Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir is a state in northernmost of India it is situated in the Himalayan Mountains. The state shares border with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and an international boundary with Pakistan to the north and east.

J&K comprises three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. The state has two capitals: Srinagar in the summer and Jammu in the winter. Jammu & Kashmir comprises 22 districts.

The Mughal emperor, Akbar, invaded Kashmir in 1586. He appointed one of his generals, Ramchandra I, as a governor of the Himalayan Kingdom. He founded the city of Jammu. Ranjit Singh of Lahore captured Jammu and Kashmir in 1780 after the death of Ranjit Deo, a descendent of Ramchandra.

The Indus, Tawi, Ravi and Chenab are the major rivers following through the state. But the Jhelum River is the only Himalayan river flows through the Kashmir Valley.

There are several Himalayan glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir. Siachin Glacier is one of them. It is the longest Himalayan glacier.

Jammu & Kashmir is home to several famous lakes: Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, Wular Lake and Manasbal Lake in Jammu, Pangong Lake and Tsomo-riri Lake in Ladakh, Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake in Jammu.

There are many gardens in the state. These are Mughal Garden, Shalimar, Nishat Garden, Pari Mahal, Harwan, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden, Cheshmashahi, Srinagar, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Jharokha Mughal Garden, Manasbal, Mughal Garden, Darashikoh Bagh, Bijbehara, Botanical Garden Kokernag, Mughal Garden, Bagh-e-Bahu, etc.

Urdu is the official language of the state. Other principal spoken languages are Kashmiri, Dogri, Pahari, Balti, Ladakhi, Gojri, Shina and Pashto.

The state celebrates many festivals: Tulip festival, Baisakhi Festival, Khir Bhawani Festival, Gurez Festival, AmarnathJi Yatra, Saffron Festival, Snow Festival, Urs or annual festivals, the monastic Festival, Chhams, etc.

Jammu & Kashmir is well connected by rail, road and air. Direct flights operate to Srinagar and Leh. The major service providers in the state are Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and Air Deccan.