Star Medical Tours –» Jammu and Kashmir Travel Guide

Welcome to the beautiful nature blessed land of Jammu & Kashmir. Whether a boat ride at the Dal Lake or a visit to the highest Golf Course in the world at Gulmarg or travelling to the delightful Pahalgam, Sonamarg or the serene Leh and Ladakh – a tour to Jammu & Kashmir is overhelming in every way. Explore and cherish the beauty of this wonderland with exclusive tour and travel packages of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir tour is an ideal getaway for all nature-lovers and a paradise for all honeymooners. Come and Enjoy your Jammu & Kashmir travel and relish the magnificent beauty of this heaven on earth.

Strategically located the state of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes the northern most extremity of India. Jammu & Kashmir with its summer and winter capitals at Srinagar and Jammu, respectively, is divided into 3 major and distinct regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty and has often been referred to as the 'Switzerland of the East'. The heart of the area is the fertile Vale of Kashmir (known as The Valley), which lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. Here the climate is mild and the soil well watered. A large part of Jammu & Kashmir state forms part of the Himalayan mountains. A major portion of Jammu & Kashmir State consists of the western Himalayas, which besides many lofty mountain ranges with varying heights of 3000 to 6000 metres and above, also abound in rivers, lakes, passes, glaciers, plateaus and plains. The number of streams, brooks, hill torrents and rivers is also fairly large. The most important rivers in the Jammu & Kashmir are the Indus, Chenab, Jehlum and Ravi, which irrigates the land through out the year. The state of Jammu & Kashmir is geologically constituted of rocks varying from the oldest period of the earth’s history to the youngest present day river and lake deposits. The rich flora of Jammu & Kashmir shelters a large number of rare and endangered species, rare to find elsewhere.

The most magnificent of the Kashmir trees is the Chinar found throughout the valley. This land is a happy combination of the mighty splendour of mountains, of lovely glades and forests. The freshness and the peaceful calm of the atmosphere on these snow-peaked ranges as against the arid heat, din and fatigue of the Sun-baked plains of India, act as a tonic to the body and fills the mind with a feeling of pleasant contrasts. This is the first glimpse the sun-tanned visitor has of the glamour of Kashmir, which is often heard, sung in prose as well as verse. In fact, no other part of the country offers such a lovely sight.

Exotic Cities in Jammu & Kashmir

	Srinagar	Jammu
	Leh	Ladakh
	Gulmarg

Srinagar is a city of great antiquity. Srinagar is the summer state capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is the pride of the beautiful valley of Kashmir. Srinagar is renowned for its simmering lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating on them. It is also known for traditional Kashmiri handicrafts and dry fruits. Located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the northern region of India Srinagar is about 876 kms north of Delhi. The river Jhelum passes through Srinagar city. The weather in Srinagar is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences heavy snowfall in December-February. Srinagar is the place for an aquatic sports enthusiast who are crazy for kayaking, canoeing, water surfing and angling.

Sightseeing at Srinagar -

The Valley of Kashmir : The valley of Kashmir, in which Srinagar is located, is also referred to as being a heaven on earth. It is beauty is so charming that the Mughal emperor Jahangir was so captivated by the beauty of this valley that he exclaimed "Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto", meaning - "If there is a heaven on earth, it's here, it's here, it's here." Srinagar is one very loved tourist destination in India.

The Dal Lake : Dal Lake is a major tourist attraction in Srinagar. Located on the eastern end of the city, the Dal Lake comprises of a series of lakes, including the Nagin Lake some 8 kms from the city center. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains dotting Srinagar from this lake. You can enjoy taking a ride on traditional Kashmiri boats or the Shikaras to discover the intricate network of waterways of this lake.

The Mughal Gardens : The other major attractions of Srinagar city are the well laid out Mughal styled gardens. The Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh are beautiful gardens set to the far eastern side of the Dal Lake. One can take a stroll through these green and attractive gardens and enjoy the waterworks within them.

The Temple of Shankaracharya : The temple of Shankaracharya is another important place to visit in Srinagar. Jaluka, the son of emperor Ashoka, built it in the 3rd century BC.

Best Season to Visit : The best time to visit Srinagar is during summers between April and June. Heavy woolens are required in Srinagar.

