Kashmir Valley

For other uses, see Kashmir (disambiguation).

Kashmir Valley وادی کشمیر
State division
Shikara boats on Dal Lake
Kashmir Valley (orange bordered) lies in Indian state Jammu & Kashmir
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	6,907,623
• Density	430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Kashmiri, Koshur (in Kashmiri)
Languages
• Official, Main spoken language	Urdu, Kashmiri
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)

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

Kashmir Valley is an elliptical saucer shaped valley located between the Karakoram and the Pir Panjal Range in the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, part of the larger Kashmir region. It is around 135 km long and 32 km wide, and is drained by the Jhelum River. It is the largest Himalayan valley, and along with its surrounding highlands is sometimes called as "Kashmir proper" to distinguish it from the wider region of "Kashmir", i.e., the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir Valley is one of the three administrative divisions of the Jammu and Kashmir state of India. The Kashmir division borders Jammu Division to the south and Ladakh to the east while Line of Control forms its northern and the western border. The division consists of the following districts: Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipore, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Srinagar.

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 has a moderate climate, which 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 fairly dry, 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 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.

• Different seasons and climatic conditions in Kashmir
• 
  Autumn
• 
  Summer
• 
  Winter
• 
  Spring

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. As per 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. 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.

In the first half of the 1st millennium, the Kashmir region became an important centre of Hinduism and later of Buddhism; later still, in the ninth century, Kashmir Shaivism arose. In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Salatin-i-Kashmir or Swati dynasty. For the next five centuries, Muslim monarchs ruled Kashmir, including the Mughals, who ruled from 1526 until 1751, and the Afghan Durrani Empire, which ruled from 1747 until 1820. That year, the Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir. In 1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Kashmir. The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until 1947, when the Maharaja of the princely state signed the Instrument of Accession, joining the Indian Union following which a war broke out between India and the Pakistani dominion. The territory of the state, however, has been the center of a dispute ever since, now administered by three countries: India, Pakistan, and the People's Republic of China. Kashmir valley is administered by India and is about 15,948 Square Kilometres in area which is about 15.73% of total area under Indian control.

Demographics

A mosque in Srinagar

The major ethnic group of Kashmir Valley are Kashmiris and they speak the Kashmiri language. Smaller ethno-linguistic groups include the Gujjars and Bakarwals who mostly live along mountain ranges of the valley. The valley has a Muslim majority population and Islam is practiced by 96.4% of the population with the remaining being Hindus (2.5%), Sikhs (1%), Buddhists and others. Ten districts in the Kashmir valley (Kashmir Division of the Jammu and Kashmir state) had a population of 6,888,475 as per the 2011 census.

The principal spoken languages in the valley are Kashmiri and Urdu, with Urdu being the official language. Many speakers of these languages also know English as a second language.

Districts

See also: List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir

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 Handwara, Sopore, Baramulla, Anantnag and Shopian.

Politics

The major political parties in the region are the National Conference, the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party and the Congress. 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 to Jammu 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 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 the major Hindu shrine Amarnath Temple.

Before insurgency intensified in 1989, tourism formed an important part of the Kashmiri economy. As a result, 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 India. 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. Other tourist places include Sonamarg, Kokernag, Verinag, Aharbal and Semthan-Top .

Hill stations

Sind River at Nilgrar Sonamarg

Lidder River flowing through Pahalgam Valley

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

Mughal gardens

Nishat Bagh

Shalimar Garden

• Nishat Bagh
• Shalimar Bagh
• Chashme Shahi
• Achabal

Lakes

• Dal Lake
• Gadsar Lake
• Gangabal Lake
• Krishansar Lake
• Manasbal Lake
• Nundkol Lake
• Satsar Lake
• Sheshnag Lake
• Tarsar Lake
• Vishansar Lake
• Wular Lake

Mountaineering

This Himalayan valley provides a base to climb some of the challenging Himalayan peaks. These peaks were 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 Peak (15,502 ft (4,725 metres))
• Mahadev or Mahadev Peak(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 and through NH 1B that passes through kashtwar,sinthan pass, Kokernag ,Akingam , and Achabal

Air

Srinagar is the main airport in Kashmir valley and has scheduled flights from Jammu, Leh, Mumbai, 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 further links the Kashmir Valley to Banihal across the Pir Panjal mountains through the new 11.215 km (7 mile) long Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel or Banihal rail tunnel from 26 June 2013. Banihal railway station will be linked 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.

See also

• Downtown Srinagar

External links

• Kashmir Valley travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Vale of Kashmir