Monday, April 9, 2007

Travel and tourism in jammu kashmir

Map of Jammu Kashmir



Kashmir




Kashmir Hub invites you to Jammu and Kashmir, the crowning glory of India. India's northernmost state and crown of India, Kashmir is a Paradise regained. Kashmir is so precious, no outsider is allowed to own land here.



Experience the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir with Kashmir Hub. The state has three regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Each region is beautiful in its own way. Nature has blessed Kashmir with incredible beauty. Stay in luxury houseboats on the beautiful Dal Lake in Srinagar, go skiing in Gulmarg and Patnitop, view the majestic Himalayan peaks, see Chinar trees turn russet in autumn, and enjoy a holiday in Kashmir with Kashmir Hub.





See the vibrant colors of the flowers in the gardens of Kashmir with Kashmir Hub and understand why Jahangir, the Mughal Emperor said, "If there is a Paradise on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here." Experience a trip to a paradise called Kashmir, with Kashmir Hub.

Jammu



Jammu, the second largest town in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and is situated 290-km from capital city of Srinagar on the south-eastern slopes of the Shiwalik range. In winter it becomes the headquarters of the Jammu & Kashmir administration and many Kashmiris move here for the winter because the temperature drops.



The climate is one of opposites: while in summer time the heat builds upto breaking point in the foothills, people of Ladakh and Kashmir wait for the snow to melt.on the high passes. From October onwards, Jammu becomes a much more pleasant destination. However, the best time to enjoy vale of Kashmir and the adventures of Ladakh region is between the months of May and September.





Hotals in kashmir
Hotel Intercontinental
Hotel Broadway
Centaur Lake View Hotel
Hotel Heevan
Hotel Pahalgam
Hotel Sonmarg

Gurkha Houseboat



Kashmir is a land where myriad holiday ideas are realized. In winter, when snow carpets the mountains, there is skiing, tobogganing, sledge-riding, etc. along the gentle slopes.





In spring and summer, the honey-dewed orchards, rippling lakes and blue skies beckon every soul to sample the many delights the mountains and valleys have to offer. Golfing at 2,700 m above the sea, water-skiing in the lakes and angling for prized rainbow trout, or simply drifting down the willow fringed alleys of lakes in shikaras and living in gorgeous houseboats are some of the most favoured ones.

Srinagar


The summer capital of and Kashmir Srinagar (1,768 metres) is 900 km north of Delhi via Pathankot, and Jammu.Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The





Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.



Dal lake




The Dal is famous not only for its beauty, but for its vibrance, because it sustains within its periphery, a life that is unique anywhere in the world. The houseboat and Shikara communities have lived for centuries on the Dal, and so complete is their infrastructure on the lake, that they never have to step on land! Doctors, tailors, bakers- one can see them all in tiny wooden shops on the lake, near picturesque vegetable gardens and acres of lotus gardens



Nagin Lake



Nagin Lake, which is usually thought of as a separate lake, is also divided from Dal Lake only by a causeway. The causeways are mostly suitable for walkers and bicycles only so they make a very pleasant way of seeing the lake without having to worry about traffic or Shikaras.

Sonamarg








Sonamarg is 84 km from Srinagar along the Srinagar - Leh Highway at an altitude of 2740 metres. The river Sindh making the valley quite captivating shapes the town. Known as the meadow of gold strewn with the alpine flowers and surrounded by towering mountains; it is the most beautiful part of Kashmir.



The Shankaracharya Temple, provides excellent views of the valley of Kashmir. Other places of tourist attractions are the Mughal Gardens of Shalimar where flowers, fountains, streams can be seen as well as the beautiful Mosque of Hazrathal. Pahalgam is a pleasant little, single street town full of streams. The site of the start to the shrine of Amarnath begins here. Gulmarg also has great scenic beauty to offer.

Pahalgam






This place is around 96 kms from Srinagar, heralded by gushing, silvery streams of ice - water and by densely wooded mountains. Pahalgam appears round the corner against a background of mountains and glistering glaciers with streams rushing past. The place is quite famous as the starting point of Amarnath yatra. Pahalgam is the starting point for many trekking trails, such as to the Kolohoi Glacier, Amarnath, Zanskar and Kargil.

Gulmarg



The large meadow of Gulmarg is 52 kms southwest of Srinagar. The name means meadow of flowers and it is also an excellent base for trekking, ideal for adventure seekers. In winter it turns into India's premier skiing resort.

MUGHAL GARDENS

Kashmir was a favourite of the Mughal emperors who visited it as often as they could. Cool and refreshing after the plains of North India where the business of governance kept them, they planted gardens with stepped terraces and flowing watercourses. When they rested in their gardens, they dreamt they were in paradise.

Leh



Leh is a beautiful barren desert situated at 3,505 meters above sea level in lap of the Great Himalayas. Leh is the main tourist gateway, its the largest town in the Ladakh region. It is ideal destination for nature lovers and adventure freaks. The main highlights includes the breathtaking landscaping, the enchanting rives, snowcapped mountains complimenting the blue sky, time stopping silence of the desert, temperature below zero and Ladakh festival, in short nature's untouched beauty and incredibly attractive. Leh has so many monuments, monasteries, great options for trekking and mountaineering, river rafting, horse riding and polo.

Katra


Katra Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from Jammu, serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, which is approachable on foot along a 13 kms long well laid footpath. Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to the holy shrine.



The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati (alt: 5,200 ft.) has been a beacon of faith and fulfilment to millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great significance for the pilgrims. The best time to travel Katra is between July & March.


Kashmir Houseboats





The romantic setting of the lake in Kashmir together with the royal setting of the houseboats create magic. The best activity while on the houseboat in Kashmir would be to sit in the balcony and enjoy the multi hues of natural and human life pass by. The view from the houseboat keeps changing with the season too. There are the awe aspiring mountains of the Pir Panjal (also spelt as Panchal) and the majestic mountains of Himalayas. In winter the fun doubles when the snow covered surrounding takes over. The waters of the lake are mesmerizing as it is.

Each houseboat has anything between two and four bedrooms in it with attached bathrooms and a common sitting and dining room. The charges of a houseboat always include all meals and a certain number of crossings by shikara to and from the houseboat. Houseboats offer far more personalized service than hotels because of the far higher host guest ratio.


By Road
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National Highway 1-A, connecting Srinagar with Jammu, is a good, all-weather road with several sharp inclines and hairpin bends. It is maintained by the Border Roads Organization (BRO), which clears the road of any obstructions resulting from natural causes like landslides and heavy snowfall. The famous Jawahar Tunnel that connects Jammu with the Kashmir Valley across the Pir Panjal range falls en route.




By Rail
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The nearest railhead for Srinagar is Jammu Tawi (305 kms) where trains arrive from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai, Kanyakumari, Ahmedabad, etc. As with flights, train bookings have to be made well in advance. During the holiday season, additional trains operate to and from various parts of the country.

By Air
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Indian Airlines operate regular daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi, Mumbai and Jammu. They leave from Delhi directly, from Delhi via Jammu, and from Bombay via New Delhi and Jammu. Jet Airways also operate daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi as well as Jammu. Indian Airlines has its city office in the Tourist Reception Centre, while the Jet Airways office is close by.

1 comment:

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