Jammu district derives its name from the city of Jammu which besides being the winter capital of the state, is known as the city of temples. It is believed that the city was originally founded by Raja Jamboo Lochan, which came to be known as "Jamboo" after his own name. With the passage of time and due to its frequent use the pronunciation of the name got slightly distorted and the city, came to be known as 'Jammu' as it is called now.

Jammu is a land of grand ancient temples, and beatiful palaces. All nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas, Jammu is justly famous for its temples. Infact it is known as the city of temples and the every fame of it tends to overshadow its palaces, forts, forests and powerful ziarats. Besides, Jammu is also a paradise to those who love - trekking, skiing, and Aero-sports.

Sightseeing at Jammu -

Mata Vaishno Devi Temple : The holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi here attracts more than 4.5 million pilgrims every year. 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 accessible on foot along a 13 kms long well laid footpath. The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati at an altitude of 5,200 ft. holds great significance for the pilgrims.

Raghunath Temple : Situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by a group of other temples, this temple dedicated to Lord Rama is outstanding and unique in Northern India. Work on the temple was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh, founder of the Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir in 1835 AD.

Ranbireshwar temple : Built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1883 AD, Ranbireshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is located on the Shalimar Road near the New Secretariat. It has one central 'Lingam' rising 7.5 ft.upwards.

Amarmahal : Amarmahal is a beautiful palace of red sand stone which stands amidst the most enchanting surroundings of Jammu. From here you will find a scenic view of the Shiwaliks at the north and the beautiful River Tawi, which flows down below.

Bahufort :About 5 kms from Jammu city, nestled on a rock face on the left bank of the river Tawi, this fort is perhaps the oldest fort and edifice in the city. It is said to have been constructed originally by Raja Bahulochan over 3,000 years ago.

Mansar Lake : A beautiful lake fringed by forest-covered hills. Boating facilities are also available here.

Best Season to Visit : Through out the Year.

Gulmarg or "the Meadow of Flowers," is a charming hill station at 2,653 m, situated at a distance of 51 km from Srinagar, amidst tall pines, gigantic firs and the snow-moulded mountains. As the month of spring arrives, the slopes get a carpet of daisies, buttercups, blue bells and other blooms, making the surroundings appealing. The Mughal Emperor is said to have once collected as many as 21 different varieties of flowers at Gulmarg.

With the arrival of winter, Gulmarg is transformed into a Zion for skiing, skating and tobogganing. The resort has a 2,000 m long ropeway and boasts of having a highest golf course in the world. The buses go directly up to Gulmarg in summer and in winter too, provided the road is clear. An 11 km circular walk girdling Gulmarg runs through pine scented woods which offers panoramic views of Naga Parbat, the Harmukh and the sunset peaks in the north.

What To Do In Gulmarg

Trekking : Gulmarg makes an excellent base for trekking in the northern Pir Panjal Range. Nanga Parbat can be seen to the north from several view points, including Khilanmarg, west and over 1,500 ft up the forested hillside from Gulmarg. From a distance, the Pir Panjal appears somewhat rounded, but when you are actually walking up its slopes, you will find that its smoother peaks rise above evergreen clad slopes that seem quite equal in steepness to those of the main Himalayas.

Golf Courses In Gulmarg : Situated at an altitude of 2,650 m, Gulmarg has got the highest green golf course in the world. The layout of the course is quiet striking and the layout is similar to a normal golf course with land slopes and inclines along the complete area of the course, which has a par of 72.

Skiing Adventure In Gulmarg : Gulmarg is also considered among the best skiing resorts in India. Ski enthusiasts can easily find out all required gear and equipments as well as professional ski instructors in Gulmarg, to try out a hand on skiing. The longest ski run in Gulmarg is provide by the Gondola Cable Car, where skiers can swoosh down the slopes from the height of 2, 213 m.

Best Season to Visit : The best time to visit Gulmarg is during summers between April and June.

