Kashmir Valley, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Kashmir is an area on the northern borders of India and Pakistan; officially known as Jammu & Kashmir.Kashmir covering an area of 222,237 SqKm is famous for its natural beauty and has often been referred to as the 'Switzerland of the East'. The

kashmir is a fertile Valley, which lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. The climate is mild.Rivers like jhelum & Indus feed this beautiful valley.

Out of 12 million people live in Kashmir, which around 70% are Muslims. The rest include Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Hindus live mostly in the south and around the city of Jammu. To the east is the Ladakh region, where the majority of the people are Buddhists and of Tibetan origin.Major crops in the valley are corn, wheat, rice and saffron.Fruit and nuts are also produced in quantities including pears, apples and walnuts.

Since 1989 the controversy over Kashmir has taken a violent turn in the valley; the Kashmiri people themselves have taken up arms against the Indian occupation.The situation now is better but before leaving it is better to see the political situation of the country.

The handicrafts of Kashmir like Pashmina shawls, papier-mâché products, silk carpets, woodwork, etc are admired throughout the world.The renowned folk songs and dances are an integral part of the Kashmir culture. Music and dance is a way of celebrating festivities for the people of Kashmir.

The rich and deep-rooted ancient tradition of the Indian culture stills retains its place in the heart of Kashmir.Kashmiri population is a blend of people belonging to distinct races with different looks, dresses, food habits, customs, traditions, rituals, etc. Have a look at the people and main ethnic groups in Jammu and Kashmir.Kashmiri women love to dress up with a lot of ornaments. Almost every body part, be it the head, ears, neck, arms or ankles, is adorned with jewelry. A typical ornament of a married Kashmiri Pandit woman is Dejharoo. It is a pair of gold pendants, which hangs on a silk thread or gold chain and passes through holes in the ears pieced at the top end of the lobesKashmir cuisine is quite famous for the gracious use of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, saffron, etc. Spices used in Kashmiri cuisines give special taste and aroma to the food. However, Kashmiri rice forms an important part of the traditional food of Kashmir, striking a balance with the spicy Kashmiri dishes. Non-veg, consisting of mutton, chicken, fish, etc forms an important part of Kashmiri cuisine. The routine cooking in Kashmir is a combination of non-veg and vegetables in the same dish.Kashmir valley has numerous places worth visit like dal lake famus for shikaras,shankracharya temple,hazratbal shrine,dachigam park,gulmarg ,famous for winter sports,and countless others.