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Jammu and Kashmir, India’s fascinating
northernmost state consists of three regions
differing in topography and culture. Jammu
was the stronghold of Hindu Dogra kings and
abounds with popular temples and secluded
forest retreats. Jammu the whole city of is
sprinkled with temples, so much so it is
often called the city of temples. Kashmir is
an emerald valley, cradled in the Himalayas,
under crystalline blue skies, and against
the backdrop of snow capped mountains.
Kashmir’s capital city, Srinagar offers
delightful holidays on the lakes with their
shikaras and houseboats. Ladakh is the northern most province of the
state, with a highland desert lying between
the Karakoram and the Himalayan ranges. It
is now organized in to two districts: Leh
and Kargil. Hilltop monasteries and a
colorful way of life, completely at one with
the surroundings, make Ladakh one of the
best living traditions of Tibetan Buddhism
in the world today. |
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Jammu & Kashmir |
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Amongst the three regions of Jammu & Kashmir
State, Jammu, perhaps, offers the widest
diversity of terrain and beauty. The entire
region is pocketed with lakes and valleys,
some still little explored. |
| The
foundation of the settlement of Jammu is
attributed to King Jambulochan of the 9th century BC. In
1730 AD, it came under the Dogra rule of
Raja Dhruv Deva and Jammu became an
important centre for arts and culture, now
renowned as the Pahari School. The city also
has some picturesque spots, in which Mansar
is a beautiful lake fringed by the forest
covered hills.
Religion plays an important part as the
whole city is sprinkled with temples. |
Area: 20.36 sq. km., Altitude:
305 meters
Climate: (deg C)-Summer Max.39.9,
Min.23.4; Winter Max.20.2, Min.4.5
Rainfall: 107 cms (June to
September)
Clothing: Summer: Light
cottons, Winter: Heavy Woollens
Languages Spoken: Dogri, Kashmiri,
Hindi, English
Best Season:
Throughout the year. |
| Places Of Interest: Ranbireshwar Temple; Raghunath Temple,
Ranbir Canal, Bahu Fort, Bage Bahu, Amar
Mahal Palace Museum, Dogra Art Gallery. |
| Excursions:Akhnoor- 32 kms, Batote-113 kms, Kud-106 kms,
Mansar Lake- 80 kms, Purmandal (Chhota Kashi)-
39 kms, Patnitop- 112 kms, Ramban-148 kms,
Ramnagar- 102 kms, Sanasar-129 kms,
Sudhmahadev- 120 kms, Surinsar Lake- 42 kms,
Kishtwar High Altitude National Park- 248
kms. |
Reach
By Air: Well connected with Delhi,
Leh and Srinagar.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Jammu
Tawi.
By Road: Amritsar- 243 kms,
Chandigarh- 436 kms, Delhi- 586 kms, Katra-
48 kms, Srinagar- 305 kms, Manali- 428 kms. |
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Vaishno
Devi |
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The holy cave shrine of Vaishno devi is
situated in a beautiful racess of the
Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the
lower Himalayas as in the state of Jammu &
Kashmir at an altitude of over 5000 feet. In
the cave there are images of three deities
viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and
Mahasaraswati. For the devotees it is a
journey to peace and solace. For nature
lovers it is an excursion amidst
breathtaking scenic beauty. The shrine can
be visited throughout the year, but during
the winter season the route is often blocked
by snowfall. |
| Places
Of Interest:Bhumika Temple, Darshani Darwaza, Ban Ganga
Temple, Charan Paduka, Adhkunwari Temple,
Kalika Temple, Ram Mandir, Shiva Goompha. |
Reach -
By Air: Jammu- 62 kms is the nearest
airport.
By Rail: Jammu Tawi is the nearest
railhead.
By Road: Jammu-Katra- 48 kms and
Katra-Vaishno Devi-14 kms Route from Katra
to Vaishno Devi: Katra - Ban Ganga Ban Ganga
- Charan Paduka ,Charan Paduka - Adhkunwari
,Adhkunwari - Bhavan- 8 kms. |
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Leh
(Ladakh) |
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A distinctive region in the Jammu & Kashmir
state, Ladakh is a vast highland desert
lying between the Karakoram and the
Himalayan ranges. The region is now
organized into two districts: Leh and
Kargil. Situated at the apex of a triangular
plateau formed by the Indus, at an altitude
of 3500meters above sea level is Leh – the
biggest oasis of the mountain region and the
heart of Ladakh. |
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The city is
a great tourist attraction for the foreign
tourists especially during the Hemis Festival – the
birthday of Guru Padmasambava, founder of
the red sect of Buddhism in Ladakh.
