Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory that mostly resides in the great Himalayas and is the northernmost region in the Indian Subcontinent. Often denoted as the crown of India, the territory of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the worth visiting tourist destinations in India. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir used to visit Kashmir during the hot Delhi summers. On one of his visits to this territory, he stated, “If there is heaven on Earth, It’s Here!”. The beauty of this valley has also impressed many foreign visitors and the famous German philologist, Max Muller on his trip to Jammu and Kashmir depicted it as the “Paradise on Earth!”.
Enclaved in the mighty Himalayan mountains, Jammu and Kashmir have some of the most magnificent places to visit. Some of the most visited tourist destinations in this state include Kashmir Valley, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Mughal Gardens, Pahalgam, Jammu and the fascinating Dal lake. The territory of Jammu and Kashmir is considered a major army sensitive area and thus special permit is essential for non-Indians while visiting several restricted areas.
Major Cities in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar: This city is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir during summers and shares this honour with the city of Jammu, which is the winter capital of this state. Situated in the valleys of Kashmir, the city of Srinagar is one of the most beautiful places to visit with the beautiful landscapes, gardens, lakes, houseboats and is often denoted as the “Venice of the East”. Srinagar is one of the oldest known cities and dates back its presence to the 3rd century BC. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar include Dal Lake (magnificent lake with several houseboats and shikaras), Mughal Gardens (gardens built by Mughals using the Islamic style architecture featuring pools, fountains, and canals), Nishant Baug (literary means the garden of joy, was built by Asif Khan, the father-in-law of Shah Jahan in the year 1633), Shalimar Baug (built-in 1619 by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his wife Nur Jahan), and Sher Garhi Palace (former residence of the Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir). The other major attractions here include Hari Parbat, Pari Mahal, Sankaracharya Mandir, The Hazratlbal Shrine, and Nagin Lake.
Pahalgam: Also known as the “Shepherd’s Village”, Pahalgam is one of the major tourist attracted destinations of Jammu and Kashmir. The place is a favourite attraction for its snow cliff mountains, enchanting deep valleys, beautiful rivers, and various adventure sports that are conducted here. The major tourist destinations in Pahalgam include Baisaran (awesome landscape with a stream flowing through the meadows and pine trees), Amarnath Temple (one of the famous Hindu Pilgrim destinations), Shikargha (wildlife reserve), Betab Valley (beautiful landscape and famous for several film shootings), Tullian Lake (an eye-catching territory with a lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains), Mamal Temple (an 11th Century temple built by King Jayasimha dedicated to Lord Shiva), Aru (famous for adventure sports such as trekking), Aishmuqam (Shrine of Sufi Saint Baba Zaina-ud-din Wali), etc. The other attractions here include the Sun Temple built during 699-739 AD and the Avantipur Temple built during 855-883 AD.
Jammu: The city of Jammu is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The city is a major tourist attraction, as it holds some of the most magnificent tourist and pilgrim destinations. Some of the must-visit destinations in Jammu include Vaishno Devi shrine (one of the most important pilgrim destinations dedicated to Hindu goddess Mahakali, Mahasaraswati, and Mahalakshmi), Purmandal (also known as Chhota Kashi, this place has several ancient temples of Lord Shiva), Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary (home for Indian mynah, chakor, Cheer Pheasant, Blur Rock Pigeon, Red Jungle Fowl, and many more), Mansar Lake (fascinating lake adorned with forest-covered hills), Bahu Fort (one of the oldest forts in the state is located on the banks of river Tawi), and Raghunath Temple (ancient temple with the inner walls covered with gold sheets). The other attractions here include Peer Kho Cave, Shivkhori, and Machail Mata.
Gulmarg: One of the well-known hill stations in northern India, Gulmarg is one of the worth visiting places. The place is named Gulmarg, as it is blessed with grassy hills and colourful flowers. The several attractions in Gulmarg include Khilanmarg (terrific view of meadows carpeted with flowers), Alpather Lake (a beautiful lake situated at the foothills of Apharwat hills), Ningli Nallah (a pretty mountain stream that flows from the Apharwat hills), Ferozpore Nallah (a stream that meets the Bahan river and famously known as the “water’s meet”), Shrine of Baba Reshi (a tomb of Sufi Saint named Baba Reshi), Golf Course (one of the world’s highest golf course and a clubhouse), Gondola Lift (breathtaking lift from high above Gulmarg through pine-clad slopes), and the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve (home for red fox, musk deer, black bear, etc.).
Must-Visit Tourist Places in Jammu and Kashmir
Sonamarg: This place can be well described as the meadows with utter silence and flower carpeted fields. This place was an ancient gateway to the silk route and is one of the major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir today. Some of the interesting points to see here are Sirbal Peak, Kolhoi Peak, Machoi Glacier, Amarnath Peak, and Nallah Sindh, which is the largest tributary of the river Jehlum and the beautiful series of snowy mountain ranges. The other attractions here include some of the most beautiful lakes including the Vishansar, Gangabal, Gadsar, and Krishansar. Sonamarg is a beautiful hill station and a worth visiting place in this state.
Raghunath Temple: This temple has one of the largest temple complexes in North India and was built by Maharaja Gulab Singh during 1835-1860. The Raghunath temple is dedicated to Lord Rama as the presiding deity along with several other temples dedicated to other Hindu gods and goddesses. Some of the major attractions of this temple include gigantic statues, numerous Saligrams, several lingams, various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and many more. One can also get to see several depictions of Rama Lila and Krishna Lila in the temple paintings here.
Bahu Fort: The fort is said to be around 3000 years old and was built by Raja Bahulochan of Kashmir. It was later refurbished in the 19th century by the Dogra Rulers. The fort is one of the worth visiting sites in this state and possesses a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali. The surrounding areas of this fort have a well laid Bhave-ki-Bahu park, which is developed similar to that of Mughal gardens. The fort has thick walls that are made out of sandstone, lime and brick motor. Some of the major attractions of this fort include water tanks, eight octagonal towers, an ammunition store, an underground chamber, secret exits, an assembly hall, and many more.
Mubarak Mandi Palace: The monument dates back to 1824 and was built with a combination of Rajasthani, European, and Mughal architectural designs. This well-planned palace includes several courtrooms, Darbar Hall Complex, Toshakhana Palace, the Pink Palace, Hawa Mahal, Royal Courts Buildings, Charak Palace, Gol Ghar Complex, Rani Charak Palace, and Nawa Mahal. Today, the palace is occupied by several government offices and the Dogra Art Museum. The Mubarak Mandi Palace is one of the must-visit destinations in this state.
Jammu and Kashmir have always been favourite destinations for tourists all over the world. People often dream of visiting this dreamland at least once in their lifetime. The magnificent scenic beauty, sky touching glaciers, never-ending deep valleys, holy pilgrim destinations, heritage sites, and ancient monuments satisfy all the needs of a complete holiday destination. One must definitely visit this place to experience this “Paradise on Earth”.
