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Kashmir |
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Information about Kashmir
The valley of Kashmir is known all over the world for
its beauty and charm. Set like a jewelled crown on the
map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted diamond,
changing its hues with the seasons-always extravagantly
beautiful. The Kashmir valley is situated about 300 kms.
from Jammu across forested ravines and steep mountain
passes. The emerald valley of Kashmir is cradled in the
Himalayas, under the crystal blue skies, against the
background of snow-capped mountains. It is a magic land
of silvery streams, rivers, fresh water lakes, pine,
deodar and chinar forests, snow clad mountains,
sparkling waterfalls, shikaras, green meadows and grassy
slopes full of flowers of vibrant colours. It is an oval
plateau over 5000 feet high and framed by three
Himalayan ranges – the Karakoram, Zanskar and Pir Panjal.
Two major Himalayan ranges, the Great Himalayan Range
and the Pir |
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Panjal,
surround the landscape from the north and south respectively.
They are the source of great rivers, which flow down into the
valleys, forested with orchards and decorated by lily-laden
lakes. Kashmir covers an area of 222,236 square kms and is
often referred as the 'Switzerland of the East'. The Mughals
aptly called Kashmir ‘Paradise on Earth’ where they journeyed
across the hot plains of India, to the valley’s cool environs
in summer. Here they laid, with great love and care,
Srinagar’s many formal, waterfront gardens, now collectively
known as the Mughal Gardens. They also patronized the
development of art & craft among the people of Kashmir,
leaving behind a heritage of exquisite artisanship among thes
people and making the handicrafts of the land prized gifts all
over the world. It is the land of bewitching beauty with
exotic fruits, flora and flowers. Srinagar, the capital of
Kashmir is nestled amidst the huge lakes, meadows and unique
floating gardens in the valley. The state of Kashmir is mainly
dominated by the Muslims and Kashmiris. Pandit Jawahar Lal
Nehru also said about Kashmir that is there is a paradise on
the earth, it is this, it is this. Kashmiri, Dogri and Urdu
are the main languages which are spoken here. The best time to
visit Kashmir is during summers.
History of Kashmir
Kashmir formed part of the empire of Emperor Ashoka, about
three centuries before Chirst. He spread Buddhism in Kashmir,
Tibet, China and Central Asian Republics. In the 7th and 8th
centuries, there was a succession of Hindu kings who gave
Kashmir its first impressive monuments. Then followed a dark
era in which power passes from one ruthless commander to
another till a Tibetan Muslim prince took over. He died in
1338 and Commander Shah Mir usurped the kingdom and stated a
Sultan dynasty. The eighth Sultan of this dynasty was
Zainul-Abdin, also known as Badshah or the Great king. He
patronized art, music and encouraged studies in Hindu and
Buddhist scriptures. The king was very popular with the local
people as they considered him their patron saint who
introduced such arts like shawl making, embroidery,
carpet-weaving, papier-mâché, silver and wood carvings. He
invited guilds of craftsmen from Persia and Samarkand to
settle down in the Kashmir valley. When Mughal Emperor Akbar
conquered Kashmir in 1587, he lost his heart to the valley. He
declared Kashmir as his private gardens and indulged himself
in boating, water fowling and watch the saffron being
harvested in the fields. Various Mughal kings made Kashmir
their home to avoid the heat and dust of summer. Akbar's son
Jehangir also found the natural paradise of Kashmir
captivating and built various gardens in Srinagar. While, one
day on his way to Kashmir, he become ill and when he was asked
to express his last wish, he said, “Kashmir… and nothing
else.” The Mughal kings created elaborate pleasure gardens,
marble pavilion and intricate irrigation systems in the
valley. They also succeeded in converting the majority of
local Hindus into Islam. As the Mughal power decline, Afghans
captured the valley till they were ousted by the Sikh Maharaja
Ranjit Singh. Kashmir became part of the Sikh empire. When the
Sikhs lost their war against the British in 1846, the British
demanded an indemnity of 500,000 pounds. Since they could not
meet this demand, the Sikhs offered Kashmir to the British.
