Jammu and Kashmir
A. Jammu; B. Kashmir; C. Ladakh
The paradisal State of Jammu and Kashmir is the pride of India, with its
lofty snow-clad 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.
A. Jammu
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).
How To Get There
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.
B. 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 snow-clad 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.
Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and its very heart; Gulmarg,
the snow haven; idyllic Pahalgam; Sonmarg, the golden meadow; Kokernag,
Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary, Yusmarg and Daksum are some of the chief
attractions of the valley.
Festivals
The major festivals that are celebrated with great pomp and show include
the Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Shivratri, and Diwali.
How to Get There
By air: Indian Airlines has regular flights from Srinagar to Ahmedabad,
Amritsar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Delhi, Jammu and Leh.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is connected to all
parts of the country by Express trains.
By road: Srinagar, located on the National Highway 1A, is connected by a
network of roads to Jammu, Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Manasbal, Pahalgam, Delhi,
Sonmarg and Pathankot.
C. Ladakh
Deep within the folds of the Karakoram mountain ranges, is the remote,
fascinating land of Ladakh, also known as the land of passes. For centuries, it
had been closed to the outside world, due to its inaccessibility. The sheer,
stark landscape, comprising of aloof mountains, dramatic ridges, and valleys,
leaves an indelible imprint on the visitor's mind.
For those evincing an interest in Tibetology and Buddhism, Ladakh is
like a dream come true. The land of lamaseries, lamaism being a peculiar
feature of the Buddhist social structure, here, which stresses on celibacy for
males, and monastic existence for the women. The Ladakhi people are devout
Buddhists, famous for their integrity, and innate humanness. Mask and scarf
dances, flutes, cymbals and percussion instruments accompany the festivities on
special days. Leh, the nerve - centre of the region, and the low - profile
Kargil are the two main districts of Ladakh.
Leh, located at a height of 3500 metres in the Karakoram mountains, is
434 kms from Srinagar. The main attractions of this area include the Leh Khar
Palace, Leh Monastery, Leh Mosque, Tsemo Gompa and the Stok Palace Museum. The
Leh Khar Palace, dating back to the 16th century, is hewn into a rock-face.
Within the palace are Buddhist wall paintings, centuries old 'tankas' or
painted scrolls and other artefacts. The Leh Monastery looms over its
surroundings, housing a solid gold statue of the Buddha, and ancient
manuscripts among other articles. The Leh Mosque, built by Single Namgyal,
sports a unique blend of Turkish-Iranian architecture. The royal monastery, better
known as Tsemo Gompa, has an impressive two-storeyed image of Chamb Buddha. The
Stok Palace Museum has on display the royal crown, `tankas', coins and other
invaluable items.
Festivals
The festivals celebrated in Ladakh, include the Hemis festival, held in
June to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava; Losar, which is held in
the eleventh month of the Buddhist year, and the Ladakh festival held in
August, which is primarily organized by the District Tourist Office, for the
tourists.
How to Get There
By air: Leh is connected by Indian Airlines to Chandigarh, Delhi, and
Srinagar.
By rail: The nearest railhead is Jammu (690 km), which is linked to the
rest of the country by express trains.
By road: Leh can be reached on a state highway, from Srinagar (387 kms).