"Life is not always what one wants it to be, but to make the best of it as it is, is the only way of being happy." ~ Jennie J Churchill

Destinations


Jammu and Kashmir
History

The culture of Kashmir was preserved for many centuries and reached a high point during the time of the Great Utpala and Karota dynasties. For a period of over a thousand years the country despite its exploitation, was independent and flourishing.

Ancient & Medieval
Reliable sources trace the history of Kashmir only to the seventh century, although it is known that in the second century, Kashmir was annexed by emperor Kanishka and became a part of the Kushan Empire, later a part of China. The culture of Kashmir was preserved for many centuries and reached a high point during the time of the Great Utpala and Karota dynasties. For a period of over a thousand years the country despite its exploitation, was independent and flourishing.

Against this backdrop, Kashmir was converted to Islam in the early part of the 14th century. It was a peaceful conversion, with many of the followers of Shah Hamadan, the noted Persian leader, seeking refuge in the valley. Zain-ul-Ab-ul-Din, an enlightened Islamic ruler, introduced many of the handicrafts for which Kashmir is now famous, including carpet weaving and papier-mâché.

The Mughal emperor, Akbar, subdued Kashmir in 1585 and upgraded the administration by introducing more equitable systems of land distribution. He laid the foundations of the city of Srinagar at the base of the Hari Parbat Hill, and his son Jahangir and grandson Shah Jahan were responsible for developing the famous gardens there, including those at Nishat and Shalimar, on the banks of the Dal Lake.

With the gradual decline of the Mughal rule, the Afghans established their rule over Kashmir in 1752. The brutally oppressive Afghan occupation was followed by Sikh rule from neighbouring ~Punjab~. They constructed the impressive fort on top of Hari Parbat above the old city.

More on Kashmir
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Geography
People
Economy
Festivals
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Climate

Places to Visit
Drass
Gulmarg
Jammu
Pahalgam
Sonamarg
Srinagar
Ladakh
More on Ladakh
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Kashmir
Journey to Ladakh

Adventure
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Following the treaty of Amritsar in 1846, Kashmir and the adjoining regions of Jammu, Baltistan and Ladakh became part of the Maharaja's state of Jammu and Kashmir. Four Dogra Maharajas ruled Kashmir during this period. In May each year they moved from Jammu to Srinagar to conduct their summer administration. During this time under a peculiar relationship with the Dogra rulers, the British assumed control over the state's external affairs, while the Maharajas were able to determine their own domestic policy.

 

Kashmir was converted to Islam in the early part of the 14th century. It was a peaceful conversion.

Since the Britishers were barred from owning land in Kashmir, a number of houseboats developed along the banks of the Jhelum River. The British presence also revitalised an interest in Kashmir's history among various scholars, such as Auriel Stein, who translated the Rajatarangini, originally completed in the 12th century, which became the definitive guide to Kashmir's early history.

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In 1930, a Quit Kashmir movement led by Sheikh Abdullah evolved against the Maharaja and drew considerable support from the local people, the majority of whom were Muslim and had little in common with the Hindu Maharaja.

Post Independence
The British announcement of impending independence followed by partition in 1947 brought the Kashmir situation to a head. Though Kashmir was culturally closer to Pakistan and economically to India, Maharaj Hari Singh, who was at the time the ruler, was not interested in joining either camp. When armed Pathan tribals from Pakistan invaded the Kashmir valley, however, he turned to India for help. In the military conflict that followed, one third of Kashmir's territory was occupied by Pakistan and the rest by India. In 1949, Pakistan and India defined a cease-fire line in the region that, despite outbreaks of fighting between the two sides in 1965 and 1971, has remained as the "line of control" between the Pakistani and Indian controlled sections of the region. In 1962, China occupied about 64,000 sq. kms in Ladakh known as Aksai Chin. The formal ratification of Kashmir's accession to India in 1954, kept Pakistan smouldering and resulted in two full scale wars in 1965 and 1971, and to the recent '99 armed conflict in ~Kargil~ which resulted in the loss of 1000 lives, without achieving much.

The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir retains a special status with the national government as defined by the Indian constitution. While the rest of India's states follow this constitution, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has its own constitution (adopted in 1956). Nevertheless, India's national (union) government possesses direct legislative powers in defense, external affairs, and communications in the state and indirectly deals with citizenship, Supreme Court jurisdiction, and emergency powers. The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has a governor who is appointed by the president of India. Executive power is vested in the elected chief minister and the Council of Ministers, and there is also a bicameral legislature.

 

Following the treaty of Amritsar in 1846, Kashmir and the adjoining regions of Jammu, Baltistan and Ladakh became part of the Maharaja's state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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In 1975, Sheikh Abdullah took charge as the Chief Minister of the State, and after his death, his son assumed office. The 1987 accord between Rajiv Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah gave the National Conference and the Congress a common political platform, but was not taken too well by the people of the state. Separatist groups demanding the autonomy of Kashmir emerged. After imposition of President's rule in the early 1990's, the state is back to an elected form of government from 1996. The situation has improved considerably since then, but the state is far from being back to its erstwhile glory as a premier chosen destination to visit.

Compiled by Puneet Sachdeva


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