Location:
Northern Most Part Of India
Three Main
Regions: Jammu, Kashmir &
Ladakh
Languages
Spoken: Dogri, Kashmiri,
Hindi & Ladakhi
Best Time
To Visit: Jammu - October
To February
|
Tourism in
Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir are really three regions:
the foothill plains of Jammu; the lakes and
blue valleys of Kashmir rising to alpine
passes, the high altitude plains and starkly
beautiful mountains of Ladakh, which lies
beyond those passes. It's enough to move one
to poetry. Srinagar is Kashmir's summer
capital and Jammu, the winter capital.
One of Kashmir's greatest attractions are
the Dal Lake houseboats. The Mughal Gardens
of Srinagar is another tourist haunt.
Pahalgam, Gulmarg, near Srinagar are
picturesque towns, the first a by-route to
Amarnath, the second a premier skiing
resort. The famous Shankaracharya temple is
perched high on top of the valley. Jammu is
a templed town. Ladakh, the land of high
passes, draws tourists to its Hemis Gompa,
Stok Palace and Museum.
The People:
The majority are Muslims living in the
Kashmir valley; culturally and ethnically,
the closest links are with peoples in the
northwestern highlands of the Gilgit
district in the Pakistani sector. While
Hindus dominate the Jammu region and Ladakh
is majorly influenced by the Trans-Himalayan
Buddhism.The Kashmiri language is influenced
by Sanskrit and belongs to the Dardic branch
of Indo-Aryan languages also spoken by the
hill tribes of Gilgit. The great majority of
the population resides in the lower reaches
of the Vale. Sringar, Jammu and Kashmir's
largest city, is located on the Jhelum
River.
Capital:
Srinagar, the capital, has a distinctly
Central Asian look. It stands on the Dal
Lake ( most of the more modern houseboats
are located here) and the picturesque Jhelum
River. Srinagar is also considered to be a
small-sized Lake District. The massive Dal
Lake, near the city and Nagin, the 'Jewel in
the ring', a smaller lake, to the north, is
dotted with water lilies. The lakes are
mobile shops of moving shikaras. The old
city has a labyrinth of alleyways and
mosques.
Culture:
The ancient caves and temples of Kashmir,
reveal a strong link with Indian culture at
the beginning of the Christian Era. At one
time the classical dances of the south are
believed to have been practised. These arts
survived only in folk forms and were
performed principally at marriage
ceremonies. The popular hafiza dance
performed by Kashmiri women to the
accompaniment of sufiana kalam was later
replaced by the bacha nagma, performed by
young boys dressed like women. The bhand
jashna ("festival of clowns"), a 300- to
400-year-old genre of Kashmiri folk theatre
performed in village squares, satirizes
social situations through dance, music and
clowning.
Occupation:
The majority of the population is engaged in
agriculture with rice, being the staple
crop. Many temperate fruits and vegetables
are grown in areas adjacent to urban
markets. Kashmir is the sole producer of
saffron in the Indian subcontinent.
Cultivation in Ladakh is restricted to the
Indus, Shyok, and Suru river valleys. Cattle
breeding is a vital feature of the economy;
the Kashmir goat provides cashmere or
pashmina for the production of fine
textiles.
Handicrafts: Srinagar possesses many
specialized agricultural markets, retail
shopping centres, and associated industries.
The industries have developed from rural
crafts and include handloom weaving of local
silk, cotton, and wool, carpet weaving, wood
carving, and leatherwork. Such industries,
together with silverwork and copperwork and
jewelry, were stimulated by the presence of
the royal court and the tourist trade but
also owe something to the important position
achieved by Srinagar in west Himalayan
trade.
CLIMATE:
The climate is one of opposites:
while in summer time the heat builds upto
breaking point in the foothills, people of
Ladakh and Kashmir wait for the snow to
melt.on the high passes. From October
onwards, Jammu becomes a much more pleasant
destination. However, the best time to enjoy
vale of Kashmir and the adventures of Ladakh
region is between the months of May and
September.
Population:
9 million
Festivals:
Jammu celebrates Lohri and Baisakhi in
February. Every year a 3-day Jammu Crafts
Mela is also organised during Baisakhi at
the picturesque Mansar Lake, 60-km from
Jammu. Bahu Mela, a major festival of Jammu
region is held at the Kali temple in Bahu
Fort, twice a year during March-April and
September-October. In Srinagar, besides Id
other important muslim festivals are Urs at
Khaneka in downtown Srinagar and Urs at
Chrar-e-Sharif. The annual Ladakh festival
is held in September; the Hemis Festival
features chaams performed by the monks in
elaborate masks.
Tourist Offices
Tourist Reception center - J&K Department of
Tourism, Vir Marg, Jammu
Tourist Office - J&K Department Of Tourism,
National Airport, Jammu
Tourist Office - J&K Department Of Tourism,
Railway Station, Jammu.
The Director Tourism - J&K Government
Tourist Reception Center, Srinagar, .
Jammu And Kashmir Tourist Office - 201-203,
Kanishka Shopping Plaza, 19 Ashoka Road, New
Delhi - 110 001
|
French
Español
Italiano
Deutsch
Português
India
Travel Guide / States/Jammu & Kashmir Travel Guide
