrations.
The other sport common in many areas within the region
is Polo. Tourism in Ladakh was initiated in 1974 and
has since then contributed abundantly to the average
tourism income of the country.
The temperatures are usually extreme. During the summers
the temperatures normally do not rise beyond 27 degree
Celsius and in winter it may drop down to minus 20 to
30 degrees quite easily. In recent times, the climate
in this region has been undergoing some changes with
an increase in the rate of snowfall and rainfall. Nevertheless,
this is the best place to experience the chill of winter
and the sweaty irritation of summer at the same time.
Tourists require permits to access certain areas within
the region like the Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and the
Rupsu Valley.
The city was founded in 993 AD by a Rajput king, Anangpal,
who belonged to the Tomar Rajput dynasty. In 1193, Muhammad
of Ghor invaded Delhi and defeated Prithviraj, following
which, Qutb-ud-din Aibak established the city as the
capital of the Mughal monarchy in India. The Khilji
dynasty conquered Delhi in 1290, subsequent to that,
the Tughlaq dynasty ruled this land during 1314-1414.
The Sayyid and the Lodhi dynasty took over Delhi in
the 15th century.
The Mughal Era was restructured by Zahiruddin Babur,
who laid the foundation of the 300 year rule of the
Mughal dynasty. Old Delhi was entirely developed by
emperor Shahjahan and consequently came to be known
as “Shahjanabad.” In 1739, Nadir Shah squandered
the grandeur of Delhi and deprived India of some of
its most precious treasures such as the Kohinoor diamond
and the jeweled peacock throne that originally belonged
to Shahjahan. During the 19th century, the city witnessed
the advent of the Maratha Kings.
In 1857, after the Sepoy Mutiny Act—the first
step toward India’s fight for independence—the
British took over Delhi and declared it as the district
province of Punjab. Under the British administration,
New Delhi was declared the Capital of India in 1912
and Architect Edwin Lutyens constructed most of the
monuments that currently constitute the capital city.
The year 1947 witnessed the end of the colonial rule
in India and the newly formed Indian Government established
Delhi as the political center and capital of India.
Shopping in this region can be a delightful experience
since the local traditional art and handicrafts are
not only exclusive but also popular all over the world.
For example, the hand-crafted Kashmiri carpets, the
almost infamous pashmina shawls, embroidered apparels,
and products ranging back to the Mughal period, form
the highlight of the bounty available in the markets.
Some of the other must-buy items include local handicrafts,
Kashmiri jewelry, silk, wooden carvings, fur coats,
and embroidered kurtas.
Also popular are quaint little paper mache boxes, trays,
and coasters and flint and tobacco pouches. Try some
of the fabric embellished with crewel work (chain stitching)
and the local Ladakhi dresses, the pahari paintings
of Jammu, and last but not least, some exclusive saffron,
walnut, almonds, and honey for your taste buds.
- The famous hot springs in the village of Panamik
in the Nubra valley in Ladakh are extremely among
the visitors to this region. These springs are known
to carry medicinal value and help cure rheumatism
and other bodily ailments
- If you are in the mood for some golf, do give it
a shot at the worlds highest golf course located in
the city of Gulmarg in Kashmir
- The houseboats in Srinagar are a delight and offer
a wonderful insight into an unimaginable and unforgettable
world of charm
- Do try the saffron available at Parampore, a small
village near Srinagar, which is the best in the country.
Also, the village is the sole producer of saffron
in India
- Amarnath, a famous pilgrimage center located 141
km from Srinagar and Pahalgam (a small city in Kashmir),
are visited by pilgrims from all over the country
and the world between the months of July and August.
The pilgrims come here to pay homage to the ice “lingam”
of Lord Shiva
- Excursions are available to all the three regions,
which provide a unique insight into the places, the
local culture, and lifestyle
- Activities such as hiking, mountaineering, river
rafting, horse-riding, skiing, and sledging can be
availed depending on the place and time of visit
Each of the three regions has its own individual cultural
significance. This cultural diversity accounts for the
wide heritage carried by the state. The Ladakhis and
the Zanskaris hail from a Tibetan background, the Kashmiris
descend from the Dardic branch of the Indo-Aryans, similar
to the tribes in Pakistan, and the people from Jammu
primarily come from the Dogra power. Thus, the culture
has influences of all the three religions, Islam, Hinduism,
and Buddhism within the state, though the majority domination
still remains of the Muslims. Sikhism is another religion
that has its traces in the state owing to the existence
of the Sikh Empire prior to 1846.
The climate during the summer is very bright and the
temperature seldom goes above a maximum of 35 degree
Celsius. Winters, on the other hand, can be extreme
and temperatures can fall as low as -11 degrees centigrade
or lesser. The overall climate differs in the three
regions. In the southwest areas of the state, the temperature
is usually brisk and dry. The central regions experience
humid temperatures. The topmost areas of the north are
usually cold and damp.
According to Hindu mythology, this land was created
when Sage Kashyap swallowed a lake to unearth the region
of Kashmir. However, conventional history of the state
dates back to the time of the Ashokan Empire. The capital
city of Srinagar was founded by King Ashoka, who was
also responsible for building a number of monasteries
and Buddhist pilgrimage destinations within the region.
Approximately during the same time, Buddhism was ingrained
in the soil of the region and a number of important
Buddhist monks and pilgrims flocked to this place since
it had become an important seat of Buddhist learning.
The district of Ladakh carries the relics of the Tibetan
and Buddhist influence in the nation.
Islam rose to prominence in 1341 with the rule of Shams-ud-Din.
Following which, the region became a Muslim dominated
area where Hindus and Muslims co-existed in harmony.
The Mughal rule followed in 1588, with Emperor Akbar’s
son, Jehangir, establishing a number of monuments, gardens,
and mosques throughout the region. The prominence of
the Mughal rule gradually decreased and the Sikh Empire
rose into power. Thus, this Muslim dominated area was
put into the hands of a Hindu empire.
Under the rule of the British East India Company, the
Sikh Empire was overthrown during the Sikh wars of 1846
and the region was sold to the Dogra Rajputs, headed
by Maharaja Gulab Singh. Following the partition of
India and Pakistan in 1947, the princely states within
the nations were required to choose between India and
Pakistan. The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari
Singh, was unable to make a choice and wished for an
independent state. The Maharaja was a Hindu and the
people of the state were of a Muslim majority. He signed
a “standstill” agreement with Pakistan,
which guaranteed the continuity of trade, communication,
and other such services between the two nations.
However, to his disadvantage, a rebellion from within
the state led to the Pakistani Pashtuns invasion
of the region of Poonch. The Maharaja turned to India
for help and the latter agreed on the condition that
the Maharaja officially includes the state to the Union
of India. Thus, on the 16th of October 1947,
the “Instrument of Accession was signed”
entrusting India’s jurisdiction over the states
defense, communications, and external affairs. Unfortunately,
this led to extreme unrest between India and Pakistan
and after eighteen months of fighting, the state was
split by a UN monitored cease fire line presently constituting
the border between India and Pakistan. Thus, the total
area of the state was divided into two—India administered
Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir. Moreover,
China took over the Aksai Chin area, the governance
of which is still disputed by India.
The differences between India and Pakistan continue
till today. Till 1989, the situation was under control;
however, the involvement of Afghanistani Mujahadeens
led to an increase in terrorism and political unrest
in the region, thereby bringing a massive drop in tourism
within the state. Ladakh and Jammu, which were at a
distance from the unrest, continued to flourish in terms
of tourism and overall development. However, the situation
in Kashmir worsened with almost negligible tourism intake. |
