Jammu & Kashmir
The paradisal state of Jammu and Kashmir is the pride of India, with its lofty snowclad mountain ranges, sylvan landscape, unbelievably fresh mountain air and its beautiful people. Located at the extreme north west of the country, the state is divided into three broad segments, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Kashmir has the maximum population at 53%, Jammu has 45%, while Ladakh is rather sparsely inhabited, due to obvious geographical constraints.
Jammu is situated on the banks of the Tawi river, framed against the picturesque backdrop of the majestic Trikuta ranges, is the winter capital of the state, Jammu. It is believed that Jammu was founded by Raja Jamboolochan in the 9th century, though no such historical records of the region exist. The Sikhs took over from the Rajputs, following which, in 1832, Gulab Singh merged Jammu with Kashmir to form the present state. The region is inhabited by three large tribes - the sturdy Dogras dwelling in the plains, the Pahadis of the hills, and the nomadic mountain - dwelling tribes of the Gaddis and Gujjars.
Jammu houses a huge number of temples and shrines, the soaring spires of which seem to pierce the skies above. The Raghunath group of temples, the largest in the north; the Amar Mahal Palace; the Ranbireshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva; the Baghi Bahu temple and Fort are some of the popular landmarks of the region. The Dogra Art Gallery showcases the Pahadi school of art, chiefly comprising of exquisite wall paintings that adorn the local temples. The handicrafts typical of Jammu are wooden ornaments, intricate bamboo work, straw fans, rush baskets etc.
Festivals : In keeping with Jammu being a colourful region, the festivals celebrated here are vibrant explosions of gaiety, the principal amongst them being, Lohri (January), Baisakhi (April), Bahu Mela (April and October), Chaitre Chandash (April), Purmandal Mela (February), and Jhiri Mela (October).
Modes of transport :
By air: Jammu is connected by Indian Airlines with Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Srinagar.
By rail: Jammu Tawi is an important railhead on the Northern Railway line. Express trains connect it with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and Amritsar.
By road: Located on the National Highway 1A, Jammu is linked by a network of roads to Amritsar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Katra, Srinagar, and Manali.
Kashmir :The sheer beauty and grandeur of the Kashmir Valley cannot be captured in plain words. Set at the foot of the awesome Himalayas, with the splendid Jhelum river meandering through it, this land of raw natural magnificence has enticed people from all over the world, for centuries. Aptly referred to as Paradise, Kashmir has been ruled by Emperor Ashoka, the Kushans, Gonondas, Guptas, Karkotas, Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs, and finally by the Dogras in the 19th century. Despite all these invasions, the Kashmiris have retained their traditions and innate simplicity. The major chunk of the population is Muslim, followed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians.Kashmir is a land crisscrossed by umpteen lakes and rivers, each fascinating in its own way. The Jhelum or Vitasta, as it was called, is not only the bloodline, as it were, of the state, but also poses as the ethereal inspiration for many songs, legends, and poems. The other notable lakes include the Manasbal Lake, the Liddar river, the famous Dal lake, Nagin Lake and the Wular Lake, the largest in the state. Shalimar, Nasim Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and the legendary Chashme - e - Shahi are some of the delightful gardens, that are to be found here.
Apart from its being the land of soaring snowclad mountains, sparkling waterfalls, shikaras (water taxis), impressive chinar trees, and vast fields of vibrant flowers, Kashmir is also renown for its unique handicrafts - papier-mache, woodwork, stone jewellery, fine Pashmina and Shahtush shawls, carpet weaving and silverware. The arts and crafts of this region are more than 500 years old, and bear a distinct Persian imprint. The valley is studded with several mosques and temples, built in diverse architectural styles. The Hazratbal Mosque, the holiest of all Muslim shrines, the stone temples of Avantipur, the cave at Amarnath, the most sacred Hindu shrine in the state, the great Shankaracharya temple, the Martand Temple all add to the kaleidoscopic appeal of Kashmir.
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