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Beautiful City of Kashmir
The Mughal emperor Jehangir was so captivated by the beauty of Kashmir valley that he
exclaimed "Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto" (If there is a
heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here) which implies Kashmir - The Paradise on Earth.
Kashmir - a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir India, which comprises the Jammu region,
the Kashmir Valley, and Ladakh, is one of the most scenic and beautiful places of India.
The major tourist destinations in Kashmir India are - Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Khilanmarg,
Pahalgam, Amarnath and others.
SRINAGAR - The City of Lakes
Location :
Srinagar is famous for its lakes with charming rows of houseboats floating on them.
It is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is also known for traditional
Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits found in abundance.
Tourist Destinations :
The Dal Lake located on the eastern end of the city is an important
tourist attraction of Srinagar. The Dal Lake comprises of a series of lakes, including the
Nagin Lake some 8 kms from the city center. One can also enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains
surrounding Srinagar from this lake. The other captivating feature of Dal lake is ride on traditional
Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to explore the intricate maze of waterways.
The other major attractions of Srinagar are the Mughal styled gardens - The Shalimar Bagh and the
Nishat Bagh. The temple of Shankaracharya is another important place to visit in Srinagar. Jaluka,
the son of emperor Ashoka, built it in the 3rd century BC.
GULMARG - The Meadow of Flowers
Location :
Known for its unparalleled beauty, Gulmarg derives its name from the root
"the meadow of flowers" where the virgin forests are a welcoming sight for all tourists.
Located in the Baramulla district, 57 kms southwest from the capital city of Srinagar, it is
perched at an altitude of 2730 meters above sea level.
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Tourist Destinations :
From Gulmarg, a pony track leads more further to Khilanmarg, Kongdori
and Seven Springs. Khilanmarg offers an unparalleled view of the great Himalayan range. The
Apharwat peak leads to the Alpather Lake, a picturesque alpine lake that remains frozen until
late June. For horse riding freaks, Alpather Lake makes an exciting day's excursion. Slightly
lower than Gulmarg is the shrine of Baba Reshi (a Muslim mystic saint) visited by people of all
faiths.
SONAMARG - The Meadow of Gold
Location :
Sonamarg (literally, the Meadow of Gold) is a serene place set in a valley amongst
glaciers and placid lakes. Sonamarg is in 80 kms northeast of Srinagar located at an altitude of
2740 m above sea level amidst the Himalayan range.
Tourist Destinations :
Some of the highest mountain ranges of the world stand in Sonamarg. When
the meadow rays of the sun caress the snowcapped mountains, they turn golden, thus comes in the
name Sonamarg (golden meadow). The road from Srinagar leading to Sonamarg offers splendid views of
snow-clad ranges and attractive meadows. The traveler is captivated by the scenic beauty of Sonamarg,
by walking through its quiet meadows and flower-carpeted fields.
How To Reach Kashmir
The state's major civil airport is at Srinagar connected to Delhi and other places in the country.
Indian Airlines and its subsidiary Alliance Air operate in the Delhi-Chandigarh-Ladakh and
Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar routes. Jammu Tawi is the main railhead of Jammu & Kashmir. It is connected
to most of the important towns and cities of the country. One can easily reach Jammu by the National
Highway 1A that goes from Punjab and runs through this city, connecting it to the rest of the state,
including the capital Srinagar. The state transport corporation runs several buses to most of the big
towns and cities in north India.
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Kashmir - Fairs & Festivals
Lohri
(January'13, every year)
This festival is also known as Makar Sankranti. It 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.
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 coloured
paper and flowers move on the street in a dancing procession. The whole atmosphere comes alive
with the pulsating drum beats.
Baisakhi
(April 13 or 14)
The name Baisakhi is taken from the first month of the Vikram calendar.
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.
Numerous fairs are organised and people come in thousands to celebrate the beginning of
the new year and watch the famous Bhangra dance of Punjab. For the Sikhs of Jammu, Baisakhi
is the day their tenth Guru Gobind Singhji formed the Khalsa sect in 1699. The Gurudwaras
are full of people who come to listen to Kirtans, offer prayers and feast on the prasad
from the common kitchen (Langar).
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Bahu Mela
(March-April and September-October)
A major festival is held at the Kali Temple in Bahu Fort (Jammu), twice a year.
Chaitre Chaudash
(March-April)
Chaitre Chaudas is celebrated at Uttar Behni, about 25 kms. from Jammu. Uttar Behni gets
its name from the fact that the Devak river (also known as Gupta Ganga locally) flows here
in the northerly direction.
Purmandal Mela
(February-March)
Purrnandal is 39 kms. from Jammu city. On Shivratri, the town is transformed for three
days as people celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati here. The people
of Jammu also come out in their colourful best to celebrate Shivratri at Peer Khoh, the
Ranbireshwar Temple and the Panjbhaktar Temple.
In fact, if you visit the Jammu region during Shivratri, you'll find a celebration on
almost everywhere.
Jhiri Mela
(October-November)
Baba Jitu was a simple, God loving and honest farmer who preferred to kill himself rather
than submit to the unjust demands of the local landlord to part with his crop. He killed
himself in the village of Jhiri, 14 kms. From Jammu. A legend has grown around the Baba and
his followers congregate at Jhiri on the appointed day from every corner of North India; they
revere him for his compassion, courage and honesty and hold an annual fair in his name.
Mansar Food and Craft Mela
This Mela is organised by J&K Tourism during Baisakhi every year. Held at the picturesque Mansar
Lake-62 kms. from Jammu, it is a three day celebration of the local crafts and cuisine, where
people from adjoining states also take part.
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