Immersed in the beauty of nature, with sprawling, misty hills all around you, pine and deodar trees playing hide and seek with the wind carrying unknown fragrances, lakes that have the color of the bluest eyes, with oarsmen singing hymns in unknown languages, you finally realize there is a paradise on the earth.
You open your eyes, and the surroundings would plunge you into a beautiful reverie, a reverie when snow-capped mountains would shapeshift into beautiful damsels, dancing to the tune of time. And you realize there is a paradise on earth and its name is Kashmir.
11 Interesting facts about Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 1: Maharaja Hari Singh
The last Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir was Maharaja Hari Singh. A member of the Dogra dynasty, Hari Singh’s rein was full of drama. Kashmir was turbulent during those times. Sheikh Abdullah rose as the leader of the masses, and Kashmir almost dipped into anarchy.
A melting pot of cultures, it was the trijunction of three distinct civilizations, the faiths of Hinduism (Profoundly influenced by the tenets of the legendary Shankaracharya), Islam (with strong adherence to Sufi Islam), and Sikhism.
Harisingh, the flamboyant one found it hard to rein in the protests though he wanted to remain independent. Many wanted to remain with the newly formed nation of Pakistan and some wanted to be independent.
A minority wanted to be with India. Harisingh proclaimed he is an independent ruler. Soon the terrain was overrun by hordes of Pathani mercenaries, finally rescued by the Indian army. So, Hari Singh, the last Maharaja left a bloodied history.
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 2: Kashmiriyat
The common name for the syncretic culture of Jammu and Kashmir is popularly known as the ‘Kashmiriyat’, which is a mixture of ideas taken from Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. As the state is contiguous to the Afghan lands, it might have formed some links with the legendary silk route. Srinagar, the capital city was founded by Emperor Ashoka, the patron saint of early Buddhism.
The main tapestry of Kashmiriyat is the oneness of all the Kashmiris, that they are one irrespective of creeds. Founded on this social brotherhood, it united generations of Kashmiris under the flag of a united Kashmir.
It derives ideas from Kashmiri Shaivism, Sikhism, Islam (even the Sufi variant), and Buddhism (which still flourishes in the Ladakh region). This syncretic belief actually transcends all the religions to say that all the roads will eventually lead to the same path.
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 3: Longest Railway Tunnel in India
Do you know anything? The longest railway tunnel in India is situated in Jammu and Kashmir. It is named as Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel or Banihal railway tunnel. It is 11.215 km long, 8.4 m wide and 7.39 m tall.
This Banihal railway tunnel is India’s longest railway tunnel as well as Asia’s fourth longest railway tunnel. Can you imagine the trains buzzing, whistling, and piercing through the snow-capped mountain domes of Jammu and Kashmir?
You can easily gaze at Shikaras floating on the lakes which are like the eyes of the valley, the bluest eye, with oarsmen singing Kashmir folk songs vivaciously, with swarms of tourists flocking through the gates of this paradise on earth, you can really say you have entered on the paradise on earth. As someone had said, if there is a paradise on earth, it is this.
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Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 4: Four seasons in Jammu and Kashmir
There are mostly four seasons in Jammu and Kashmir- Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This is the place where the poetry of nature embarks on a voyage to infinity. This is an architectural marvel created by nature.
You can see the earth dressed in all finery, with snowcapped mountains that are the witnesses of the dances of the time. There is some uniqueness in being a Kashmiri as well. The unique Kashmiri dress is known as Pheran, the copper kettles are called Samovar, Kangiri is the name of the earthen fire pots wrapped in woven wicker, etc showcase some of this uniqueness.
The Kashmiri language actually belongs to the Dardic group of languages, which makes it again unique. The Shikaras are some of the other uncommon things found in Kashmir. The traditional handicrafts are exquisite and beautiful as well.
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 5: Kalhana The First Historian of India
Have you heard about the gems of Kashmir like Kalhana? Kalhana wrote a poetry book known as Rajatarangini. He is known as the first history writer in India. He gave a vivid, exquisitely beautiful account of the Kashmir of the 10th century.
Things like these set Jammu and Kashmir apart from the various other regions of India. Shankaracharya had visited the region in the early 8th century and there are numerous stories associated with him.
There are also numerous famous saints in the valley, such as Lalla (popularly known as Lalleshwari), Nund Rishi ( Sheikh Noor Uddin Noorani- a legendary Sufi saint).
In the modern days, poets like Agha Shahid Ali (Acclaimed for his poetry collections such as the country without a post office) had also got much fame and he wrote about the eternal refugee status of being a Kashmiri.
