India >JAMMU & KASHMIR

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Capital : Srinagar, Jammu (Winter).

Area : 2, 22, 236 sq.km.

Literacy : 54.4%.

Languages : Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Ladakhi.

Roads : 13, 042 km.

Railways : 84 km.

Airports : Srinagar, Jammu, Leh.

When to visit : April to Oct.

Climate(in °C) : Srinagar Summer 30 Winter below 0.

Districts :14, Anantanag, Badgam, Baramula, Doda, Jammu, Kargil, Kathua, Kupwara, Leh, Pulwama, Punch, Rajauri, Srinagar, Udhampur.

Places of Tourist importance : Jammu , Srinagar, Leh.

JAMMU

Winter capital of the state, Dogra art gallery and Mubarak mandi palace, Ranbireswar temple, Raghnath temple, tombs, Bahu fort, VAISHNODEVI - Hindu pilgrim centre, 14 km trek from Katra (40 km from Jammu); PATNITOP (111 km on Srinagar route) - Hill station.

PAHALGAM

Hill station, fishing, picnic spot. DACHIGAM wild life sanctuary - season : April to October.

AMARNATH (3900 m)

Cave with ice Shiv lingam which waxes and wanes with moon, Pahalgam to Chandanwari by jeep, trek to Panchtarani via Sheshnag and then to cave (40 km), Return to Baltal in 4 days; BALTAL - Base camp for trekking to Amarnath cave (15*2 km, in a day). Season : July to Sept

SRINAGAR (293 km)

Dal, Nagin and Anchar lakes, Sri Pratap singh Govt. museum, Mughal gardens - Chashmasahi, Nishat, Shalimar, Pari mahal, Shankaracharya temple on hill top (4 km, 300 m), Hazratbal mosque - Hair of Prophet Mohamed is kept here, Charar-i-Sharif (28 km) , Khir Bhawani temple (27 km, in marble); Wular lake (47 km) - largest fresh water lake in Asia, scenic beauty, fishing.

GULMARG (46 km from Srinagar)

Meadow of flowers, winter sports : ice skating/ skiing, 2 km rope way to lift Ski enthusiasts, Tangmarg camping site (6 km), scenic beauty.

SONMARG (81 km from Srinagar)

'Meadows of gold', flowers, Tajiwas glacier (4 km).

DRASS

World's second coldest inhabited place, in 1995, - 60oC temperature was recorded. Drass to Kargil : 60 km via Zoji la (3530 m).

KARGIL

Base for trekking & mountaineering : Nun (7135 m) & Kun (7100 m).

LAMAYURU

Monastery (80 km from Kargil on Leh raod).

LEH (434 km from Srinagar at 3512 m)

Leh palace, mosque, Mangyal Tsemo, Gompa Tsemo, Spituk monastery (9 km), Shey palace, Tiksey monastery - largest in Ladakh (15 km), world's highest motorable road : Khardung la (5600 m, 40 km). Hemis monastery (50 km) - richest monastery in Ladakh. Pangong lake (4267 m) & Tso Moriri are high altitude lakes. Camel Safari in Nubra valley.

MARKHA VALLEY Trek

Karu (50 km from Leh) to Chogdo via Marchelang and then to Nimaling via Kongmaru la (5100m) : 14 km, views of Kang Yaze (6400 m).

LEH - MANALI (475 km, 2 days)

One of the world's highest roads over Tanglang la (5300 m) and Lachlung la (5100 m).

FESTIVALS

Shivratri (Feb/Mar), Hemis (June), Amarnath (July-Aug).

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