The '''Kashmir Valley''', also known as the '''Vale of Kashmir''', is a valley in the portion of the [[Kashmir]] region administeredby India. The valley is bounded on the southwest by the [[Pir Panjal Range]] and on the northeast by the main [[Himalayas]] range. It is approximately 135 km long and 32 km wide, and drained by the [[Jhelum River]].<ref name="britannica.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Vale-of-Kashmir|title=Vale of Kashmir {{!}} valley, India|access-date=2016-07-08}}</ref>
The '''Kashmir Valley''', also known as the '''Vale of Kashmir''', is a valley in the portion of the [[Kashmir]] region in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India. The valley is bounded on the southwest by the [[Pir Panjal Range]] and on the northeast by the main [[Himalayas]] range. It is approximately 135 km long and 32 km wide, and drained by the [[Jhelum River]].<ref name="britannica.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Vale-of-Kashmir|title=Vale of Kashmir {{!}} valley, India|access-date=2016-07-08}}</ref>
'''Kashmir division''' is one of the three administrative divisions of the Indian state of [[Jammu and Kashmir]]. 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/south_asia/03/kashmir_future/html/default.stm |title=In Depth-the future of Kashmir |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date= |accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref>
'''Kashmir division''' is one of the three administrative divisions of the Indian state of [[Jammu and Kashmir]]. 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/south_asia/03/kashmir_future/html/default.stm |title=In Depth-the future of Kashmir |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date= |accessdate=16 April 2013}}</ref>
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[[File:Sun temple martand indogreek.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''General view of Temple and Enclosure of [[Surya|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.]]
[[File:Sun temple martand indogreek.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''General view of Temple and Enclosure of [[Surya|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.]]
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.<ref>Basham, A. L. (2005) ''The wonder that was India'', Picador. Pp. 572. {{ISBN|0-330-43909-X}}, p. 110.</ref> In 1339, [[Shah Mir]] became the first [[Muslim]] ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the ''Salatin-i-Kashmir'' or [[Shah Miri dynasty|Swati]] dynasty.<ref name=imp-gazet-history>''Imperial Gazetteer of India, volume 15''. 1908. Oxford University Press, Oxford and London. pp. 93–95.</ref> 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 1819.<ref name=imp-gazet-history/> That year, the [[Sikhs]], under [[Ranjit Singh]], annexed Kashmir.<ref name=imp-gazet-history/> 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, 1846|Treaty of Amritsar]], the Raja of Jammu, [[Gulab Singh]], became the ruler of a new State of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. The rule of his descendants, under the [[British paramountcy|paramountcy]] (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until 1947. In that year, facing a rebellion in the western districts of the state as well as an invasion by [[Pashtun tribes]] instigated by the [[Dominion of Pakistan]],<ref>{{citation |first=Shuja |last=Nawaz |title=The First Kashmir War Revisited |journal=India Review |volume=7 |number=2 |pp=115–154 |DOI=10.1080/14736480802055455 |date=May 2008 |subscription=yes}}</ref> the Maharaja of the [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|princely state]] signed the [[Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)|Instrument of Accession]], joining the [[Indian Union|Dominion of India]]. Subsequently, he transferred power to a popular government headed by [[Sheikh Abdullah]].
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.<ref>Basham, A. L. (2005) ''The wonder that was India'', Picador. Pp. 572. {{ISBN|0-330-43909-X}}, p. 110.</ref> In 1339, [[Shah Mir]] became the first [[Muslim]] ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the ''Salatin-i-Kashmir'' or [[Shah Miri dynasty|Swati]] dynasty.<ref name=imp-gazet-history>''Imperial Gazetteer of India, volume 15''. 1908. Oxford University Press, Oxford and London. pp. 93–95.</ref> 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 1819.<ref name=imp-gazet-history/> That year, the [[Sikhs]], under [[Ranjit Singh]], annexed Kashmir.<ref name=imp-gazet-history/> 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, 1846|Treaty of Amritsar]], the Raja of Jammu, [[Gulab Singh]], became the ruler of a new State of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. The rule of his descendants, under the [[British paramountcy|paramountcy]] (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until 1947. In that year, facing an invasion by [[Pashtun tribes]] which was actively supported by the [[Dominion of Pakistan]],<ref>{{citation |first=Shuja |last=Nawaz |title=The First Kashmir War Revisited |journal=India Review |volume=7 |number=2 |pp=115–154 |DOI=10.1080/14736480802055455 |date=May 2008 |subscription=yes}}</ref> the Maharaja of the [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|princely state]] signed the [[Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)|Instrument of Accession]], joining the [[Indian Union|Dominion of India]]. Subsequently, he transferred power to a popular government headed by [[Sheikh Abdullah]].
Following this, a [[First Kashmir War|war]] ensued between India and Pakistan. The territory of the state, however, has been the centre of a [[Kashmir conflict|dispute]] ever since, now administered by threecountries:India, Pakistan, and the People's Republic of China, the latter having taken control of [[Aksai Chin]] in 1964.
Following this, a [[First Kashmir War|war]] ensued between India and Pakistan. The territory of the state, however, has been the centre of a [[Kashmir conflict|dispute]] ever since, now administered by India and illegally occupied in part by Pakistan and the People's Republic of China, the latter having taken control of [[Aksai Chin]] in 1964.
Kashmir valley is however fully under the control of India and is about 15,948 Square Kilometres in area which is about 15.73% of the [[Jammu and Kashmir|total area under Indian control]].