Ladakh is the abode of rare Kiang & highland
Yak. Leh its capital city lies at the Tri
junction of the historic silk route from
Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of
India. |
Altitude:
3500 meters
Climate:
(deg C)-Summer – Max, Min, winter – Max, min
Best Season: May to November. |
Places Of Interest:
At Leh: Leh Khar Palace, Leh
Monastery, Leh Mosque, Tsamo Gompa.
At Kargil: Kargil has beautiful
Imambaras at Trespone and Sankho
representing Turkish architecture. Attached
to these Imambaras there are famous Arabic
and Persian speaking Muslim divines known as
ghas. |
Excursions:
Mulbak Monastary- 190 kms, Lamayura- 125
kms, Alehi Gompa- 135 kms, Likir Gompa- 140
kms, Phiyang Gompa- 20 kms, Spitak
Monastary- 8 kms, Snaker Gompa- 3 kms, Shey
Palace Monastary- 15 kms, Thiksey
Monastary-19 kms, Hemis- 49 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: The nearest airport is Leh.
By Rail: Nearest railhead Jammu - 690
kms.
By Road: Leh to Srinagar- 434 kms,
Kargil- 230 kms. Manali- 497 kms, Keylong-
380 kms. |
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Srinagar |
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Srinagar is at the North of Delhi via
Pathankot and Jammu. It is on both the sides
of River Jhelum and is the summer capital of
Jammu and Kashmir, which includes Jammu. |
| The God has
graced this city with such a beauty, which
is often compared to Venice. Walk down Sonwar or Residency Road and you will see
half – timbered houses and brick churches
surrounded by magnolia trees in the garden.
Enter a houseboat and you are instantly
transported to another world. |
| Area: 103.3 sq. km., Altitude:
1,730 meters, Climate: (deg
C)-Summer- Max.29.5, Min.10.6; Winter-
Max.7.3, Min.-1.9, Rainfall: 529 mms
(Mid June to Mid September), Clothing:
Summer- Cottons/Tropical; Winter- Heavy
woolens, Best Season: Throughout the
year, though winter months are quite cold,
Languages Spoken: Kashmiri, Urdu,
Hindi, English. |
Places Of Interest:
Pather Masjid, Shah Hamdan Mosque ,Jamia
Masjid, Hari Parbat Fort, Nagin Lake,
Hazratbal, Shalimar Bagh, Harwan, Nishat
Bagh, Cheshma Shahi, Pari Mahal,
Shankracharya Temple, Daal Lake and Shri
Pratap Singh Museum at Lal Mandi. |
Excursions:
Pampore-13 kms. (The only place in the
world, where saffron is grown), Mattan- 61
kms, Martand- 64 kms, Achabal- 58 kms via
Anantnag, Kokernag- 70 kms, Verinag- 80 kms,
Daksum- 85 kms, Yusmarg- 40 kms, Acharbal-
51 kms, Kounsernag Lake- 11 kms, Manasbal-
32 kms, Burzahon- 24 kms, Ganderbal- 19 kms,
Wular Lake- 60 kms, Charari-Sharif- 30 kms,
Dachigam National Park- 21 kms. |
Reach
By Air: Nearest airport is Srinagar-
14 kms.
By Rail: Nearest railhead Jammu Tawi.
By Road: Srinagar-Jammu 293kms, Leh-
434 kms, Kargil- 204 kms, Gulmarg- 52 kms,
Pahalgam- 96 kms, Delhi- 876 kms,
Chandigarh- 630 kms. |
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Amarnath
Yatra / Trek |
What is there in Amarnath Cave? It's a Shiva
linga. Shiva is one of the holy Trinity of
the Indian mythology. And linga? Well, that
is the phallic symbol of Shiva. Shiva lingas
are a common sight everywhere and worshipped
in every nook and corner of India. Then what
is so special about the one in Amarnath?
Here it is a natural formation of snow seen
only during July-August every year. And it
waxes and wanes with the moon. |
| There is
not just one. There are two more ice
stalagmite, close to the main one. These
represent Parvati, Shiva's consort, and
their son, Ganesha. |
| Altitude: 3880-4218 meters, Best
Season: Mid-June to Mid-October,
Grade: Moderate. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Jammu.
By Rail: Jammu Tawi is the nearest
railhead. |
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