Location : Leh is located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the extreme north of India.
Tourist Attractions : Buddhist Monasteries, the Leh Palace.
Best Buys : Tibetan handicraft items.
Best Hangouts : The Monasteries
Best Activity : Trekking, Mountaineering, Camping, Water Rafting.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Jammu, Leh, Kargil, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
When to Visit : June To End September

About Leh

Ladakh, a part of Jammu & Kashmir State in north of India consisting of two districts Leh and Kargil. At a distance of 434 kms from Srinagar and 474 kms from Manali, Leh is situated on the banks of the river Indus, at a height of 11,000 feet.

The land of majestic mountains, Leh is a complete beauty in itself. Leh has quite a few amazing places to offer its tourists. The most striking sight of Leh is the group of women, traditionally attired, selling fruits, vegetables and household articles, spinning and knitting, and exchanging gentle banter between themselves and with passers-by.

Leh airport is Ladakh's only link with the outside world for the seven months of the year. Leh is one most frequented destinations for the trekkers in India. Rumbak and Markha offer exciting treks, while Stok Kangri is the best for a climb. One can also go for boating and river running on the Indus.

Major Tourist Attractions in Leh

Leh Palace
Built in the mid of 16th century by King Singe Namgyal, this palace is a distinguished monument and a historical building and is still owned by the royal family. This palace has nine storeys. One part of the palace is occupied by the museum. It is an imposing structure, though in ruins now, situated on a hill and commands a grand view of the Leh town. The building in grand Tibetan architecture is said to have inspired the famous Potala of Lahasa, built half a century later.

The Tsemo Gompa
The Tsemo Gompa or Red Gompa is situated at the north of the city. The left side of its entrance has the portrait of Tashi Namgyal. It has a colossal 2-storey high image of Maitreya, flanked by Avalokitesvara and Manjusri figures.

Soma Gompa
The new Soma Gompa is a new monastery situated at old village. It was built in 1957 to commemorate the 2,500th birth-day of Buddha.

Hemis Gompa
Hemis Gompa is located at a distance of 40 km south of Leh, along a road crossing the Indus. Among the innumerable thankas (paintings on cloth), there is one which is supposed to be the biggest of its kind in existence. The exposition of this tankhas takes place once in eleven years. Every year, in June, a fair (' Mela of Hemis Gompa') takes place at Hemis which is a colourful occasion for the mask dances.

Tiksey
About 25km south of Leh, Tiksey is considered as one of the most imposing monastery in Ladakh. It is a 12-storey monastery painted in red and white and ochre. It has 10 temples surrounded by typical tapering walls. The complex contains numerous stupas, wall paintings, tankas, statues, large pillar engraved with Buddha teachings and swords. The interior of new temple dominated by a giant 15 meters high Buddha figure.

Getting There

Air : Leh - Leh is the main airport for this area. Direct flights link it to Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu. Kargil, Suru and Zanskar valleys - Srinagar and Leh airports are both convenient.
Road : Leh - Srinagar-Leh road is the main route with an over night halt at Kargil. The road is open between mid June and November. Ordinary and deluxe buses of the J&K state road transport corporation regularly ply on this route. Taxis can also be hired at Srinagar for this trip. Leh-Manali-Leh is another road which remains open through out the year.

Accommodation

Leh offers a variety of accommodations to suit almost every pocket or preference. Most hotels are family- run establishments and, as such, the services are more personalised than professional. Hotels are classified into A, B, C and Economy category while Guest Houses fall under Upper, Medium and Economy class.
There are also some Government run Tourist Bungalows located mainly along the Srinagar-Leh road. These offer the best value in the medium range.

Ladakh, the largest of the ten provinces of Jammu and Kashmir is bordered by the Karakorm chain of mountains in the north and Himalayas in the south. Ladakh is the land of towering mountains and Buddhist simplicity. It's beautiful terrains and mountains beckons the adventurous tourist for trekking and mountaineering. The land of jagged peaks and barren landscapes, it is at once alluring and awe-inspiring. Hidden behind this harsh and forbidding facade is an ancient civilization with captivating people. The great Indus river flows right through Ladakh. The province is divided into Leh, the capital, Nubra, Zanskar, lower Ladakh and Rupshu.

