Set
like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a many faceted diamond,
changing character with the seasons - always extravagantly beautiful. Three
Himalayan ranges, Karakoram, Zanaskar and Pir Panjal - snow capped, majestic,
frame the land - scape from northwest to northeast. They are the birthplace
of great rivers which flow through the Kashmir valley. This land is a happy
combination of the mighty splendor of mountains of lovely glades and forests.
The river Jhelum meanders its steady course through corn-fields into the
heart of the Srinagar city and, onwards,till it rushes headlong through
the frowning gorges, and dashing against boulders joins the Arabian Sea
through the plains of Punjab. Your visit to Kashmir is a lifetime memory.
The days spent in this 'Heaven on earth' are your most memorable days.
They say a visit to Kashmir can divide your life into two halves - before
and after Kashmir. Nestling in the lap of the dazzling, snow capped Himalayas,
the Kashmir valley is undoubtedly a jewel
in India's
crown. An inspiration for so much art , music and poetry, Kashmir is also
a honeymooner's paradise, a nature lover's wonderland and a shoppers dream
come true. The mountains lend unique charm to the land and in this aspect
of its natural
beauty,
Kashmir even excels the much-adored Switzerland.
SRINAGAR Located
in the Heart of the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar is a tourist is a tourist
center and also the take off point for excursion to other places of interest.
The city is believed to have been founded by a Mughal Emperor, for whom
Kashmir was a summer resort. Srinagar offers a new and exciting type of
accommodation, the house boat of which there are plenty on the Dal and
Nagin Lakes, Gondola like boats, Shikaras adonis to the romantic ambirnce.
It is also a starting point for several well known treks and excursions.
AWANTIPURA 29 km
from Srinagar. The temple ruins at Avantipur represent some of the finest
examples of architecture of
this
region. Dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva, they were built in 9 th century
AD by King Avantivaman.
HOUSE
BOAT There
is no greater escape from the noise and hassle of Srinagar, a typically
noisy Asian city, than the superbly
relaxing
houseboats. Basically most houseboat are the same. There is a small verandah
at one end where you can sit and
watch
the world the world pass by, and behind is a living room, usually furnished
in the British 30,s Style. Then there is
a dining
room and beyond that tow or three bedroom that tow or three bedrooms, each
with a bath room.
JAMMU The Duggar
land where the past still has a living presence. A land of grand
ancient temples & beatiful palaces.
All nestling
in the foothills of the Himalayas. Jammu is justly famous for its
temples. Infact it is known as the city of
temples
and the every fame of its tends to overshadow its palaces, forts, forests
and powerful ziarats. If Bahu Mata
is the
presiding deity of Jammu, the dargah of Peer Budhan Ali Shah is the other
shrine that protects Jammuites.
The other
major tourist attraction is the Ragunath Temple Complex., it contains representations
of almost entire
Hindu
pantheon, though the emphassis falls on the various incarnations of Lord
Vishnu. The complex houses a
rich
collection of ancient texts and manuscripts.
VAISHNO
DEVI The holy
cave shrine of Vaishno Devi is nestled in a beautiful recess of the Trikuta
Mountains forming a part of the
lower
Himalayas. It is located 61 km north of Jammu at a height of 5,200 feet
above the sea level in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the cave there
are images of three deities viz. the Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.
Vaishno Devi is perhaps the most popular pilgrimage for the Hindus of North
India. Millions of pilgrims come to the state of Jammu & Kashmir to
take blessings of Goddess Vaishno Devi every year and the numbers are increasing
with the time. Indianvisit gives you an opportunity to visit Vaishno Devi
in a hassle free manner with all the modern facilities in tandem.
PATNITOP Relatively
unknown, compared to the other tourist spots in the state Patnitop is no
less beautiful or serene. If one is aiming
to get
away from it all for some time, this place is hard to beat. Just 112 Kms
from Jammu. With all its beauty at a hill station,
it is
a charming plateau at 2, 024m. The meadow is surrounded by dense woods
and lush greenery of Pines. Tracks lead to
pockets
where time stands still and calm prevails. Although Patnitop is an 'anytime'
place, the best time for a visit are
summer,
during May-June, and autumn, September -October. If seeking snowboard joys,
December to March is the time
to be
here. Picturesquely situated at a high altitude, there are many pleasant
walks around this popular hill station.
