Heaven on earth

About the Place

Many poet has said that if there is a heaven on earth, it is Kashmir. If Srinagar is the summer capital of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, (J & K), Jammu is the winter capital. Nestling in the lap of dazzling, snow-capped Himalayas, the Kashmir valley is a jewel in India’s crown. An inspiration for art, music and pottery, Kashmir is also a honeymooners’ paradise, a nature lover’s wonderland and a shopper’s dream come true.

Jammu

It is the second largest city in the state and is situated on the plains. Summer heat here is in contrast with the cool heights of Kashmir. The town of Jammu consists of the old town and the new town of Jammu Tawi. In the heart of the old town is the Raghunath Temple, built in 1835. In the Sanctum Sanctorum are beautiful idols of Sri Rama and Sita. Another temple here is the Rambireswar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built in 1883. The Dogra Art Gallery at Gandhi Bhavan has an important collection of miniature paintings including many from the locally renowned Basohli and Kangra schools of painting.

On the outskirts of the town, is the Amar Mahal Palace of French architecture. The palace of Museum has a family portrait gallery and a collection of paintings.

About 35 kms from Jammu is the cave temple of Vaishno Devi. It is an ancient temple and is a must for every Hindu tourist. How to get there

Air :Flights operate from Jammu to Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Leh & Amristar.

Bus : Buses connect Jammu with Srinagar, Delhi, Amristar, Pathankot.

Train : Trains link Jammu with Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Calcutta, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.

Jammu – Srinagar : On the way from Jammu to Srinagar, there are a number of places to visit. The Jawahar tunnel which is 2,5000 meters long is 200 kms away from Jammu and 93 kms away from Jammu and 93 kms away from Srinagar. Before this tunnel was constructed, it used to take two days to reach Srinagar from Jammu.

Thirty two kms. North-west of Jammu is Akhnoor. The Chenab river meets the plains here. Basohli, close to Dalhousie, across the border in Himachal Pradesh is the birth place of the Pahari miniature painting style. Billawar, Sukrala, Babor and Permandel are now in ruins, nevertheless, they have some temples which are not fully complete.

To the east of Jammu are the Surinsar and Mansar lakes which are picturesque. Near the town of Riasi is the ruined fort of General Zorawar Singh, renowned for his clashes with the Chinese over Ladakh. At Kud, there is a well-known spring, Swami ki Bauli. Batote is a hill resort at a height of 1560 meters. Patnitop is a popular hill station at 2024 meters height and has many pleasant walks.

Kashmir : This beautiful region in India was a summer retreat of the Mughal rulers of India. It was en route to Kashmir that the Mughal Emperor, Jehangir, died. Some of the gardens developed by the Mughals are beautifully kept even to this day.
 
The Dal lake house boats are one of Kashmir’s greatest attractions. During the British period in India, the rulers of Kashmir would not allow them to own land in Kashmir. So, the Britishers hit upon the idea of building house-boats. It is said that a visit to Kashmir, is not complete until one has stayed on a house-boat. Around the edge of the valley are Kashmir’s delightful hill stations. Pahalgam and Gulmarg are pleasant places for trekkings trips.

Srinagar

Srinagar, the capital city if J & K stands on the Dal lake and the Jhelum river. Connecting the Dal Lake and the Jhelum river to Srinagar, there are nine bridges.

The Dal lake is a maze of intricate waterways. It is divided into Gagribal, Lokut Dal and Bod Dal by a series of causeways. Within the lake, there are two island and Gold Island, both of which are good picnic spots. Both are also known as Char Chinar because they each have four chinar trees on them. The waters of Dal Lake are very clear. A leisurely cruise around the lake takes a better part of the day, including a visit to the Mughal gardens.

The Shah Hamdan Mosque, built in 1395, was destroyed by a fire twice. The present mosque is shapped like a cube with a pyramidal roof rising to a spire.

Pather Masjid or stone mosque was built by Nur Jahan in 1623; on the east bank is the tomb of King Zain-ul-Abidin, son of Sultan Sikander it is built on the foundations of an earlier temple and has Persian influence in its domed construction and glazed tiles. The Jami Masjid was first built in 1385 by Sultan Sikander. This impressive wooden mosque is notable for its 300 plus pillars supporting the roof.

The Shakaracharya Hill is beside the Dal Lake. The hill was once known as Takhti-I-Sulaiman. A temple is said to have been first built here by Ashok’s son, around 200 BC. The Chasma Shahi is the smallest of the Mughal gardens in Srinagar. It was laid out in 1632. Above the Chasma Shahi is the Pari Mahal. Its arched terraces are pleasant and it has a well-kept garden with fine views over the Dal lake. The Nishat Bagh or Nishat gardens were designed in 1633 by Nurjahan’s brother, Asaf Khan, and is the largest of the Mughal gardens following the traditional pattern of a central channel running down a series of terraces. The Shalimar Bagh was built in 1616 by Jehangir for his wife Nur Jahan. During the Mughal period, the top most of the four terraces was reserved for the emperor and the ladies of the court. During the tourist season from May to October, a nightle “Sound and Light” show is put on in these gardens. On the north-west shore of the Dal Lake, is the Hazaratbal mosque. It enshrines a hair of the Prophet. Beyond the Hazratbal mosque, is the Nasim Bagh built by Akbar in 1586. The Nagin lake is considered as the jewel in the ring and is the most beautiful of the Dal laks and is ringed by trees all-round. On the western side of the Dal lake is the Hari Prabat Fort built in 1592 during the reign of Akbar. Nearby is a shrine of the sixth Sikh Guru. The Pandrathan Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, dates back to 900 AD and is beautifully proportioned.

Things to buy

Handicrafts, carpets, paper mad articles, leather, fur, wood, carvings, shawls, embroidery, Knitted sweaters, cardigans, saffron etc.

How to get there

Air : Srinagar is connected with Delhi, Amristar, Jammu, Chandigarh and Leh.

Bus : Buses ply from Srinagar to Jammu, Leh, Delhi, Pahalagam, Snamarg, Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Wular lake, etc.