The Dogra Maharaja of Jammu offered the British twice the
indemnity amount and thus became the Maharaja of Jammu and
Kashmir. His descendants ruled over the State till 1947 and
became part of the Indian Republic. The state also became the
battleground between India and Pakistan during 1948, 1965 and
in 1971 wars when Pakistan lost. Pakistan is still trying to
grab Kashmir by aiding and abetting terrorism in Kashmir.
Since 1997, when elections were held in the state, Jammu and
Kashmir is under an elected government. Law and order
situation is better now and foreign as well as Indian tourists
are visting Kashmir in large numbers. |
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Geography of Kashmir
The main heart of Kashmir is the fertile Vale of
Kashmir, also known as the valley. The Vale of Kashmir
lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Punjal mountain
range. The valley is set apart from the plains to the
south-west by the Pir Punjal range, through which runs
the imposing 9,760 ft. Banihal pass. The climate is
mild. Mount Godwin Austen or K2 (28,250 feet) and Nanga
Parbat (26,650 feet) lies in the northern Kashmir. The
Indus and Jhelum rivers flow through Kashmir and the
Vale of Kashmir respectively. |
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Culture of Kashmir
Kashmiris love dance and music, and marriages, festivals and
other occasions provide them the opportunities to enjoy
themselves. The ancient caves and temples of Kashmir reveal
that a strong link existed between Kashmir and South Indian
cultures at the beginning of the Christian era. The classical
folk dances of the south were also performed here during the
marriage ceremonies. The popular Hafiza dance performed by
Kashmiri women to the accompaniment of Sufiana Kalam was later
replaced by the Bacha Nagma, performed by young boys dressed
like women. The bhand jashna (festival of clowns), is a 300 to
400 year old Kashmiri folk theatre that was performed in
village squares and satirizes social situations through dance,
music and clowning.
Crafts of Kashmir
Kashmir is known for its exquisite craftsmanship which
flourished over the centuries. During the winters, the
craftsmen make handicrafts and sell them to tourists coming
there during summers. Some of the famous handicrafts of
Kashmir are the hand-knotted Persian rugs and traditional
rugs, carpets, embroidered woolen caps, shawls and jackets,
the Jamawar, silk-soft Pashmina shawls, crewel embroidery,
embroidered gold and silver dresses, caps, boleros and
ponchos, stone studded jewellery, filigree, enamelware,
articles made of beaten and carved silver, articles made of
walnut wood and papier-mâché, silks and embroidery. Wood
carving is another special art of Kashmir which is very
unique. The walnut furniture made in Kashmir is exquisite and
work done on the furniture speaks about the Kashmiri's
patience and workmanship.
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People of Kashmir
The people of Kashmir are popularly known as Kashmiris.
Most of the Kashmiris are Muslims, followed by Hindus,
Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians. Among the Kashmiris,
Kashmiri Pandits who are Hindus, are a progressive
community, scattered all over India. Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru and Indira Gandhi were part of the Kashmiri Pandit
fraternity. Most of the Kashmiri Pandits have been
recently forced to leave Kashmir due to a communal
frenzy by the Muslim fundamentalists.
Cuisine
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Kashmiri food is very rich and fragrance
with the flavour of the spices used like cinnamon, cardamom,
cloves, saffron, etc. During festive occasions, the Kashmiris
serve a feast called Wazwan. The Wazwan consists of 36 meat
dishes prepared specially by highly trained chefs and eaten
together. The feast begins with the passing around of the
Tash-t-Nari for guests to wash their hands, followed by the
various delicacies served in large silver platters or thramis
piled high with long grained rice crowned with Dum Kokur
(chicken cooked in saffron scented yoghurt), Alu Bukhara Korma
(mutton simmered in a splendid sauce of yogurt, almonds and
plums) along with methi, Rogan Josh, Kebabs, vegetables,
gushtaba, Tabak Maaz (crunchy rib chops), Seekh Kababs and
chutneys. The dessert is usually phirni and Kahwah.
