Jammu II Vaishno Devi II Ladakh II Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, India's 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 and secluded forest retreats. Kashmir's capital city, Srinagar offers delightful holidays on the lakes with their shikaras and houseboats. Ladakh is the northern most province of the state, with a bleak terrain of barren mountains. Hilltop monasteries and a colorful way of life, completely at one with the surroundings, make Ladakh one of the best living traditions of Tibetan Buddhism in the world today. This rich diversity enhances the mystery of remote mountain valleys and flavors the cultural complexities of busy urban centers.

General information

 

Population	10,069,917
Area	222,236 Sq. Km
Capital	Srinagar
Languages Spoken	Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri and Ladakhi
District	14
People Per Sq. km	99
Literacy	54.46%

 

Festivals Jammu

Lohri                            January 13

This festival heralds the onset of spring. The whole of Jammu region wears a festive look on this day. Thousands take a dip in the holy rivers. 'Havan Yagnas' light up nearly every house and temple in Jammu. In the rural areas, custom requires boys to go around asking for gifts from newly weds and new parents.  

Chajja Dance Of Lohri 

A special dance called the 'Chajja' dance is held on the occasion of Lohri. It makes a striking picture to see boys along with their 'Chajjas' elaborately decorated with colored paper and flowers move on the street in a dancing procession. The whole atmosphere comes alive with the pulsating drumbeats.  

Baisakhi                             April 13

Every year, on the first day of "Vaishakh", the people of Jammu like the rest of northern India- celebrate Baisakhi. Baisakhi is also known as the harvest festival and is considered auspicious especially for marriages. Rivers, canals and ponds are thronged by devotees who unfailingly take a ritual dip every year. Many people go to the Nagbani temple to witness a grand New Year celebration.

Festivals of Kashmir 

Shiv Ratri

The 13th day of dark fortnight in Phagan is celebrated as Shiv Ratri. During this time house cleaning is done. Money and fish are sent to married daughters. On the 13th day the head of the family performs the puja of Shiva on night following a feast on the 14th day.

Sont (Sankrant)

A basket of unhusked rice, with a bread, a rupee, a pen-case, a cup of curds, a few walnuts, a crumb of cooked rice and some flowers, are kept overnight and seen the first thing in the morning by the inmates of the house just on opening their eyes from sleep. Each picks up one or two walnuts which are dropped in the river after bathing.

Naureh Mavas

A fair is held at Vichar Nag, a northern suburb of Srinagar on the 15th day of dark fortnight of Chet.

Durga Ashtami

A fair is held at Khir Bhawani (Tula Mulah) on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of Chet.

Ram Navami

A fair is held at Hari Parbat and at Raghu Nath Temple on the 9th day of bright fortnight of Chet.

Vetal Shasti

A fair is held at the different shrines of Vetals in Srinagar on the 6th day of dark fortnight in Baisakh.

Achhen Trai

A fair is held at Kothar, a village in Tehsil Anantnag on the 3rd day of bright fortnight of Baisakh.

Ganesh Choudas

A fair is held at the Ganesh Ghat in Srinagar on the 14th day of bright fortnight of Baisakh.

Dashera

Three immense figures, stuffed with gun-powder, are made to represent Ravana, Kumbakarna and Meghanada and these are placed at the proper time in the center of a large open space without the city. To represent Rama, Sita and lakhshman, three little boys are splendidly dressed and carried in a palanquin to the same place. Crowds of people gather there and the Maharaja sends all the troops with the guns, etc. Of course at this moment the three monsters, ravana, Kumbakarna and Meghanada explode with a tremendous noise and then the guns rattle and the cannon roar and the people applause.

Art and Handicraft

Carpets

The art of weaving carpets first came from Samarkand in central Asia and was later modified by artisans from Iran. The King Zain Ul Abidin brought the art to Kashmir.

The carpets are woven in various sizes and designs, they are either made of pur wool, wool with minoe percentage of silk, silk on cotton base and silk on silk. These carpets are used for the purpose of flooring or wall hanging. These carpets are knotted around four hundred knots or more per square inch and are priced according knots and the quality of material.

