Travel to Jammu and Kashmir

 The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been a symbol of eternal natural beauty since time immemorial. The once mountain retreat of Mughals, abode of Buddhist Lamas and Alps of India for the British rulers, was rightly termed as Jahangir's valley of paradise.It has been one of the most beautiful, attractive, serene, and most talked about yet most controversial tourist destination in India.

Thankfully, the things are getting better in the valley of lakes and houseboats after a disturbing era of insurgency of 20 years.

Kashmir is home to some of the highest and most beautiful parts of the Himalayas. It is necessary to dispel a doubt here that the entire Kashmir is not violent or affected by the insurgency.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is comprised of three major parts; the largely Hindu Jammu, a Buddhist dominated Laddakh and the Muslim majority Kashmir valley.

Laddakh is almost unaffected by the violent disturbances of Kashmir valley. Jammu is comparatively safer and Kashmir valley is getting better day by day; so you can travel to any part of the state including the Kashmir valley without any worries, if the security situation is normal over there.

The most beautiful city in the entire Kashmir valley is Srinagar. The scenic views of the valley vary according to the location you are at. The mountain peaks look heavenly from a distance, the sunlight and the clouds appear to be out of this world and deep blue sky makes us feel at peace and rejuvenated. Srinagar is also called the city of lakes. It is famous for enchanting Dal Lake, HazratBal shrine (Dargah) and the Mughal Gardens referred to as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh. Pahelgam is another beautiful valley with a wildlife sanctuary, ropeways and wonderful tracking routes. Gulmarg is known for its exemplary scenic beauty, ski resorts and the highest golf course in the world.

About Jammu and Kashmir

The tourists can embark in Jammu and Kashmir travel for a heavenly vacation in the lap of mountains. The travel enthusiasts have always referred Kashmir as the 'Paradise on Earth'. The stand out beauty of the Himalayan Mountain range attracts tourists from all over the world. Himalaya, the world's largest mountain range, which also features the highest mountain peak of the world can be distinctly viewed from the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Leh, Gulmarg, Patnitop, Ladakh and Pahalgam are some of the important places here.

Jammu and Kashmir can be classified into three different regions. The foothill plains of Jammu, the magnificent mountains of Ladakh and the lakes and valleys of Kashmir that soar high up to the alpine passes. The mesmerizing beauty of the scintillating snow capped Himalayan Mountain range evokes romanticism.

How to reach Jammu and Kashmir

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is located in the extreme north of India. It makes for one of the most visited states in the country and about four million Indian tourists visit the state every year. Presence of the sacred Vaishno Devi Temple in the state is the factor driving most of the people to the state. The political turmoil in the state doesn't prevent the tourists from making their way to one of the most beautiful states in the country.
By Air
The state has four airports, namely:

• Jammu Airport (Domestic)
• Kargil Airport (Defense)
• Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh (Domestic)
• Srinagar Airport (International).

Major airlines like Indian Airlines, Jet Airways operate regular flights to these airports.
By Train
The most important railway station in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is the Jammu Tawi Station which receives trains from all the major Indian cities. Following are some of the trains that one can take to Jammu and Kashmir from major cities in India.
By Road
The state has a good road network connecting important neighbourhood states and cities like Delhi, Amritsar, Ambala, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Shimla and Manali. National Highway 1A is the national highway connecting various cities of Jammu to each other and to the rest of India. One can also take JKSRTC (Jammu Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation) buses to travel within the state and the nearby states.
Travel within Jammu and Kashmir The buses operated by JKSRTC connects most points around the state. Some terrains of the state are not that easily accessible, for such areas 4wd jeeps are quicker, but a little more expensive option. Private jeeps are also available to travel within the state.

Places to See in Jammu

Jammu

Category : History & Culture

Jammu is a city that is considered as a paradise on earth. The city is divided into two parts old and new city. The city has a number of temples wrapped in age-old myths and quite a few forts and palaces.








Vaishno Devi

Category : Religious
Vaishno Devi hills, located in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, are famous all over the country for housing the Vaishno Devi Temple. This temple, being one of the holiest Hindu temples in the nation, is dedicated to Vaishno Devi, who is even known as Vaishnavi or Mata Rani. Apart from being the Mother Goddess, She is said to be the incarnation of Shakti. More...  

  

Patnitop
Category : Nature
One of the key hill stations in the region, it is famous for its adventure sports like skiing in winters and in summers it offers paragliding rides and picturesque picnic spots.

Some other important places of interest in Jammu are:

• Ranbireshwar Temple
• Raghunath Temple
• Bahu Fort & Gardens
• Peer Baba
• Mahamaya Temple
• Lakshmi Narayan temple
• Amar Mahal Palace
• Sudh Mahadev temple
• Gauri Kund
• Mansar Lake
• Purmandal

Tourist Destinations Near Jammu

Amarnath

Amarnath is the name of a mountain located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the northern part of the country of India. This Mount Amarnath is mainly famous for the Amarnath Caves, which are among the well known holy shrines of the Hindu religion. This shrine is more than 5,000 years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This cave of Amarnath is located at an altitude of 3,888 m and is known for the ice lingams or formations situated within the cave. Earlier, the place was even called as 'Amareshwara' This temple in Amarnath is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages in India. Every year, during the months of July and August, the famous Amarnath Yatra takes place, when the place is visited by around 400,000 people. More...

Gulmarg
Gulmarg, the hill resort with mysterious meadows and mountains provides every reason for travelers across the globe throng here. The meaning of Gulmarg is 'the meadow of flowers',with snow-clad peaks and the wonderful landscapes. The royal and elegant slopes of Gulmarg have made it Asia's only heli-skiing resort. It is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir; at an altitude of 2730 meters. More...

 Srinagar

The summer capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is one of the picturesque cities in the Indian subcontinent. Srinagar is not only famous for its places of worship, but also for its lakes, houseboats, dried fruits, Kashmiri handicrafts, and landscaped gardens. Lying in the Kashmir Valley, it is the biggest city in Jammu and Kashmir. More...

Leh

The former capital of the Himalayan monarchy of Ladakh, Leh is one of the popular tourist destinations in India. It lies in the center of the Leh district. Leh is famous for architectural wonders like the Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Leh Mosque and its magnificent landscapes. By area, it is the second biggest district in India following Kutch in Gujarat. More... 

Ladakh

Ladakh is a part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh consists of two districts - Leh and Kargil. Leh is at an altitude of around 3505 m while Kargil is roughly at an altitude of 2750 m. Due to the strong influence of Tibetan culture on it, Ladakh is often called 'Little Tibet'. Ladakh has sparse vegetation. Fauna is generally similar to that found in the Central Asia, exception being the migratory birds coming from the warmer parts of India during the summer. More...

Accessibility and Accommodation

The travel to Jammu and Kashmir is made convenient by the air services to Leh and Srinagar from a number of Indian cities.

The bus services from Manali to Leh provide the other way to reach Jammu and Kashmir. The buses also ply at frequent intervals from Jammu to Srinagar. The railway station in Jammu is served by a number of trains from a few Indian cities.

There are a number of resorts, hotels and houseboats in Jammu and Kashmir. Few of the renowned hotels in Jammu and Kashmir include:

Hotel Akbar, Hotel Zamrud, Grand Hotel, Hotel Zahgeer Continental

The stay in houseboats is a unique experience. Few of the recognized houseboats on Dal Lake, Srinagar include Prince of Vale, Meena Houseboat, Newzealand Houseboat, Young Morning Star, Safina Houseboat. 
Tourist Map Of Jammu And Kashmir