Jammu & Kashmir Toursim

Valley of Kashmir: set in the lap of the Himalayas towering to 18,000 feet with the sinuous Jhelum river cutting across in coils and curves forming the highway and the main source of sustenance. This fertile land has over century’s enticed people from all over the world to behold its legendary beauty. Indeed no other place on earth has more widely been referred to as "PARADISE".

History
Jammu has been mentioned in the Mahabharata. According to a legend, which is even mentioned in Rajatarangini and Nilmat Purana Kashmir was once a large lake. Kashyap Rishi had drained off the water making it an abode.

Emperor Ashoka introduced Buddhism to Kashmir in the 3 rd century BC, which was later strengthened by Kanishka. Huns got the control of the valley in the early 6th century. The valley regained freedom in 530AD but soon came under the rule of the Ujjain Empire. After the decline of the Vikramaditya the valley had its own rulers. There was a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Lalitaditya (697 - 738 AD) was most famous Hindu ruler who extended his kingdom up to Bengal in the east, Konkan in the south and Thrkistan in the north. Islam came into Kashmir in the 13th and 14th centuries. Zain-ul-Abedin (1420 ­70 AD) was the most famous Muslim ruler who came to Kashmir when the Hindu king Sinha Dev reigned there before Thtar invasion. Later Charaks Haider Shah, son of Zain-ul-Abedin, continued to rule till 1596 AD when Akbar conquered Kashmir. In 1752 AD, Kashmir passed on from the feeble control of the Mughal emperor of the time to Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. The Valley was ruled by the Pathans for 67 years.

The land of Jammu was divided into 22 hill participants. Raja Maldev, one of the Dogra rulers conquered many to consolidate the kingdom. Raja Ranjit Dev ruled over Jammu from 1733 to 1782 AD. His successors were weak and thus Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed the territory to Panjab.He later handed over Jammu to Raja Gulab Singh, a scion of the Dogra family. The state was governed by the Dogra rulers till 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh the Instrument of Accession in favour of the Indian Union on October 26,1947.

Airports : Srinagar, Jammu and Leh.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg is rated as one of the matchless hill resorts in the world. Gulmarg is the valley, lush and green, located in the uplands of Jammu and Kashmir. All around are snow-capped mountains, and on clear day one can see all the way to Nanga Parbat, in one direction and Srinagar to another. In winter Gulmarg becomes country’s premier skiing resort. One can hire snow boots, mufflers, woolen socks, windproof jackets and caps.

Places of Interest

(1) Alpather Lake (2) Khilanmarg (3) Ningal Nallah (4) Ziarat of Babareshi

Pahalgam

Pahalgam is an idyllic resort, located on the banks of river Lidder and Sheshnag.It is the base for several treks in the region and for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath.The surroundings are ideal and allow for relaxation and leisure in the true spirit of traditional hill resort. Lidder River offers excellent fishing beats for brown trout.

Places of Interest

(1) Amarnath (2) Balsara (3) Kolahol Glacier (4) Mamlesvara (5) Tarsar Lake (6) Mamal.

Sonmarg

Sonmarg is sheer scenic splendour. The very way - metalled road snakes through massive mountains laden with forest and firs. The valley is rimed by mountains scaling 5300 m in height. The river meanders across the valley and abounds in trout and masher an angler’s delight. Major trekking routes begin at Sonmarg.Two lakes ‘Gadsar and Satsar are on the periphery of Sonmarg.

Leh

Leh is nestled in a side valley just to the north of the Indus Valley.Leh is an important strategic center for the military, which has a large presence here and is a reminder that the region is along India’s sensitive border with Pakistan and China.Leh’s character changed when Ladakh was opened up to foreign tourists in 1974.Since then, more than 100 hotels have been established and many of the shops o Main Bazaar Rd have been converted to sell arts and crafts. Leh is dominated by the dilapidated nine-story Leh Palace, home of the Ladakhi royal family before it was exiled to Stok Gompa in the 1830s.

Jammu

Amongst the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir State, Jammu perhaps, offers the widest diversity of terrain and beauty. In its undulating plains and lower hills of the south to its fierce heights of Kishtwar to the northeast, one is witness to its history, arts, religions and an abundance of natural beauty. The entire region is pocketed with lakes and valley. The foundation of the settlement of Jammu is attributed to King Jambulochan of the 91h century BC when, as the legend goes, he saw. Tiger and a goat together drinking at the same pool. At this auspicious spot he constructed a fort, believed to be the present Bahu Fort. Little is known of its subsequent history. Till 1730 AD, it remained under Dogra rule of Raja Dhruv Deva. Dogra rulers moved their capital to present site across the river Tawi and Jammu became an important centre for arts and culture, now renowned 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.

HOW TO REACH

Air: Jammu is connected by air to Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Srinagar.
Rail: Jammu is connected by rail to Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Howrah, Jodhpur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai and Pune.