Kashmir Tourism

One of the most popular items from the local handicraft industry is the Kashmiri carpet. The origin of these carpets, locally known as 'Kal baffi', goes back to the 15th century when Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin brought weavers especially from Persia and Central Asia to train the locals in the art of carpet weaving. Tourists from various parts of the country and outside are usually in awe of the intricate details and craftwork on these carpets. Mostly, they are made of silk or wool or an amalgamation of both and come with a cotton base. Kashmiri carpets are handwoven and take a long time to be made given the intricate designs and delicate handwork on these beauties. Budget wise, they fall on the expensive side but come with a guarantee of adding value to your interiors.

When in Jammu & Kashmir, 8 out of 10 locals you meet tend to look similar in terms of what they wear. Phiran is a local garment that is widely worn in the state by men and women alike. A long gown made of wool, a phiran is the most common garment you will find in possession of the locals. While for women, phirans come with designs on the neck and sleeves, for men, the fabric changes slightly, usually simpler and darker in colour. These are worn with fancy tarangas on their head by women as men wear turbans and skull caps.

Imagine a splash of vibrant colors in the snow-clad valley of Ladakh. Hemis festival is the biggest festival of Ladakh celebrated in honour of Guru Padmasambhava?s birth anniversary. Every year in the 5th month by the Tibetan calendar, the lamas and locals come together to celebrate the victory of good over evil. It is especially known for the world famous characteristic masked dance. All participants wear masks and move around slowly to the music of drums and trumpets. Tourists come in huge numbers to participate in the vibrancy of the celebrations.

Read more about Festivals of Jammu and Kashmir

 The people of Jammu and Kashmir are as beautiful and pure as the state itself. They lead a simple life and are known for their loving and affectionate nature even towards the tourists. Majorly Hindu, Muslim and Buddhism are the three religions followed by the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh respectively. While Urdu is the official language of Jammu and Kashmir state, the other languages spoken here are Kashmiri, Ladakhi, and Dogri. Eid-ul-Fitr, Baisakhi, Lohri and Hemis Festival are the main festivals of the state, and they are celebrated by people of all faiths together with the same enthusiasm.

The city of Jammu is said to have been founded by Raja Jambulochan in the year 2900 BC. It has found several mentions in Indian epics like the Mahabharata. Years later, in Akhnoor, the excavations revealed evidence of the state being a part of the Harappan civilisation. Evidence from the Mauryan and Gupta period have also been found here. Jammu- Kashmir has seen the rule of multiple rulers in succession majorly dominated by the Hephthalites, Kushano- Hephthalites followed by the Shahi dynasty then Ghaznavids, Timur, Mughals and Sikh before the final submission to the British rule.

The Dev dynasty is said to have ruled here for the longest and is considered responsible for having kept the city in isolation hindering its development. This, however, is said to have been revived by the Dogra rulers who are credited for building the infrastructure and educational facilities here. However, in the year 1947, as is known, the decision by the then Maharaja of Kashmir Hari Singh to sign the instrument of accession which made J&K a part of India has been the source of tension between India and Pakistan for decades now. As a member of the Indian Union, under article 370 of the Indian Constitution, Kashmir has been given special status as per which the state has its constitution. This was adopted in the year 1956 but only came into effect on January 26, 1957. Kashmir is the only state to have its flag which can be hoisted with the flag of the Union of India.

With its location in the north, Jammu & Kashmir is often called as the crown of India. It can be essentially divided into three parts - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. While most of Kashmir is covered with forested slopes, waterways and terrace fields, Jammu area has a mix of plains and mountains, and Ladakh is largely a majorly isolated cold desert. All of J&K is exquisite in terms of the scenic beauty and rich diversity in varieties of flora and fauna. Geographically, it shares borders with Punjab and Himachal in the South, and international borders with China in the North and East and is separated from Pakistan by the Line of Control.

Kashmir is a place where so many religions live harmoniously together and hence it is no doubt that Kashmir is very diverse when it comes to its cultural traditions and festivals. The Spituk Gustor Zanskar, a Tibetan festival celebrated in the monasteries of Thiksey, Spituk and Karsha Nanzkar on the 30th and 31st of October, every year. Gustor represents the victory of good over evil and it is during this festival that visitors can witness the re-enactment of the killing of the anti-Buddhist king, Langdarma by the Buddhist monks.

Another very unusual festival celebrated here is the Tulip Festival. Celebrated for the first 15 days of April every year at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar, this is one of its kind. Considered as Asia's largest tulips show, there are almost 50 varieties of tulips grown especially for this event and is a delight to the eyes! The Losar or the New Year for Kashmir starts on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar and goes up to 15 days. It is one of the main festivals in the state. Other festivals include Dosmoche, Matho Nagrang, Ladakh Festival, Amarnath Yatra, Sindhu Darshan Festival, Hemis Festival and Galdan Namchot.