About Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir, a new union territory (UT) of India, was born on October 31, 2019. A resolution was passed in both houses of parliament in August 2019 to abrogate Article 370. Meanwhile, a reorganization act was approved, which had changed the Jammu and Kashmir status into two union territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which came into effect from October 31, 2019.
Located in the northern part of the country, Jammu & Kashmir is one of India's most popular travel destinations. The union territory covers an area of 42,241 km2 (16,309 sq mi) and comprises a population of 12,267,013 as of the 2011 census. It has two capitals - Jammu is the winter capital, and Srinagar is the summer. The UT is almost mountainous with stretches of valleys and some mountain lakes.
Places of interest
Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty since time immemorial it is called "heaven on earth". The union territory has some of the best tourist spots in the country. Despite the disturbance in the UT visitors, from India and abroad always like to visit Jammu & Kashmir to enjoy its scenic beauty. Tourism is one of the major industries of J&K. It makes an immense contribution to the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Some of the major tourist attractions are Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, and others.
Jammu is also known as the City of Temples. Some famous temples located here are Raghunath Temple, Bawe Wali Mata, Ranbireshwar Temple, Panchbakhtar Temple, and others. The summer capital Srinagar is famous for its Dal Lake. The Lake and its houseboats, which float in the lake, are the biggest attraction. The Mughal Gardens of Srinagar is also a popular tourist attraction. Some of the major pilgrimage centers of the nation are lying in the union territory. The two most important pilgrimage centers are the Amarnath Caves and Vaishnodevi Shrine.
Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its rich cuisine and culture. Besides this, there are several other attractions that everyone would like to visit the union territory. Some of these are trekking, rafting, and skiing. The UT keeps a prominent place for its traditional crafts and has some of the best handicrafts in the country; carpets, shawls, paper mache, and walnut woodcraft, and so on.
Jammu & Kashmir has several kinds of hotels to promote its tourism industry. There are hotels of various ranges from the budget category to the luxury ones. The Dal Lake houseboats are replete with different classes like deluxe and economy.
Best time to visit
Endowed with immense natural beauty and architectural wonders, Jammu and Kashmir is truly a traveler's delight. The months between October and March are the best time to visit the union territory. During this period, the weather conditions are perfect and offer visitors the opportunity to indulge in various activities.
Transportation
Srinagar airport connects the UT to other important Indian cities. Some airlines that operate here include Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways, and GoAir. Jammu Tawi Station is the most important railway station. The union territory has a good road network, which connects it to other Indian cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ambala, Amritsar, and many others. The Srinagar Jammu National Highway connects Srinagar and Jammu. It is a part of the National Highway 44 ((formerly known as NH 1A)
Education
Some reputed institutions in the Jammu & Kashmir are the Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu; Indian Institute of Management, Jammu; National Institute of Technology, Srinagar; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jammu; Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Government College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu; and others.
Jammu And Kashmir State Information | |
---|---|
Capital | Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter) |
Date of formation | 31 October 2019 |
Governor | Manoj Sinha |
Chief Minister | N/A |
Tourist attractions | Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Pahalgam Gulmarg, Vaishno Devi |
Festivals | Tihar, Navroz, Eid, Urs, Shab-e-Miraj |
Major dance and music forms | Kudd, Dogri/Pahari music, Hafixa, Bacha/Nagma dance |
Arts and crafts | Kar-i-kalamdan or the art of making lacquered pen cases out of paper pulp is a famous handicraft industry; Kashida embroidery. |
Languages | Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Dogri, Kashmiri, Balti |
Size | 42,241 km2 (16,309 sq mi) |
Population (Census 2011) | 12267013 |
Rivers | Chenab, Jhelum, Indus, Suru, Nubra, and many more |
Forests and wildlife sanctuaries | Dachigam NP |
State animal | Kashmir stag/Hangul |
State flower | Common rhododendron |
State tree | Chinar |
Major crops | Paddy, wheat, fruit, saffron |
Factoids | The hangul or Kashmiri stag is the only species of European red deer found in India. |
In Ladakh, they believe in Bon which is an animistic religion in which the forces of nature are worshipped. | |
No. of Districts | 20 |
Maps in Other Regional Languages
All Civil Services Examination aspirants out there! Learn more about the Indian geography on our resource- oriented platform, Maps of India.
Last Updated on: June 22, 2021
|