Kashmir
Kashmir, commonly known as Kashmir or Cashmere in the Asia and Western world is intertwined with the history of a larger region,comprising the areas of Central Asia,Afghanistan,India,Pakistan,Tajikistan,Tibet,China.Today,it denotes a larger area that includes the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir (which consists of Jammu, the Kashmir Valley, and Ladakh),the Pakistan-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan, and the Chinese-administered regions of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract.
In the first half of the 1st millennium, the Kashmir region became an important centre of Hinduism and later of Buddhism; later still, in the ninth century, Kashmir Shaivism arose. The Islamic conquest of Kashmir (1300AD) ended the Political identity and was a turning point in history. Islamicization in Kashmir took place during 13th to 15th century and led to the eventual decline of the Absolute monothiesm in Kashmir. However, the achievements of the previous civilizations were not lost, but were to a great extent absorbed by the new Islamic polity and culture which gave rise to Modern Kashmir Sufi Mysticism. In 13th century Kashmir fell under rule ofMongols. In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Salatin-i-Kashmir or Swati dynasty. For the next five centuries, Muslim monarchs ruled Kashmir, including the Mughals, who ruled from 1586 until 1751, and the Afghan Durrani Empire, which ruled from 1747 until 1820. That year, the Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir. In 1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Kashmir.
The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until 1947, when the former princely state became a disputed territory, now administered by three countries: India, Pakistan, and the People's Republic of China.
How to reach :
By Air : You can reach Jammu and Kashmir by flight, because major airline companies operate regular flight between Srinagar to other cities of India. Mainly three airports used for tourist in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu Airport in Jammu City
Aerodome Airport Srinagar
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport Leh
By Rail : The Jammu-Tawi Station is well-connected to all the major cities in the country such as Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Trivendrum and more. Your further expedition up North will be by bus, taxi or on a bike. Another option to reach Srinagar is Banihal railway station, which is accessible from Jammu by road. Banihal railway station has good rail connectivity with Srinagar but it is operational only during the summer season.
By Road : The National Highway 1A, connects the different cities of Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India. The state road transport corporation buses connect to the neighboring states of Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab and more. However, some of the points are a bit hard to access, to reach the areas one can hire jeeps and other vehicles, they are expensive.
Visiting Time
The best time to visit Kashmir is between October and April
Entry Fee
The ticket fare for visiting each place and spot is different.
