Travel Map of Jammu & Kashmir

Category :- All India Travel Tourism > States > Jammu & Kashmir

The paradisal state of Jammu and Kashmir is the pride of India, with its lofty snowclad 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.

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.

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 snowclad 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 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.

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 humaneness. 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).