Basket Weaving

Plenty of willow grows in marshes and lakes of Kashmir, which are used to make charming objects, such as shopping baskets, lampshades, tables, chairs as well as number of other useable items. The main hub of this craft is Hazratbal in Srinagar.  

Namdas

These colorful floor coverings made from woolen and cotton fiber, pressed into shape manually with chain stitch embroided of various designs, make them very attractive. This handicraft is made and available everywhere in Kashmir valley, and is inexpensive comparing to carpet.   

Papier-Mâché

The basic papier-mâché article, made in a mould, is painted and polished in successive layers until the final intricate design is produced. Prices are generally dependent upon the complexity and quality of the painted design and on the amount of gold leaf used. The gold leaf is applied in tiny pieces to produce a leaf design or other pattern.

Papier-mâché is made into bowls, cups, containers, jewelry boxes, letters holders, tables, lamps, coasters, trays and so on.  

Wood Carvings

Intricately carved designs are a hallmark of Kashmiri woodcraft. One can see the complex relief work on every houseboat. Look for tables, chests, boxes and screens. Woodcarving is relatively inexpensive and inlaid ivory is often incorporated into the design.

Walnut Wood Items

Walnut wood come from three parts of the tree: the branches, the trunk and the root. The branches have the palest color of wood, and the trunk the darkest. Branches have no veins; trunks have the strongest marked veins. Objects made out of the root will be the costliest because of the wood used.

As walnut is a soft wood, it takes carving very well. Chinar leaves, vine leaves and flowers can be either carved along borders or can fill entire surfaces. The artistry of the carving and its abundance dictates the cost. Trinket boxes and the larger jewelry boxes should have invisible seams. Other walnut wood objects are salad bowls, nut bowls, photo frames, trays and furniture that includes peg tables, rug boxes, bars, dining tables and chairs as well as number of other objects.  

Silk Products

Kashmir produces one of the finest qualities of silk, and the objects made there of are fine saris, head and neck scarf  etc.  

Pherans

Men's Pherans are always made of tweed or coarse wool; women's Pherans, somewhat more stylized, are most commonly made of Raffel, which splashes of Ari or hook embroidery at the throat, cuffs and edges. The quality of embroidery and thickness of the Raffel determines the price.  

Copper And Silverware

Craftsmen can often be seen engraving objects of household utility - samovars, bowls, plates and trays.

Floral, stylized, geometric, leaf and sometimes calligraphic motifs are engraved or embossed on copper, and occasionally silver, to cover the entire surface with intricate designs which are then oxidized, the better to stand out from the background. The work known as 'Naqash' determines the price of the object, as does the weight.  

Shawls

Shawl making has been a Kashmiri specialty for over 500 years. The word shawl was not used until 1533 when Nagz Beg of Khokand in central Asia came to Kashmir with his master, Mirza Haider Dughlat. Nagz Beg presented his master with a piece of Pashmina, and he asked Beg what it was. Beg replied a shawl, the name used by the people of Khokand for a blanket since then this type of weaving has been termed a shawl. The embroidered shawl or Amilkar was started by an artisan, Ala Baba, who covered up some footprints made by a fowl on his white material with colored thread.

Kashmiri shawls are noted for the extreme fineness of the cream colored goats wool known as Pashmina and for the intricate embroidery work. Pashmina is unmistakable for its softness. Pashmina yarn is spun from the hair of the ibex found at 14,000 ft above the sea level, although pure Pashmina is expensive, the cost is sometimes brought down by blending it with Rabbit fur or with wool.

There are three fibers from which the Kashmiri shawls are made- wool, Pashmina and Shahtoosh. The prices of three cannot be compared - woolen shawls being within the reach of the most modest budget, and Shahtoosh being an once-in-a-lifetime purchase.

Shatoosh - The Ring Shawl

Shahtoosh, the legendary 'ring shawl' is incredible for its lightness, softness and warmth. The astronomical price it commands in the market is due to the scarcity of raw material. High in the plateau of Tibet and the eastern part of Ladakh, at an altitude of above 5,000 meters, roam Pantholops Hodgosoni or Tibetan Antelope. During grazing, a few strands of the downy hair from the throat are shed and it is these, which are painstakingly collected until there are enough for a shawl.

