Kashmir
offers the most spectacular sceneries, owing to the breathtaking
views of towering mountains, with their white peaks beautifully
contrasting with the greens, golds and browns of the valleys and
meadows in between. One can breathe the fresh mountain air and indulge
in the pleasures of this magical wonderland. Kashmir, the Paradise
in India is crown on the map of India.
The
geographically Kashmir is divided into three land masses: the
foothill plains of Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and the mountains of
Ladakh. The Kashmir valley is famous for its natural beauty and has
often been referred to as the 'Switzerland of the East'. Valley is
the heart of the area . Kashmir valley is the fertile Vale of
Kashmir (known as The Valley), and it lies between the Himalayas and
the Pir Panjal mountain range. Here the climate is mild and the soil
well watered.
Nestling in the lap of the dazzling,
snow-capped Himalayas, the Kashmir valley is undoubtedly a jewel in
India's crown. An inspiration for so much art, music and poetry,
Kashmir is also honeymooners' paradise, a nature lover's wonderland
and a shopper's dream come true. Over the years, Kashmir tourism has
come a long way, to love and look after its tourists, fulfilling
their every whim. Tourists are everywhere, soaking up all that
Kashmir has to offer - the walks, the pony treks, the shikara rides
at sunset on the Dal lake... and once you have visited Kashmir,, you
will agree that what began as a dream, lives on as an unforgettable
experience. Courtesy J&K Tourism.
According to a
legend which is even in Rajatarangini and Nilmat Purana Kashmir was
once a large lake. Kashyap Rishi had drained off the water making it
an abode. Emperor Ashok introduced Buddhism to kashmir in the 3rd
century BC which was later strengthened by Kanishka. Huns got the
control of the valley in the early 6th century. The valley regained
freedom in 530AD but soon came under the rule of the Ujjain empire.
After the decline of the Vikramaditya the valley had its own rulers.
Lalitaditya ( 697- 738 AD ) was most famous Hindu ruler who extended
his kingdom up to Bengal in the east, Konkan in the south &
Turkistan in the north. Islam came into kashmir in the 13th &
14th centuries. Zain-ul-Abedin (1420 - 70 AD ) was the most famous
ruler who came to kashmir when the Hindu king Sinha Dev reigned
there before Tatar invasion. Later Charaks Haider Shah, son of
Zain-ul-Abedin, continued to rule till 1596 AD when Akbar conquered
kashmir. In 1752 AD, kashmir passed on from the feeble control of
the Mughal emperor of the time to Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan.
The valley was ruled by the Pathans for 67 years.
The
Dal Lake
The Dal Lake is a prime tourist attraction of
Srinagar. It is located on the eastern end of the city. The Dal Lake
consists of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 km
from the city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the
mountains surrounding Srinagar from this lake. Tourists coming to
this place can enjoy taking a ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or
the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways of this
lake.
The Mughal GardensThe well laid
Mughal gardens are another major attractions of Srinagar in Jammu &
Kashmir. The Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh are beautiful gardens
located to the far eastern side of the Dal Lake. One can take a
stroll through these green and attractive gardens and enjoy the
beautiful waterworks within them.
How to Reach
- Air
Srinagar is well connected by air with Delhi.
There is a daily flight to Delhi via Jammu by Indian airlines.
There are weekly flights operated by Indian Airlines for Leh
from Srinagar.
- Rail
Srinagar does not have a railway station and
the nearest railhead is Jammu Tawi, which is 305 km from
Srinagar.
- Road
Srinagar is well connected by road to
important places like Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876 km), Jammu
(298 km), Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
