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Kashmir

The beautiful valley of Kashmir is nestled in between the inner Himalayan Range to the east, comprising of the Nanga Parbat and the outer Himalayan range to the west and south called the Pir Panjal. This valley is bounded on the north by the Karakoram Range, on the northeast by Ladakh and on the south by Jammu. Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, stands by the river Jhelum that forms the lifeline of the Kashmir Valley.
According to the ancient myths, it was Saint Kashyap who defeated the demons ruling this valley, and conquered it. Hence,it was after him, that the valley was named as Kashmir.
The valley of Kashmir is unique in its surroundings, which offers breathtaking view of its varying topography. Nature has endowed Kashmir with exotic beauty, which is reflected in its picturesque landscapes, lush green forests of Chinar, Deodar and Pine trees, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, snow covered mountains and a range of flora and fauna. Infact, it abounds in many varieties of wildlife, which includes Bears, Leopards and Himalayan Chamois etc. The countless species of luxuriant vegetation too, attract lot of enthusiastic botanists. Kashmir also has a lot to offer to the artists, archaeologists, rock and mountain climbers and big game hunters who throng this place in large numbers. Besides this, it is an ideal place for holidaymakers as well as for people who seek tranquility and peace amidst natural surroundings. No wonder that, Kashmir is referred to as the ‘ Switzerland of India.’
The Himalayan valley of Kashmir is also renowned all over the world for its delicious juicy fruits such as apples, cherries, plums, peaches, strawberries and various other fruits. The dry fruits of Kashmir like Walnuts, Almonds, Pine nuts or ‘Chilgoza’ and Apricots are also well known for their excellent quality. The skilful artisans of Kashmir are renowned for a variety of items the world over. Embroidery with intricate designs and on exquisite materials like Pashmina silk and Shatoosh is very popular and in high demand among the tourists. Shawls, Namdar (Woven Carpets), Puttoo (Handloom tweed) etc, are exported. Woodcarvings on the wood of walnut tree is a speciality. The silk industry of Kashmir is one of the largest in the country. Another exquisite art is that of paper machie, and decorative items like Lampshades, Jewelry boxes etc are highly appreciated.
For her exquisite beauty and mesmerizing surroundings, Kashmir has always attracted lot of attention from the Europeans who view this place through the glamour of ‘Lala Rookh’. This famous Sufi saint immortalized this fairyland through her poetry and songs.
Kashmir has a heterogeneous population of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Dogras. Muslims form the majority here and almost all the Hindus have left the valley after the beginning of insurgency in 1989. The Hindus of Kashmir come of pure Aryan race and can be recognized by their sharp features, fair complexion, light colored hair and eyes. The people of Kashmir wear the traditional dress called PHIRAN, which is unisex and is worn by all sections of the society. Another identifying feature is the KANHGRI, which is a coal filled pot and is kept under the PHIRAN to ward off the cold during the winter season.
Kashmiris are very hard working and intelligent and are known for their oratorial skills. India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru was a Kashmiri. They are skilled artisans and craftsmen whose work of art is appreciated around the world.