Places of interest

Jammu

Jammu 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.

General information

Altitude	305 meters
Rainfall	107 cm (June to September)
Best Season	Throughout the year
Temperature	Summer- Max.39.9, Min.23.4; Winter- Max.20.2, Min.4.5
STD Code	0191

How to get there

Air

Jammu is connected with Delhi, Leh and Shrinagar.

Rail

Jammu Tawi, the railway station to reach Jammu, is connected by rail to Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, Madras and other main cities in India.

Road

Jammu, on N.H, is connected by good all-weather roads to all parts of India. Some of the road distances are Amritsar 243 km, Chandigarh 436 km, Delhi 586 km, Katra 48 km, Srinagar 305 km, Manali 428 km.

In and around

Ranbireshwar Temple

Ranbireshwar Temple with a towering 246 foot tower, dedicated to Lord Shiva and is renowned for its large crystal lingams (the phallic symbols of lord siva); and the

Raghunath Temple

Raghunath Temple, which is surrounded by one of the largest temple complexes in northern India. Its interior covered with gold leaf, the temple is dedicated to Rama, the eighth incarnation of lord Vishnu.

Dogra Art Gallery

Dogra Art Gallery, contains over 500 paintings in the delicate miniature style which was sponsored by the royal families of neighboring hill kingdoms.

Bahu Fort

Bahu Fort, 5 km, on the opposite bank of the Tawi river is undoubtedly the oldest monument in Jammu while the Amar Mahal Palace claims first prize as the oddest. Designed for an eccentric maharaja by a French architect, the Amar Mahal resembles a medieval chateau, complete with turrets.

The Mansar Lake

The Mansar Lake, with its shrine to a local goddess, is a wonderful oasis in the dry hills.

Vaishno Devi

Vashno Devi 60 km north west of Jammu, the holy cave shrine of Vaishno devi is in a beautiful races of the Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the lower Himalayas as in the state of Jammu & Kashmir at an altitude of over 5000 feet. In the cave there are images of three deities viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. The shrine can be visited throughout the year, but during the winter season the route is often blocked by snow-fall.

How To get there

Air

Jammu 62 km is the nearest airport as well as the nearest railway station.

Road

Jammu-Katra 48 km (by road) and Katra-Vaishno Devi 14 km (on foot). Route from Katra to Vaishno Devi: Katra - Ban Ganga 1.5 km Ban Ganga – Charan Paduka 1.5 km Charan Paduka - Adhkunwari 3 km Adhkunwari – Bhavan 8 km

In and around

Bhumika Temple, Darshani Darwaza, Ban Ganga Temple, Charan Paduka, Adhkunwari Temple, Kalika Temple, Ram Mandir, Shiva Goompha.

Note: All pilgrims/tourists require a pass to enable them centre to the shrine. The pass is to be collected at Katra as it will be required at Ban Ganga and later at the shrine itself.

Ladakh

Ladakh – the land of high passes – is the Trans – Himalayan zone that marks the boundary between the peaks of the western Himalayan and the vast Tibetan Plateau. Since it was opened up to tourism in 1974 Ladakh has been known as 'the Moon land', 'Little Tibet', and even 'the last Shangri La'. The high culture of Ladakh is Buddhist, with its close culture and trading connections with Tibet. This particularly evident in the most populated region of Leh and the Indus valley, with its many whitewashed gompas (monasteries) and forts perched on top of sugarloaf mountains. Padum, the capital of the more remote Zanskar valley shares this Buddhist heritage. Likewise, ancient gompas and tiny white washed villages are found in the depths of this rugged, arid mountains cape.

Note:  For detailed information see under heading Ladakh

Kashmir

The lush greenery of the valley with its terraced rice fields, fruit orchards and swirling waterways spill into the city of Srinagar via the Dal Lake and great avenues of popular and chinar trees. This fresh natural atmosphere combined with the commercial clamor of the old city's twisting medieval streets gives Srinagar a distinctive and vitalizing flavor. Most visitors begin their tour of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar, with a stay on a legendary houseboat. From houseboats the world of the water people can be observed firsthand. A visit to early morning vegetable market by Shikara is well – worth the extra effort.