Kashmir valley is however fully under Indian administration as part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is about 15,948 Square Kilometres in area which is about 15.73% of the [[Jammu and Kashmir|total area under Indian control]].
==Demographics==
==Demographics==
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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]].
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 [[pilgrim]]s visit holy shrine of [[Amarnath Temple|Amarnath]] every year and this significantly benefits the state's economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200709130350.htm |work=Online edition of The Hindu, dated 13 September 2007 |title=Amarnath Board to study yatra impact on Kashmir economy |accessdate=9 June 2012 |date=13 September 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109091413/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200709130350.htm |archivedate= 9 November 2012 |df= }}</ref> But this yatra has put Kashmir on the verge of ecological disaster.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/amarnath-yatra-environmental-disaster-making-101534702.html|title=Amarnath Yatra An environmental disaster in the making| work=Online edition of Yahoo, dated 8 August 2011}}</ref>
Before terrorism 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 [[pilgrim]]s visit holy shrine of [[Amarnath Temple|Amarnath]] every year and this significantly benefits the state's economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200709130350.htm |work=Online edition of The Hindu, dated 13 September 2007 |title=Amarnath Board to study yatra impact on Kashmir economy |accessdate=9 June 2012 |date=13 September 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109091413/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200709130350.htm |archivedate= 9 November 2012 |df= }}</ref> But this yatra has put Kashmir on the verge of ecological disaster.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/amarnath-yatra-environmental-disaster-making-101534702.html|title=Amarnath Yatra An environmental disaster in the making| work=Online edition of Yahoo, dated 8 August 2011}}</ref>
Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903181221.htm |work=Online edition of The Hindu, dated 18 March 2009 |title=Foreign tourists flock Kashmir |accessdate=9 June 2012 |date=18 March 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109091716/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903181221.htm |archivedate= 9 November 2012 |df= }}</ref> [[Gulmarg]], one of the most popular [[ski resort]] destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green [[golf course]].<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119332713217271534?mod=googlenews_wsj Fairway to Heaven – WSJ.com]</ref> However, with the decrease in violence in the state has boosted the states economy specifically tourism.<ref>[http://sify.com/news/Tourists-arrival-gives-boost-to-J-K-economy-news-jm3v4cihjai.html Tourists arrival gives boost to J-K economy]</ref> It was reported that 736,000 tourists including 23,000 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2010.
Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903181221.htm |work=Online edition of The Hindu, dated 18 March 2009 |title=Foreign tourists flock Kashmir |accessdate=9 June 2012 |date=18 March 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109091716/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200903181221.htm |archivedate= 9 November 2012 |df= }}</ref> [[Gulmarg]], one of the most popular [[ski resort]] destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green [[golf course]].<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119332713217271534?mod=googlenews_wsj Fairway to Heaven – WSJ.com]</ref> However, with the decrease in violence in the state has boosted the states economy specifically tourism.<ref>[http://sify.com/news/Tourists-arrival-gives-boost-to-J-K-economy-news-jm3v4cihjai.html Tourists arrival gives boost to J-K economy]</ref> It was reported that 736,000 tourists including 23,000 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2010.
Kashmir valley seen from a satellite. Snow-capped peaks of the Pir Panjal Range (left in the image; southwest in compass) and the Himalayas (right in image; northeast in compass) flank the valley
The Kashmir Valley, also known as the Vale of Kashmir, is a valley in the portion of the Kashmir region in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India. The valley is bounded on the southwest by the Pir Panjal Range and on the northeast by the main Himalayas range. It is approximately 135 km long and 32 km wide, and drained by the Jhelum River.[3]
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.
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.[9] In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Salatin-i-Kashmir or Swati dynasty.[10] 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 1819.[10] That year, the Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir.[10] 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 ruler of a new State of Jammu and Kashmir. The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until 1947. In that year, facing an invasion by Pashtun tribes which was actively supported by the Dominion of Pakistan,[11] the Maharaja of the princely state signed the Instrument of Accession, joining the Dominion of India. Subsequently, he transferred power to a popular government headed by Sheikh Abdullah.
Following this, a war ensued between India and Pakistan. The territory of the state, however, has been the centre of a dispute ever since, now administered by India and illegally occupied in part by Pakistan and the People's Republic of China, the latter having taken control of Aksai Chin in 1964.
Kashmir valley is however fully under Indian administration as part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and is about 15,948 Square Kilometres in area which is about 15.73% of the total area under Indian control.
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 97.16% of the population with the remaining being Hindus (1.84%), Sikhs (0.88%), Buddhists (0.11%) and others.[5]
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.[12]
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.[14] 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 16 °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.
Different seasons and climatic conditions in 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 terrorism 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.[15] But this yatra has put Kashmir on the verge of ecological disaster.[16]
Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India.[17]Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green golf course.[18] However, with the decrease in violence in the state has boosted the states economy specifically tourism.[19] It was reported that 736,000 tourists including 23,000 foreigners visited Kashmir in 2010.
Other tourist places include Sonamarg, Kokernag, Verinag, Aharabal and Semthan-Top.
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.[20]
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 (kohlrabi greens), 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.
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 Sinthan pass and Kishtwar.
Srinagar is the main airport in Kashmir valley and has scheduled flights from Jammu, Leh, Mumbai, Chandigarh and New Delhi. 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. Transport within the valley is predominantly by road.Other airports are in Udhampur, Awantipora, Leh and Jammu. Another airport is proposed in Anantnag.
^"Foreign tourists flock Kashmir". Online edition of The Hindu, dated 18 March 2009. 18 March 2009. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)