About the City:
Jammu and Kashmir is an Indian state, found in the north of India. Its capital is Srinagar in the summer and Jammu in the winter. Jammu is the city of temples and beautiful places while Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty and is thus considered to be the ‘Paradise on Earth’. The people of Jammu and Kashmir speak numerous languages including Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, Pahari, Dogri and Ladakhi. This is mainly because Jammu and Kashmir has two majority Hindu and Muslim populations respectively.
Jammu and Kashmir brings with it a rich history and is attributed to King Jambulochan of 9th century. He had seen a tiger and goat drink water from the same spot from the river Tawi and so built a fort there. This fort is today’s Bahu Fort. The Mahakali temple found here was built after Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1822 while he had started the construction of Raghunath Mandir in 1851. His son then inaugurated it six years later. This temple is today considered the Heart of City.
Travel Destinations:
Srinagar is found in the center of Kashmir Valley and is about 1730 above sea level. Srinagar is a beautiful city with the Dal and Nagin lakes enhancing its setting. You find many museums and gardens to visit here. There are many daytrips you can take when in Srinagar, or perhaps visit one of the many hill stations here to go trekking.
Gulmarg is another place worth visiting in Jammu and Kashmir. This is a place that looks like a fantasy set from a film with its huge cup shaped meadow and lush, green slopes. This is the reason this place has been chosen for many films. There is so much peace and tranquility here, that that silence is broken only with the tinkle of cowbells.
You find the valley of Gulmarg that is a large meadow of about 3 sq. km area to the southwest of Srinagar. The meaning of Gulmarg is ‘Meadow of Flowers’ and it is just that in the spring with the countless bluebells, forget me nots, daisies and buttercups found here.
Amaranth is considered to the abode of the holy Trinity, Shiva. The sacred book of India, the Rigvida testifies the existence of Shiva from the dawn of time. Shiva, the destroyer is indefinable and a great yogi. According to legend, Shiva had recounted to his wife, Parvati of the creation of a cave in Amarnath. Little did he know that a pair of mating doves had eavesdropped on them, and on learning the secret, get reborn again and again with the cave being their eternal abode. Pilgrims today report seeing the dove pair when trekking to pay obeisance before the ice-lingam of Amarnath.
Ladakh is found to the east of India with a large Buddhist population and is thus considered to be an Indian version of Tibet. This is a place with spell bounding views for you to admire, and numerous opportunities for your rafting, trekking and walking needs. This is a place that is found at an altitude somewhere between 9,000 to 25,000 feet and is bordered by the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges.
With Drass, Zanskar and the Suru Valley of the Himalayas receiving heavy snowfall during winter, Ladakh is considered to be the only place you can suffer from both frostbite and sunstroke at the same time. The people living in Ladakh, with their culture are quite similar to that in Tibet and Central Asia. Leh is a lovely town here worth visiting, with its Leh Palace dominating the town.
Hotel and accommodation:
There are numerous hotels to meet your lodging needs in Jammu Kashmir like Hotel Mansar, Hotel K.C.Residency, Hotel Jammu Ashok and Nivas Palace Hotel. It is always better to check with the hotels for their rooms and tariffs for European and continental plans. In addition to hotels, you can enjoy your vacation in Jammu and Kashmir on the rivers of Jammu, on one of the many houseboats found here. The prices are reasonable here, and these houseboats offer an experience that is out of the ordinary. Something to remember Jammu and Kashmir with!
If it is privacy and beauty that you prefer, then you could choose the Blooming dale hotel found in the heart of Srinagar. This is a place that is away from noise and other pollution and offer cozy rooms with posh baths. There’s a green lawn filled with blooming Kashmir flowers, and of course, 24 hour hot and cold shower.
Weather conditions:
Kashmir is a place having four distinct seasons; each independent with its own character and charm. These seasons are spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring is between March to early May where you find million of blossoms carpeting its ground. The weather in this period ranges from a pleasant 23 C to a chilly and windy 6 C.
Summer is from May till the end of August where you may need light woolens when in Srinagar. The night temperature tends to drop in the higher altitudes while the overall temperature ranges between 25 C to 35 C. this is when you find the whole valley a beautiful mosaic of shades of green-rice fields, trees, meadows, etc.
Autumn is the best time to visit Kashmir, which starts towards September. This is the season when green turns to gold, and russet to red. The highest temperature here is 23 C while the night temperatures can dip to 10C by October. Temperatures fall further in November when winter steps in, and heavy woolens are very much essential in this season. The best time to visit Jammu and Kashmir is between March to October.
Getting in and around there:
Jammu and Kashmir can be reached by air, rail and road. There are many flights operated from the Jammu airport while Jammu Tawi is a rail head having many trains passing through the station. As Jammu falls on National Highway 1-A, it is connected to parts of the country through the national highway network. When in Jammu and Kashmir, you find many mini buses seating 19 people for your traveling needs. The charges are economical too. However, you can also hire private cars on a daily basis where 4 or 5 people can be seated at time.
It is always better to check on the latest news on the situation in Kashmir before setting out on a trip there. This is because though it is relatively safe for tourists, it is still a disputed territory where fighting between Pakistan and India still claim numerous lives.
Recent Comments