Jammu & Kashmir

Tucked into the mighty Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir borders with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south, Pakistan to the west and China to the north and east. Known to most as the “paradise on earth,” Jammu and Kashmir has undoubtedly been the dream destination for millions of travelers. Be its remote mountains or its panoramic landscapes, Jammu and Kashmir can be called a world of beauty.

Demographics

About 67% of the population follows Islam and the rest constitute of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Most of the people in the northern frontiers of Ladakh belong to the Indo-Tibetan origin, whereas Jammu’s southern area is dotted by plenty of communities with ancestors hailing from Punjab. According to the 1901 census, the population of Kashmir Valley was 2,905,578.

Geography

Jammu and Kashmir consists of a number of river valleys like the Tawi Valley, Chenab Valley, Poonch Valley and Lidder Valley. However, the largest mountain valley is the Kashmir Valley, which stretches for 100 kilometers in width and 15,520.3 square kilometers in area. The Himalayas divide Kashmir Valley from Ladakh and the Pir Panjal Range segregates it from the Great Plains of Northern India. The only major Himalayan River is the Jhelum that flows through the Kashmir Valley while the other major rivers that water the state are Indus, Tawi, Ravi and Chenab.

Climate

The climactic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir are quite varying. The southern part of Jammu features a monsoonal climate. In summers, the cities in the southern part become quite hot and humid with temperatures reaching well above 30 degree C. But the months of July and August witness heavy rainfall up to 650 millimeters. The rainfall turns down during September, while in October you will experience dry and hot conditions, followed by negligible rainfall as well as temperatures hanging around 29 degree C. The northern parts are characterized by typical Himalayan cold climate with severe winters and warm summers.

Flora and Fauna

Maple, horse chestnuts and silver fir are some of the major trees to be found in the lower valleys, while in the higher altitudes there are rhododendron, Berbers as well as a good number of herbal plants. A wide display of fauna includes snow leopard and deer, wild sheep, Himalayan Bears, and brown musk shrew. A wide variety of snakes, lizards, bats and frogs inhabit the region. Among Jammu’s game birds, there are snow partridges, pheasants, and peacocks. Chinnar is a splendid Kashmir tree found only in these areas. The mountain ranges are thronged with deodar, pine and fir.

Major attractions

Jammu and Kashmir is home to plenty of fascinating spots. Some of the major attractions include The Shankaracharya Temple, The Mughal Garden of Shalimar, Raghunath temple and the Vaishno Devi temple. A pilgrimage to Amarnath Caves and a trek to the remote Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh attract millions of tourists to Jammu and Kashmir.  If you are in Ladakh, don’t miss out the Leh Palace and the Thiksey Monastery. Pahalgam, Hemis Gompa, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, Peer Baba, Gulmarg and Patnitop are some of the other attractions of the state.

Tips

- Always carry warm clothes as Jammu and Kashmir is situated at high altitudes.
- Hire jeeps for traveling fast to any place in Jammu.
- Always talk to your country’s high commission about the current political condition of Jammu and Kashmir before arriving. Various areas of the state are plagued by terrorist activities