Sightseeing at Ladakh

Leh : Leh, The capital of Ladakh since the 14th Century is situated at an altitude of 11000 ft. Leh is also a favourite hiking locale and is known for some of the best hikes in the country. The main attraction is the nine storey Leh Palace (Built by Sing ge Namgyal in 16th century) and Tsemo (Victory Peak) built by Tashi Namgyal. The other places of importance are the Sanskar Monastery, Shanti Stupa Zoravar Fort etc. It is also the main business centre of Ladakh. Leh can be subdivided into four main tourist circuits:

Dha-Hanu : It is at a distance of 150 - 170 kms from Leh and is situated at an altitude of 10000 ft. It is the Land of the "Drok-Pa"an Indo Aryan race. Only two villages Dha & Biama are open for tourists. Their cultural and religious practices are totally different from the rest of Ladakh. Bon-Chos believe in an ancient Pre-Buddhist animist religion known as "Bon-Chos".These people abstained from bathing all their lives saying that " If you wash your self,your luck goes away" but since the last few years this practise is beginning to fade away.It has much to offer to scholars in the field of Ethnology&Social Anthropology.

Central Ladakh :This area around river Indus extends from Upshi to Khaltse. This is a very beautiful area with lots of Monasteries and villages. The capital of Ladakh (Leh) also comes under this area. The major attractions are the nine storey Palace (Leh), the Palace Museum of Stok, Hemis, Thiksey, Chemrey, Phyang, Lamayuru, Spituk, Ridzong, Alchi Monasteries and villages of Basgo, Nimoo, Sanskar etc.

Nubra Valley :Popularly known as the "Ldomra" or the valley of flowers, it is situated at an altitude of about 10000 ft. The major attraction is the world's highest road ('Khardong la' at 18,380 ft). The capital of Nubra, Diskit is 118 km from Leh. It has a beautiful monastery(founded in 1420) on the hilltop just above the village. Seven kms. from Diskit is the village of Hunder which is very famous for double hump camels, found only in Central Asia and Nubra Valley. Other attractions are the villages of Trith, Sumur, Tegar (Samstangling Monastery ) and Panamik (hot springs). Eight kms from Panamik is Ensa Monastery which is 250 years old and accessible only after a trek of 3-4 hours.

Changthang Area :The land of nomad. These tribes are called the "Khampas" or "Chamgpas". There are two race of nomads, one is the 'Ladakhi Nomads' and the other 'Tibetan nomads'. Tibetain nomads wear yak skin and live in movable tents. They can be seen moving around with their herds of yaks, goats, sheep, and cows in search of pasture lands. The area is also famous for its wild life. You may see snow leopards, foxes, wolves wild asses, antelopes, marmots and even some endangered species of birds like the bar headed goose, crested grebe, brahimi ducks, etc.

Zanskar :The Land of Religion, it is noted for its high ranges, fine Gompas and hospitable people. It has the largest number of Gompas in Ladakh region outside the Indus Valley. The land was virtually untouched until recently. It is now a popular destination for adventurous treks. The famous peaks of Nun & Kun are in Zanskar. Padum is the the main habitation and subdivisional headquarter. Nearby are two famous Gompas of Stagrimo & Pibithing. A two hour trek from Padum takes one to Karsha Gompa (16th Century).This is the largest and the wealthiest Gompa of this region. Other interesting Gompas of this region are - Sani (6kms from Padum), Stongdey(18kms), Bardan(12kms) and the Phugtal Gompa.

Suru Valley : The Suru Valley one of the prettiest regions of Ladakh, stretches for 140 kms beyond Kargil to the Penzi La pass, the point of entering into the Zanskar valley. Its verdant hills are intensively cultivated. Enough snow and water during the year sustain two crops annually. The valleys are especially picturesque in spring when they are the Sankoo-Panikhar tract is magnificent. The open valley adorned with undulating alpine meadows strewn with wild flowers, groves of poplars and willows are set against the majestic backdrop of the Himalayan peaks dusted with snow.

Pangong Tso This high salt-water lake, considered to be the highest salt-water lake in the world (certainly in Ladakh!), is at 4300 mtrs in elevation, and is surrounded by mountain peaks over 6500 mtrs high. The lake is extremely long, about 150 km long, but is only a couple of miles (2 km or so) wide -- basically, shaped like a pencil.

Best Season to Visit : June to October.