Kashmir Valley

For other uses, see Kashmir (disambiguation).

Kashmir Valley وادی کشمیر Vale of Kashmir
—  State division  —
Dal Lake and Shikaras
Kashmir Valley (orange bordered) lies in Jammu & Kashmir state of India
Country	India
State	Jammu and Kashmir
Districts	Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipore, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Srinagar
Headquarters	Srinagar
Area
• Total	15,948 km2 (6,158 sq mi)
Elevation	1,850 m (6,070 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	6,907,622
• Density	Bad rounding here430/km2 (Bad rounding here1,100/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Urdu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

The Kashmir Valley (Urdu: وادی کشمیر‎) or Vale of Kashmir is a valley located between the Karakoram and the Pir Panjal Range in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. No part of the valley lies in the area currently administered by Pakistan. It is around 135 km long and 32 km wide, formed by the Jhelum River. Kashmir Valley is one of the three administrative divisions in Jammu and Kashmir state and consists of Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipore, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Srinagar districts.

Mughal emperor Jahangir called it "Paradise on Earth."

Geography

Kashmir Valley borders Jammu region to the south, Ladakh region to the east, and the Line of Control in the north and the west.

Kashmir valley seen from satellite. Snow capped Pir Panjal range separates the valley from plains.

Climate

Srinagar
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     48   7 −2     68   8 −1     121   14 3     85   21 8     68   25 11     39   30 15     62   30 18     76   30 18     28   27 12     33   22 6     28   15 1     54   8 −2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: HKO
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.9   45 28     2.7   47 31     4.8   57 38     3.3   69 46     2.7   76 51     1.5   85 59     2.4   86 65     3   85 64     1.1   81 54     1.3   72 42     1.1   59 34     2.1   47 29 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Kashmir Valley features a moderate type climate. Its climate is largely defined by its geographic location, with the towering Karakoram Range in the north, Pir Panjal Range in the south and west and Zanskar Range in the east. It can be generally described as cool in the spring and autumn, mild in the summer and cold in the winter. As a large valley with significant differences in geo-location among various districts, the weather is often cooler in the hilly areas compared to the flat lower part.

Summer is usually mild and with good little rain, but relative humidity is generally high and the nights are cool. The precipitation occurs throughout the year and no month is particularly dry. The hottest month is July (mean minimum temperature 6°C, mean maximum temperature 32°C) and the coldest are December–January (mean minimum temperature −15°C, mean maximum temperature 0°C).

Compared with other plain parts of India, Kashmir valley enjoys a more moderate climate but weather conditions are unpredictable. The recorded high temperature is 33°C and the recorded low is −18°C. On 5 and 6 January 2012, after years of relatively little snow, a wave of heavy snow and low temperatures (winter storm) shocked the valley covering it in a thick layer of snow and ice.

Kashmir Valley has seen an increase in the relative humidity and annual precipitation in the last few years. This is most likely because of the commercial afforestation projects which also include expanding parks and green cover.

In his introduction to the Rajatarangini, Kulan or Kalhana says about the climate of Valley:

It is a country where the sun shines mildly, being the place created by Kashayapa as if for his glory. High school-houses, the saffron, iced water and grapes, which are rare even in heaven, are common here. Kailasa is the best place in the three worlds, Himalaya the best part of Kailasa, and Kashmir the best place in Himalaya.

Sir Walter Roper Lawrence writes in his book The Valley of Kashmir that:

In latitude Kashmir corresponds with Peshawar, Baghdad and Damascus in Asia, with Fez in Morocco and South Carolina in America, but it presents none of the characteristics of those countries. People have linked the climate of Kashmir to that of Switzerland until the end of May, and of Southern France in July and August. But it is impossible to speak of Kashmir as possessing any one climate or group of characteristics. Every hundred feet of elevation brings some new phase of climate and of vegetation.

History

Main article: History of Kashmir

General view of Temple and Enclosure of Martand or the Sun, near Bhawan. Probable date of temple AD 490–555. Probable date of colonnade AD 693–729. Photograph of the Surya Temple at Martand in Jammu & Kashmir taken by John Burke in 1868.

