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NORTH INDIA
JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu and Kashmir, India's charming northernmost state consists of three regions conflicting in topography and culture. Jammu was the stronghold of Hindu Dogra kings and abounds with well-liked temples and private forest retreats. Jammu the whole city of is scattered with temples, so much so it is frequently called the city of temples. Kashmir is a bright green valley, cradled in the Himalayas, under crystalline blue skies, and against the backdrop of snow capped mountains. Kashmir's capital city, Srinagar offers pleasant holidays on the lakes with their shikaras and houseboats.

Ladakh is the northern most region of the state, with a highland desert lying amid the Karakoram and the Himalayan ranges. It is now prearranged in to two districts: Leh and Kargil. Hilltop monasteries and a colorful way of life, totally at one with the surroundings, make Ladakh one of the most excellent living traditions of Tibetan Buddhism in the world today.

Jammu & Kashmir

Amongst the three regions of Jammu & Kashmir State, Jammu, possibly, offers the widest variety of terrain and beauty. The whole region is pocketed with lakes and valleys, some still modest explored. The foundation of the settlement of Jammu is accredited 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 significant centre for arts and culture, now renowned as the Pahari School. The city also has some charming spots, in which Mansar is a good-looking lake fringed by the forest covered hills. Religion plays an significant 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.

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Vaishno Devi

The holy cave temple of Vaishno Devi is located in beautiful races of the Trikuta Mountains forming a part of the lower Himalayas as in the state of Jammu & Kashmir at an elevation of over 5000 feet. In the cave there are images of three deity's viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. For the disciples it is a journey to peace and solace. For nature lovers it is a digression amidst breathtaking picturesque beauty. The shrine can be visited throughout the year, but during the winter season the way is frequently blocked by snowfall.

Places Of Interest:

Bhumika Temple, Darshani Darwaza, Ban Ganga Temple, Charan Paduka, Adhkunwari Temple, Kalika Temple, Ram Mandir, Shiva Goompha.

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Leh (Ladakh)

A typical region in the Jammu & Kashmir state, Ladakh is a vast highland desert lying between the Karakoram and the Himalayan ranges. The area is now prearranged into two districts: Leh and Kargil. Located at the apex of a triangular plateau formed by the Indus, at an altitude of 3500meters above sea level is Leh - the main oasis of the mountain area and the heart of Ladakh. The city is huge tourist magnetism for the foreign tourists especially during the Hemis Festival - the birthday of Guru Padmasambava, creator of the red sect of Buddhism in Ladakh.

Ladakh is the dwelling of rare Kiang & highland Yak. Leh its capital city lies at the Tri junction of the significant 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 good-looking Imambaras at Trespone and Sankho on behalf of 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.

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Srinagar

Srinagar is located 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 that includes Jammu. The God has graced this city with such a loveliness, which is often compared to Venice. Walk down Sonwar or Residency Road and you would see half - timbered houses and brick churches encircled by magnolia trees in the garden. Enter a houseboat and you are right away 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.

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Amarnath Yatra / Trek

What is there in Amarnath Cave? It's a Shiva lingam. Shiva is one of the righteous Trinity of the Indian mythology. And lingam? Well, that is the phallic symbol of Shiva. Shiva lingams are an ordinary sight everywhere and worshipped in every nook and bend of India. Then what is so particular about the one in Amarnath?

Here it is a natural configuration of snow seen only during July-August every year. And it waxes and wanes with the moon. There is not just one. There is two more ice stalagmite, close up 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.

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sTATES OF NORTH INDIA

Chandigarh
Delhi
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu & Kashmir
Punjab
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
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