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Area : 2,22,236 sq km
Population : 10,069,987
Capital : Srinagar (Summer),
Jammu (Winter)
Principal Languages : Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri,
Pahari, Punjabi, Ladakhi, Balti, Gojri and Dadri
According to the most popular legend that is
also recorded in
Rajtarangani and Nilmat Purana,
two most authoritative books, Kashmir was once a
large lake and it was Kashyap Rishi who drained
it off the water, making it a beautiful abode.
But geologists have their own theory, which says
that geographical changes made way for the
outflow of water by subsidence of the mountain
at Khadianayar, Baramulla and thus emerged the
Valley of Kashmir, the paradise on earth. Ashoka
introduced Buddhism to Kashmir in the 3rd
century B.C., which was later strengthened by
Kanishka. Huns got the control of the valley in
the early 6th century. The Valley regained
freedom in 530 AD but soon came under the rule
of the Ujjain Empire. After the decline of the
Vikramaditya dynasty, the valley had its own
rulers. There was a synthesis of Hindu and
Buddhist cultures. Lalitaditya (697-738 AD)
extended his rule up to Bengal in the east,
Konkan in the south, Turkistan in the northwest
and Tibet in the northeast. Considered as the
most famous Hindu ruler, Lalitaditya was known
for constructing beautiful buildings. Islam came
to Kashmir during 13th and 14th century AD.
Zain-ul-Abedin (1420-70) was the most famous
Muslim ruler, who came to Kashmir when the Hindu
king Sinha Dev fled before the Tatar invasion.
Later Chaks overran Haider Shah, son of
Zain-ul-Abedin. They continued to rule till 1586
when Akbar conquered Kashmir. In 1752, Kashmir
passed on from the feeble control of the Mughal
emperor of the time to Ahmed Shah Abdali of
Afghanistan. The Valley was ruled by the Pathans
for 67 years.
The name of Jammu figures in the Mahabharata. Recent
findings of Harappan remains and artifacts of
Mauryan, Kushan and Gupta periods at Akhnoor
have added new dimensions to its ancient
character. The land of Jammu was divided into 22
hill principalities. Raja Maldev, one of the
Dogra rulers, conquered many territories to
consolidate his kingdom. Raja Ranjit Dev ruled
over Jammu from 1733 to 1782. His successors
were weak, and thus Maharaja Ranjit Singh
annexed the territory to Punjab. He later handed
over Jammu to Raja Gulab Singh, a scion of the
old Dogra ruling family, who had grown powerful
among Ranjit Singh's governors and had annexed
almost the whole Jammu region. The State was
governed by Dogra rulers till 1947, when the
Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of
Accession in favour of the Indian Union on 26
October, 1947.
Jammu and
Kashmir is situated between 32° -15' and 37°
-05' north latitude and 72° -35' and 83° -20'
longitude East. Geographically, the State can be
divided into four zones. First, the mountainous
and semi mountainous plain commonly known as
Kandi belt, the second, hills including Shivalik
ranges, the third mountains of Kashmir Valley
and Pir Panchal range and the fourth is Tibetan
tract of Ladakh and Kargil. Geographically and
culturally, the state has three district regions
- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Handicrafts,
being the traditional industry of the State, has
been receiving priority attention of the
Government in view of its large employment base
and expert potential, paper-machie, wood
carving, carpets, shawl-making, embroidery,
etc., are among Kashmir's exquisite handicrafts.
This industry, particularly the carpets earn
substantial foreign exchange. The handicrafts
sector provides employment to about 3.40 lakh
artisans. The number of industrial units has
gone up. The Rs 19 crore Export Promotion
Industrial Park has been established at
Kartholi, Jammu. A similar Park is being set up
at Ompora, Budgam. Jammu has Urban Haats while a
similar Haat is being commissioned in Srinagar.
Software Technology park involving Rs 6.50 crore
has been commissioned at Ragreth Srinagar.
About 80 per
cent population of the State depends on
agriculture. Paddy, wheat and maize are the
major crops. Barley, bajra and jowar are
cultivated in some parts. Gram is grown in
Ladakh. The area under orchards is 242 lakh
hectatres. The State produces fruit worth Rs
2,000 crore annually including export of walnuts
worth Rs 120 crore. Jammu and Kashmir State has
been declared as Agri Export Zone for apple and
walnuts. Market Intervention Scheme has also
been launched for improving quality fruit for
export by
ensuing proper grading.
The horticulture sector generates employment
for 25 lakh people directly or indirectly.
Top priotiry has
been accorded to power sector with great thrust
to tap State's vast hydroelectric potential
estimated at 20,000 MW.
New policy announced to promote private
invesment in small hydroelectric projects upto
25 MW. Seven hydel projects with generating
capacity of 2798 MW have been given to NHPC for
execution. The State’s total requirement met by
purchasing power from national grid.
The State's
literacy rate is 54.46 per cent as per 2001
census, with rural literacy of 48.22 per cent
and urban 72.17 per cent. Male literacy is
estimated at 67.75 per cent and female at 41.82
per cent. There are five Universities and 41
Colleges, including 8 in private sector.
Roads: The
road length maintained by PWD in the State has
reached to 15,012 km.
Railways:
At present, rail link extends up to Jammu
only. Work on Jammu- Udhampur railway line has
been completed. Work for extension of railway
line to Srinagar and Barmulla has been taken up.
Udhampur-Katra and Qazigund-Baramulla Rail link
project has been taken up as national project
which is likely to be completed by 2007.
Aviation:
Srinagar, Jammu and Leh are the major airports
connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of
the country. The Srinagar airport has been
upgraded to international level.
On the tenth
day of the bright fortnight Assuj is celebrated
as the day of victory of Rama over Rawana.
Shivratri festival is also celebrated in Jammu
and Kashmir. Four Muslim festivals celebrated in
the State are Id-ul-Fitr, Idul- Zuha,
Id-Milad-un-Nabi and Meraj Alam. Muharram is
also observed. The Hemis Gumpa festival of
Ladakh takes place in the month of June. A
special feature of the Hemis festival is its
mask dance. In Spituk monastry in Leh, enormous
statues of Goddess Kali are exhibited once in
the year on the occasion of the annual
festival which falls in January. Other festivals
celebrated are Lohri marking a climax of winter.
Sinh Sankranti observed in Ramban and adjoining
villages. Mela Pat observed in Bhadarwah in the
month of August.
Kashmir Valley is
described as the paradise on earth. Chashmashahi
springs, Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Dachigam,
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Amarnath shrine
in the Valley, Vaishnodevi shrine and Patnitop
near Jammu and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh
are important tourist destinations. Ladakh
festival on 15 September and Sindhu Darshan in
June are popular events.
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