According to folk etymology, the name "Kashmir" means "desiccated land" (from the Sanskrit: Ka = water and shimeera = desiccate). In the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in the mid-12th century, it is stated that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a lake. According to Hindu mythology, the lake was drained by the great sage, Rishi Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son of Brahma, by cutting a gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varahamula). When Kashmir had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there. This is still the local tradition, and in the existing physical condition of the country, we may see some ground for the story which has taken this form. The name of Kashyapa is by history and tradition connected with the draining of the lake, and the chief town or collection of dwellings in the valley was called Kashyapa-pura, which has been identified with Kaspapyros of Hecataeus (apud Stephanus of Byzantium) and Kaspatyros of Herodotus (3.102, 4.44). Kashmir is also believed to be the country meant by Ptolemy's Kaspeiria.

Cashmere is an archaic spelling of Kashmir in English but it is still spelled this way in many languages.

Demographics

A mosque in Srinagar

The majority of people of Kashmir Valley are called Kashmiri and they speak the Kashmiri language. Kashmir Valley has a Muslim majority population. Islam is practiced by 97% of the population. The valley has also small communities of Hindu Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs.

Ten districts in Kashmir valley (Kashmir Division of the Jammu and Kashmir state) had population of 6,907,623 as per 2011 census. The religious composition was 97.16% Muslim and 2.84% Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and others.

The principal languages in the valley are Kashmiri and Urdu. However, Urdu written in the Persian script is the official language. Many speakers of these languages also know English as a second language. Hindi is the lingua franca for the security forces stationed in Kashmir valley.

Districts

Kashmir Division consists of ten districts:

Name of District	Headquarters	Area (km²)	Population 2001 Census	Population 2011 Census
Anantnag district	Anantnag	3,984	734,549	1,069,749
Kulgam district	Kulgam		437,885	423,181
Pulwama district	Pulwama	1,398	441,275	570,060
Shopian district	Shopian		211,332	265,960
Budgam district	Budgam	1,371	629,309	755,331
Srinagar district	Srinagar	2,228	990,548	1,250,173
Ganderbal district	Ganderbal		211,899	297,003
Bandipore district	Bandipore		316,436	385,099
Baramulla district	Baramulla	4,588	853,344	1,015,503
Kupwara district	Kupwara	2,379	650,393	875,564

Cities

Srinagar is its main city and also the summer capital of the state. Other main cities are Anantnag and Baramulla.

Gund village in Sindh valley, a sub vallay of Kashmir Valley

Politics

The major Indian political parties in the region are the National Conference, the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party and the Congress. Bharatiya Janata Party is not a major party in the valley. However, its members of the legislature live in the valley as Srinagar in the valley is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The capital moves out of the valley in the winter in a grand ceremony called "Durbar Move".

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

Skiing is popular in Gulmarg, showing cable car in a snow clad mountain

Kashmir valley is a popular tourist destination for domestic (Indian) and foreign tourists. Among the popular tourist places in the valley are Gulmarg that has a ski resort, Dal Lake that has popular house boats, Pahalgam and Amarnath Temple.

Before insurgency intensified in 1989, tourism formed an important part of the Kashmiri economy. The tourism economy in the Kashmir valley was worst hit. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrine of Amarnath every year and this significantly benefits the state's economy. But this yatra has put Kashmir on the verge of ecological disaster .

Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green golf course. However with the decrease in violence in the state has boosted the states economy specifically tourism. It was reported that 736,000 tourists including 23,000 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2010.

Hill stations

Sind River at Nilgrar Sonamarg

Lidder River flowing through Pahalgam Valley

• Aru
• Gulmarg
• Pahalgam
• Sonamarg
• Srinagar
• Yusmarg

Mughal gardens

Nishat Bagh

Chashme Shahi

• Nishat Bagh
• Shalimar Bagh
• Chashme Shahi

Lakes

• Dal Lake
• Manasbal Lake
• Wular Lake
• Gangabal Lake
• Gadsar Lake
• Sheshnag Lake
• Vishansar Lake
• Krishansar Lake

Mountaineering

This Himalayan valley provides a base to climb some of the challenging Himalayan peaks. These peaks where closed due to the rise in militancy, now they are opened for mountaineering.