Patnitop
is a good starting place for many short or longer treks into the nearby
mountains. An attractive one-day walk
is to
Shiva Garh, about 11-km from Patnitop at an altitude of almost 3,500 metres.
Good bridle paths passing through
wooded
lanes and fascinating scenery link Patnitop with Kud and Batote. There
are three, gushing, ice-cold freshwater
springs
in the area, which are said to have medicinal properties. The complete
tourist circuit covers Jammu - Katra -Vaishno
Deviji,
Kud-Sanasar, Patnitop -Gourikund, Sudmahadev, Mantalai extending upto Latti-Dhuna.
Patnitop is an ideal place
for walks
and picnics. Situated in a Gulmarg-like meadow it has picnic spots
around.The 6-hole golf course is being
expanded
to 9-holes. Pony rides along little known trails, camping and walks can
be indulged in by those with a less
adventurous
spirit. The daring can opt for Para gliding and basic skiing, introduces
in recent years.
Sudh
Mahadev is another sacred spot situated close to Patnitop.
LADAKH is a
mysterious land shrouded in myth and legend. Much of its ancient history
is known only through the mythology
of its
people as its written history is of very recent origin. Known for centuries
as the 'land of passes (La-pass; Dakh-land)
Ladakh
was described by Fa-hian,who travelled across its inhospitable terrain
in 399 A.D. The land where snow never melts
and only
corn ripens'. Its landscapes are forbidding by any measure. Snow- swathed
mountains rise to several thousand feet
above
one of the most elevated plateux on earth. A treeless wind-swept country,
much of Ladakh can be termed as mountains,
Arctic
desert, where every thing is parched but the rarefied dryness of the atmosphere.
Scattered here and there, a few narrow
fertile
valleys provide a stark contrast to an otherwise barren, beautiful
country of intense sunlight and clear sparkling air.
The limpidity
of the atmosphere, infact gives the night sky a unique clarity, so full
and bright with stars that one
feels
transported to some etheral setting far removed from earth.
GULMARG The meadow
of Flowers is a world famous tourist spot in the Baramulla Distt of Kashmir.
The altitude of Gulmarg
is 2730
meters. surrounded by dense forests of tall conifers ,Gulmarg is known
for unparalled beauty nad is rated as
one of
the matchless tourist spots of the world.It is famous for Golf hikes and
boasts of a beautiful highland golf
course.
It is premier resort for winter sports in the country.
PAHALGAM Pahalgam,
through which flow the Lidder and Sheshnag streams, it is also known as
the take off point for treks to the
Kolahoi
Glacier, to several high altitude lakes, to the Amarnath Cave and to Sonmarg,
the meadow of gold. The Village of
nomad
is unspoilt by the ravages of progress. This is a quaint little village
nestled on the banks of river Lidder. This place
is an
angler's delight and even an amateur can catch a rainbow trout from the
rushing streams. the large brown bear is
a natural
inhabitant of the thick Pine and Cedar forests. Pahalgam has a golf course
at 2400 meters above the sea level.
Camping
equipment, ponies and skiing equipment is readily available. Kolahoi is
a popular destinantion via
Aru a
charming meadow. Pahalgam is base camp for the pilgrims of Amarnath.
SONAMARG The Golden
Meadow is at an altitude of 2740 meters and is gateway to Ladakh.It has
brilliant forests of sycamore
&
alpine flowers, silver birch, fir and pine. Sonamarg is a place of
enthralling beauty. Three lakes viz Kishensar,
Vishens
and Gangabal can be viewed from Nichnai Pass. 20 Kms east of Sonamarg is
Zoji-La Pass at 3540 mtrs
which
leads into Ladakh Plateau
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