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Area
:222,236 sq. kms.
Population : Approx.
Languages : Urdu
(official) Kashmiri (mostly), regional languages like Dogri,Hindi,Dardi,Pahari,
English is widely spoken.
Capital : Srinagar
Literacy Ratio:26.2 % Best time to visit:May
to September.
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"The
state of Jammu and Kashmir is an agglomeration of territories brought
under the political power of one Maharaja" "Kashmir is a geographical
monstrosity, a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society"
Jammu & Kashmir are really three regions;
the foothills' plains of Jammu; the lakes & blue valleys of Kashmir rising
to alpine passes, & the high altitude plains & starkly beautiful mountains
of Ladakh which lies beyond those passes. Kashmir shares a sensitive border
with Pakistan & so when peace is enjoyed at the border, there is prosperity
in Kashmir & when there is unrest at the border, Kashmir's fortunes correspondingly
declines.
Kashmir is located in the heart of
south-central Asia amongst the most populace countries of the world. It
shares its borders with China, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
Area under Indian control: (50513 sq.miles)
a) Ladakh: 33740 sq.miles
b) Kashmir province: 6893 sq.miles
c) Jammu province: 9880 sq.miles
Area under Pakistan control: (33958 sq.miles)
a) Gilgit & Baltistan: 29814 sq.miles
b) Muzzafarabad & Poonch valley: 4144 sq.miles
In 1962 war with India, China occupied
1971 sq.miles from Indian held Kashmir at Aksai-chin and Demchok in Ladakh.
In December 1962, 1868 sq.miles were conditionally taken over by China
at Shaksgam in Northern.
Jammu and Kashmir, Indias fascinating
northernmost state consists of three regions differing in topography and
culture. Jammu was the stronghold of Hindu
Dogra kings and abounds with popular temples
, secluded forest retreats, historical places and
sanctuaries . Kashmirs capital city, Srinagar
offers delightful holidays on the lakes with their shikaras and houseboats.
Amongst the three regions of Jammu
& Kashmir State, Jammu, perhaps, offers the widest diversity of terrain
and beauty. The entire region is pocketed with lakes and valleys, some
still little explored. The foundation of the settlement of Jammu is attributed
to King Jambulochan of the 9th century BC. In 1730 AD, it came under the
Dogra rule of Raja Dhruv Deva and Jammu became an important centre for
arts and culture, now renwned as the Pahari School. Religion,
too, played an important part in its development, so beautifully evidenced
in its various shrines and temples spread throughout the region.
Ladakh
is the northern most province of the state, with a bleak terrain of barren
mountains. Hilltop monasteries and a colourful way of life, completely
at one with the surroundings, make Ladakh one of the best living traditions
of Tibetan Buddhism in the world today.
The
state of Jammu & Kashmir is a region of widely varying people, great history
and geography. In the south, Jammu is a transition
zone from the Indian plains to the Himalaya.The rest of the state is Kashmir
but in practise this title is reserved for the beautiful vale of Kashmir,
a large Himalayan valley in the north of the state. A spell on a houseboat
on Dal Lake has always been one of India's real treats and Kashmir also
offers some delightful trekking opportunities
and unsurpassed scenery.During festivals
the state of Jammu & Kashmir is in a colourful mood.
Jammu
and Kashmir is a state very famous for handicrafts. The textile and shawls
from the state is famous all over the world. It is the bets shopping
place.
The cuisine
of the state is characterised by three different styles of cooking the
Kashmiri Pandit, the Muslims and the Rajput styles. Though they eat meat,
surprisingly, many traditional Kashmiri Pandits don't include garlic and
onion to their cooking.
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.
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