• Mount Haramukh (16,870 ft (5,142 metres))
• Kolhoi Peak (17,799 ft (5,425 metres))
• Machoi Peak (17,907 ft (5,458 metres))
• Sirbal Peak (17,178 ft (5,236 metres))
• Amarnath Peak (17,014 ft (5,186 metres))
• Sunset Peak (15,571 ft (4,746 metres))
• Tatakooti (15,502 ft (4,725 metres))
• Mahadev (13,999 ft (4,267 metres))

Culture and cuisine

Further information: Cuisine of Kashmir, Wazwan, Kashmiri literature, Kashmiri music, and Kashmiri Pandit Festivals

Kashmiri cuisine includes dum aloo (boiled potatoes hollowed and stuffed with heavy amounts of spice), tzaman (a solid cottage cheese), rogan josh (lamb cooked in heavy spices), yakhiyn (lamb cooked in curd with mild spices), hakh (a spinach-like leaf), rista-gushtaba (minced meat balls in tomato and curd curry),danival korme and the signature rice. The traditional wazwan feast involves cooking meat or vegetables, usually mutton, in several different ways.

Alcohol is not consumed by many Muslims in the valley. There are two styles of making tea in the region: Noon Chai or salt tea that is pink in colour (known as chinen posh rang or peach flower colour) and popular with locals, and kahwah, a tea for festive occasions, made with saffron and spices (cardamom, cinnamon, sugar, noon chai leaves) and black tea.

Economy

Apricot here grow in abundance, image from village Benhama

Tourism is one of the main sources of income for vast sections of the Kashmiri population. Kashmir Valley‘s economy is centred around tourism and agriculture. Traditionally the staple crop of the valley is rice, it forms the chief food of the people. In addition, Indian corn, wheat, barley and oats are also grown. Given its temperate climate, it is suited for crops like asparagus, artichoke, seakale, broad beans, scarlet runners, beetroot, cauliflower and cabbage. Fruit trees are common in the valley, and the cultivated orchards yield pears, apples, peaches, and cherries. The chief trees are deodar, firs and pines, chenar or plane, maple, birch and walnut, apple and cherry.

Historically, Kashmir became known worldwide when Cashmere wool was exported to other regions and nations (exports have ceased due to decreased abundance of the cashmere goat and increased competition from China). Kashmiris are well adept at knitting and making Pashmina shawls, silk carpets, rugs, kurtas, and pottery. Saffron, too, is grown in Kashmir. Efforts are on to export the naturally grown fruits and vegetables as organic foods mainly to the Middle East. Srinagar is known for its silver-work, papier mache, wood-carving, and the weaving of silk.

The economy was badly damaged by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake which, as of October 8, 2005, resulted around 1,500 deaths in Kashmir Valley.

Kashmir Valley is believed to have potentially rich rocks containing hydrocarbon reserves.

Transport

Kashmir valley is connected to Jammu and Ladakh regions by road and air. It has access to Jammu region and the rest of India through the Banihal road tunnel near Qazigund on national highway NH 1A.

Air

Srinagar is the main airport in Kashmir valley and has scheduled flights from Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh and New Delhi.

Railway

Kashmir valley has a 119 km (74 mi) long modern railway line that started in October 2009 and connects Baramulla in the western part of the valley to Srinagar and Qazigund. It will link the Kashmir Valley to Banihal across the Pir Panjal mountains through the Banihal rail tunnel in 2013 and to the rest of India in another few years as the construction of the railway line from Jammu to Banihal progresses steadily.

Road

Transport within the valley is predominantly by road.

External links

• Kashmir Valley travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Vale of Kashmir