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Jammu and kashmir India

Jammu & kashmir India

Jammu and kashmir, India Travel

Culture of Jammu and kashmir
Jammu and kashmir Architecture
Jammu and kashmir Tourist Attractions
Hotels and Resorts Jammu and kashmir India

Location: North India
Famous: for Himalayas and dal lake
Jammu and kashmir Climate: Cold

About Jammu and kashmir India

Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir is the stuff of poetry and painting. The state of Jammu & Kashmir, with its snowcapped mountains, verdant valleys, glorious monuments and great religious sites, hold some of the most spectacularly stunning scenery on earth. Called the paradise on earth, the state offers the fantasy of a dream holiday.

History Kashmir

Kashmir finds mention in the great epic Mahabharata which refers to it as Kamboj ruled by Kambojas at that time. Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, was founded by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great. It was in Kashmir that Sarvastivadan school of Buddhism flourished.

Kashmir was attacked by Muhammad bin Qasim, the conqueror of Sind, but neither he nor other Arab invaders succeeded in conquering it. Mahmud of Ghazni, who made 17 raids on India, also attempted to capture Kashmir but he failed. The Muslim started in Kashmir in the 14th century. Prominent among the Muslim rulers was Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70), known for his tolerance towards other faiths. Also known as Budshah (the great King) he was a great patron of education and learning.

However, his predecessor Sultãn Sikandar Butshikan of Kashmir (AD 1389-1413) was intolerant and under his rule the famous Sun Temple of Martand were desecrated and destroyed.

Kashmir was annexed to the Mughal Empire in 1588 by Akbar. The defeat of the Mughal Empire at the hands of the invader Ahmed Shah Abdali forced the ceding of Kashmir to the Afghans in 1753 AD. In 1815 Kashmir came under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the greatest of the Sikh rulers. After the defeat of the Sikhs by the British, Kashmir was sold to the local feudatory Gulab Singh, who assumed the title of Maharaja. His dynasty continued to rule the State till the Indian independence.

Jammu And Kashmir sights

For quite some time Kashmir was largely out of bounds to tourists. But now the situation has improved. For many tourists lured by the prospect of little explored and unspoilt regions, Kashmir has become a top travel destination.

Srinagar the capital of Jammu and Kashmir is an alluring attraction in its own right. Don’t forget to head for the stunning Awantipur ruins 29 kms from Srinagar. The Mughal Gardens conceived by the Mughal emperors are must visit attractions. The gardens are Chesmashahi, Nishat and Shalimar. The medieval city of Srinagar is famous for Hazratbal Mosque, Jama Masjid, Shankaracharya Temple and Chhatti Padshahi Gurudwara.

Jammu’s claim to fame is that it is a land of temples. The Raghunath Temple built by Maharaja Gulab Singh is home to almost entire Hindu pantheon. Bawey Wali Mata Temple within the Bahu Fort is other major attartcion.

112 kms from Jammu, Patnitop is a famous hill resort of Jammu. Enclosed by thickly wooded forests, Patnitop offers awe-inspiring views of the of the Chenab basin.

Located at a height of 3,880 metres in the Himalayas, the highly revered cave enshrines of Amarnath in the picturesque Lidder Valley in Kashmir attract thousands of devout pilgrims. A naturally formed ice-lingam, symbol of Lord Shiva, is the main attraction.
Those intrepid travellers who look beyond the standard itinerary of places of interest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be rewarded with a rich variety of experiences.

Shopping in Kashmir

Shopping can be very rewarding and exciting in Jammu and Kashmir. The crowded streets of Raghunath Bazaar in jammu will offer you great deals on just about everything. Other markets such as Vir Marg, and Hari Market are famous for Kashmiri handicrafts, traditional Dogra jewellery and various dry fruits, chiefly walnuts ('akhrot') and almonds.