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Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 6: Various vibrant languages
Do you know which are the main languages spoken in Jammu and Kashmir? Kashmiri is the principal language and it belongs to the Dardic group, kind of a language isolate. Other languages spoken are Shina (especially in the Ladakh region), Urdu (in the valley), Dogri, Balti, Ladakhi, Gojri, and Pashto.
This land was fertile as it was the melting point of various civilizations. The effervescent presence of much wider languages such as Pashto and Urdu comes sue to the early rules and pillages of dynasties such as the Mughals, Nadir Shah, Ahmed Shah Abdali, etc.
Punjabi and Dogri came due to the rules of rulers such as Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Raja Gulab Singh. So in a sense, we can say this is a multipolar society rich in various vibrant languages. This diversity makes Jammu and Kashmir diverse in a foreigner’s eyes.
Read Also: 10 Most Spoken Languages of India
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 7: Drass 2nd Coldest Inhabited Place in the world
Geographically this is a very diverse state. You can see the elevations in wide ranges, and because of it, its biogeography is very diverse. Among the major Himalayan Rivers, only the Jhelum River flows through the Kashmir valley.
And do you know that there is a place named Drass, which is the coldest inhabited place in India, with temperature lowering down even to -45 degrees
Celsius? Drass is also the second coldest inhabited place on earth.
Kashmir is a strategic vantage point as well, as it is a trijunction that played an important role during the great game. It has got so many passes as well.
Zoji La is one of the famous passes in Kashmir. It is always frequented by the soldiers. This is a strategic pass between the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. This is why it gets important.
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Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 8: Wazwan Traditional Dish of Jammu and Kashmir
Have you ever heard the word called Wazwan? It is known as the traditional dish of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a 36-course meal. It is sometimes known to be influenced by Arabic and other cultural influences, but it always remained unique.
Another thing is that Wazwan has been popular among tourists due to its flavors which are relished by many. And what would you think about the floating market in Srinagar? If you are into surrealism you would like it.
This is the only floating market in the nation and only a third of its kind in Asia. It is a major tourist attraction.
This state is the largest producer of saffron and in India and the third-largest producer of saffron in the whole world. This production is one of the major economic attractions as well.
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 9: Shikara
Have you read Midnight children by Salman Rushdie? There is an oarsman named Tai who plies his own Shikara. He is described as a mysterious figure, a demure, and a scruffy guy.
There are lots of Tai’s in Kashmir plying their Shikaras. Shikara stays are generally very much sought out by the tourists as they are exquisite, and highly recommended. They are included in most of the Kashmir packages.
And do you know the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir? It is Kashmir while Jammu serves as the winter capital. The major destinations in Jammu and Kashmir include Srinagar the capital, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg.
These places are known to be breathtakingly beautiful and have attracted tourists from all over the world. The ruins of the Martand temple are also in Jammu and Kashmir. It was built around 8 CE.
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 10: Favorite place of the Mughals
Kashmir was a favorite place of the Mughals. There is an inherent relationship between the famous Mughal emperor Akbar and the land. His syncretic religion Din- I- lay and the Kashmiriyat must have been some relationship with each other.
Have you heard a name called Chashme Shahi? This is an ancient Mughal garden. It was built around 1632 AD. There is a spring in the garden and the water oozing out of the spring is believed to be of medicinal value.
Do you know about the Hazrat Bal Shrine? It is believed to be containing the strands of hair of the holy prophet Mohammed. The Wularlake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia known for its beauty.
Do you know about the Chenab bridge? It is made up of steel and can resist temperatures up to 20 degrees.
Jammu & Kashmir Fact Number 11: Gulmarg Gondola Largest Ropeways in India
Gulmarg Gondola, have you heard about it? It is one of the largest ropeways in India. It covers a distance of 5kms. What would you think about the vast Indira Gandhi Tulip garden? It is the largest Tulip garden in Asia itself.
And what about the library in Raghunath Temple in Jammu? It houses more than 6000 manuscripts in various Indian languages. And in your opinion which is the state bird and state animal of the state of Jammu and Kashmir? They are Hangul and black-necked crane respectively.
What is Chang Thangi? Have you heard about it? It is a kind of Himalayan goat from whose belly the famous pashmina shawl is derived. Do you know which is the longest road tunnel in India? It is the Chenani-Nashir Tunnel ( 9km) located in Chenani, Jammu.
So get ready for an enchanting trip, to the land of plums, pine trees, and deodars. Plunge into the beauty and dance with the snow-capped dames.
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