Jammu and Kashmir Tourism

Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India locked in Himalayan Mountains. Jammu and Kashmir is home to several Valleys such as the Kashmir Valley, Tawi, Chenab Valley, Poonch, Sindh Valley and Lidder Valley. Some major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir are Srinagar, the Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, Jammu, and Ladakh. Some areas require a special permit for non-Indians to visit.

History
The history of Kashmir is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of Central Asia, South Asia and East Asia. Historically, Kashmir referred to the Kashmir Valley. 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 in the ninth century, Shaivism arose. Islamization in Kashmir took place during 13th to 15th century and led to the eventual decline of the Kashmir Shaivism 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 Kashmiri Sufi mysticism.

Fairs & Festivals
Fairs and Festivals are part of our rich cultural heritage and are the celebration of life in its many colors and moods. Travel to any part of India and you will find fairs and festivals taking place on important religious days and according to the season. Kashmir too has its fair share of festivals and fairs. Fairs and festivals are when men, women and children come together, mingle, dance, sing and form a medley of colorful dresses to mark a special day before returning to their routine life. Colorful Kashmir itself is a never ending festival, cloaked in a riot of colors in spring, taking on golden crimson hues in autumn and a blanket of pristine white in winter. On special occasions people put on their best finery, the most colorful garments and celebrate fairs and partake in festivals.

Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Jammu is between late September and early March. Summers in Jammu can result in the temperature rise of up to 45-48 degrees Celsius. Winters and spring are the ideal time to visit. You can also visit Jammu during the famous festivals like Makara Sankranti (January), Ram Navami (March) and Deepavali (October) when the whole town gets dressed up like a queen and drenched in the festivities.

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.

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 state has an outstanding road network that connects it to the neighboring cities like Delhi, Katra, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Shimla, Leh and Ambala. Many cities of Jammu are very connected with National Highway 1A. The visitors can also take Jammu & Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation buses to visit different parts of the state.

Tourist Attractions
Jammu and Kashmir, famed as the crown of India, is one of the most sought-after destinations in India. The breathtaking scenery, serene romantic ambiance and the places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir have always been the muses of several writers and much has been written about them.