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Places to visit in Kashmir
Kashmir is just like a Himalayan Paradise on the earth. Some
of the famous places to visit in Kashmir are Srinagar,
Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Yousmarg. Srinagar is the
capital and heart of Kashmir. There are various gardens and
lakes in Kashmir. Wular and Dal lake are the famous lakes in
Kashmir. When it floods in spring and summer, the Wular lake
reaches 260 square km in size making it one of the largest
lakes in India. In winter, it decreases considerably in size.
The Dal lake is the smaller lake and covers 38 square km.
Srinagar is situated around the Dal lake.
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Adventure Sports in Kashmir
In winter, when snow carpets the mountains, there is skiing,
tobogganing, sledge-riding, etc. along the gentle slopes in
Kashmir. In spring and summer, the orchards, lakes and blue
skies beckon every soul to taste the delights. Golfing,
water-skiing in the lakes and angling, or simply drifting down
the willow fringed alleys of lakes in Shikaras and living in
gorgeous houseboats are some of the most favoured ones. The
trekking in Kashmir is very different from the trekking in
Nepal. Before the recent disturbances, no special permission
was required to visit Kashmir or Ladakh. But today, it is
impossible to trek from the Vale of Kashmir, though it is
still possible to get into Ladakh.
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Seasons of Kashmir
Kashmir has four distinct seasons, each with its own
peculiar character and distinctive charm. These are
spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring, which extends
roughly from March to early May, is when a million
blossoms carpet the ground. The weather during this time
can be gloriously pleasant at 23 degree Celsius or
chilly and windy at 6 degree Celsius. This is the season
when Srinagar experiences rains, but the showers are
brief. Summer extends from May until the end of August.
Light woolens may be required to wear out of Srinagar.
In higher altitudes night temperatures drop slightly.
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Srinagar at
this time experiences day temperatures between 25 and 35
degree Celsius. At this time, the whole valley is a mosaic of
varying shades of green - rice fields, meadows, trees, etc.
and Srinagar with its lakes and waterways is a heaven after
the scorching heat of the Indian plains. The onset of autumn,
perhaps Kashmir's loveliest season, is towards September, when
green turns to gold and then to russet and red. The day
temperatures in September are around 23 degree Celsius and
night temperatures dip to 10 degree Celsius by October, and
further drop by November, when heavy woolens are essential.
Through December, to the beginning of March is winter time,
which presents Srinagar in yet another mood. Bare,
snow-covered landscapes being watched from beside the warmth
of a fire is a joy that cannot be described to anyone who has
not experienced it. Some houseboats and hotels remain open in
winter which are either centrally heated or heated with ‘bukharis’,
a typically Kashmiri stove kept alight with embers of wood,
quite effective in the winter.
How to reach Kashmir
By Air
There are daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi, Mumbai and
Jammu. Srinagar airport is 14 kms from the city.
Note: All foreigners are required to register
themselves at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, at
its Airport counter.
By Rail
Jammu is the nearest railway station for Srinagar, about 305
kms where trains arrive from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai,
Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad, etc.
By Road
National Highway 1-A, connecting Srinagar with Jammu, is a
good, all-weather road with several sharp inclines and hairpin
bends. It is maintained by the Border Roads Organization
(BRO), which clears the road of any obstructions resulting
from natural causes like landslides and heavy snowfall. The
famous Jawahar Tunnel that connects Jammu with the Kashmir
Valley across the Pir Panjal range falls en route. Before the
Jawahar Tunnel was completed, the journey took two days with
an overnight stop at Batote. Now, it can be covered in one
long day. It is also possible to travel by taxi from Jammu to
Srinagar in about 8 hours.
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