General information

Area	103.3 sq km
Altitude	1,730 meters (approx).
Best Season	Throughout the year, though winter months are quite cold.
Clothing	Summer- Cottons/Tropical; Winter- Heavy woolens.
Language Spoken	Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, English.
Temperature	Summer- Max.29.5, Min.10.6; Winter- Max.7.3, Min.-1.9.
STD Code	0194

Temperature And Rainfall Chart

A. Maximum temperature in degrees centigrade

B. Minimum temperature in degrees centigrade

C. Average rainfall in millimeters

How to get there

Air 

Srinagar Airport (14 km. from the Srinagar city) is connected to Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Bombay.

Rail 

Nearest railhead Jammu Tawi (293 km from the Srinagar city) is connected to all parts of the country with mail and express trains.

Road 

Srinagar, on National Highway, is connected with all the major places in India and in the State, viz. Jammu 293 km, Leh 434 km, Kargil 204 km, Gulmarg 52 km., Pahalgam 96 km., Delhi 876 km., Chandigarh 630 km. etc.

In and around

Hari Parbat Fort 

Topped by the ruins of a fort, to the north-east of Srinagar, is said to have grown out of a small rock, dropped by Parvati on the water hole to kill the demons. The walls that surround the base of this 19th century fort were built 300 years earlier by the Mughla Emperor Akbar.

Nagin Lake 

South west of Hazratbal, a part of the Dal Lake, seperated by a cause-way is Nagin Lake or the 'Jewel on the Ring' surrounded by tall green chinars, poplars etc. forming a ring, the lakelet, appears like a sapphire set in an emerald ring. 

Hazratbal 

Near Nasim Bagh, on the western shores of the Dal, is one of the most sacred Muslim Shrine. which possesses a hair of Prophet Mohammed. The grand mosque built by Shah Jahan is very fine example of Mughal and Kashmiri architecture synthesis.

Shalimar Bagh 

15 km and Nishat Bagh 11 km, the two larger gardens, located much farther down the boulevard. They are built on a symmetrical plan of a central waterway with fountains dividing a series of gardened terraces. Nishat is the larger of the two and has an impressive plantation of huge chinar trees.

Cheshma Shahi 

Attributed to Shah Jahan, is named after a gushing mountain spring that feeds it, while Pari Mahal 11 km, is set up with a series of enclosed terraces and buildings which were once a Sufi garden college. Both are small and command beautiful views over the lakes.

Shankaracharya Temple 

5 km, atop the Takht-e-Suleiman hill, dominates the surrounding landscape. A motor road leads up the hill to this ancient Shiva temple.

The view from the fort or the temple is superb – the lakes and their houseboats, waterways and gardens stretch out to the north, while the old city and its seven original bridges spanning the serpentine Jhelum River stretch out to the south Foremost among the mosques in the valley is the Jami Masjid, a massive congregational mosque. Originally built in 1402, the mosque has been completely reconstructed twice after severe fires destroyed it. The mosque is laid out on a square, symmetrical plan, and is remarkable for its colonnades of lofty deodar columns.

Pahalgam, 

About 95 km from Srinagar, at an altitude of 2130m. situated at the junction of the East and west Lidder rivers, Pahalgam was a popular base for trekking before the present troubles.

Gulmarg, 

52 km south-west of Srinagar at 2730m. the name means Meadow of flowers and in spring it's just that. This was also a popular trekking base.

Interesting places in the south-west of the Kashmir valley include Yusmarg, reputed to have the best spring flowers in Kashmir. Chari Sharif, is on the road to Yusmarg. Its famous shrine (ziarat) of Kashmiri's patron saint was destroyed in May 1995.

Dachigam National Park 

Originally a royal game preserve, rich both in flora and fauna, is  21 km from Srinagar ahead Harwan. Animals such as Himalayan black bear, brown bear, musk deer, the hangul or Kashmir stag and Panther haunt its wild expanses. 

Wular lake

The largest fresh water lake in India. Jhelum passes right through its heart. Zaina Lank a small but a picturesque island adds to the fascination of the lake.

Sonamarg

At 2740m, is the last major town before Ladakh. Its name means Meadow of gold, which could derive from the spring flowers or from the strategic trading position is once enjoyed.