JAMMU AND KASHMIR

 

 

Jammu and Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty since time immemorial and has been aptly described as “heaven on earth”.

• It is a state in northern India which is mostly located in the Himalayan Mountains.

 

Capital	Srinagar (Summer) Jammu (Winter)
Date of Formation	26 October 1947
State Boundaries	Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
International Boundaries	Pakistan, China, Afghanistan
Language	Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, Balti, Ladhaki, Purig, Gurji, Dadri, Hindi, Punjabi
Tourist Place	Dal Lake Shalimar Bagh Pahalgam Gulmarg Vaishno Devi Ladakh
Rivers	Chenab, Jhelum, Indus, Zanskar, Suru, Nubra, Shyok, Kishan Ganga, Ravi, Tawi
Geographical Features	Mountain ranges (Karakoram range, Laddhak range, Zanskar range, Pir Panjal) Valleys (Kashmir valley, Tawi valley, Chenab valley, Poonch valley, Sind valley, Lidder valley) Great Plains of Northern India
Political division of J & K	India : Jammu, Kashmir Valley & Laddakh region Pakistan (since 1947) : Gilgit-Baltistan & Azad Kashmir region China (after 1962) : Aksai Chin region
State Animal	Hangul
State Bird	Black-necked crane
State Tree	Chinar
State Flower	Lotus
Number of districts	22
Forests	Sub-Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests Sub-Tropical Pine Forests Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests Alpine Forests Forests in Cold Arid Zone
National Parks	Dachigam National Park (Srinagar) Kishtwar National Park (Kishtwar) Hemis High Altitude National Park (Ladakh) Salim Ali National Park (Srinagar) Kazinag National Park (Baramula)
Lakes	Dal Lake, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Manasbal Lake, Sheshnag Lake
Major Crops	Paddy, Wheat, Fruit, Saffron
Arts & Crafts	Kar-i-Kalamdan or the art of making lacquered pen cases out of paper pulp is a famous handicraft industry; Kashida embroidery. Basholi Painting, Calico Painting, Phoolkari Carpets, Kashmiri Shawls, Wood craving, Chainstitch, Crewel, Papier-mache, Namda Clay Moulding, Ladhak Carpet and Pashima Weaving, Thanka and Fresha Painting
Dances & Music forms	Kudd, Dogri/Pahari music, Hafixa, Bacha/Nagma dance, Rouff, Dhumal, Geetru
Festivals	Saffron festival Gurez Festival Tihar Navroz Eid Urs Shab-e-Miraj Bahumela Shikara Festival Jhiri Mela
Folk Theatre	Bhand Pather
Passes	Zoji La Pass Changla Pass Khardung La Pass Shingo La Banihal Pass
Mountain Peaks	Golden Throne, Nanga Parbat, K2, Gasherbrum
Ramsar Wetlands	Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Hokersar, Wular Lake, Tsomoriri
Wildlife Sanctuaries	Changthang cold desert wildlife sanctuary Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) wildlife sanctuary Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary Gulmarg wildlife sanctuary Lachipora wildlife sanctuary Limber wildlife sanctuary Surinsar-Mansar wildlife sanctuary Hirpora wildlife sanctuary Baltal-Thajwas wildlife sanctuary Hokersar wildlife sanctuary Jasrota wildlife sanctuary Lachipora wildlife sanctuary Nandini wildlife sanctuary Rajparian wildlife sanctuary Ramnagar Rakha wildlife sanctuary Trikuta wildlife sanctuary
Minerals	Limestone, Gypsum, Marble, Coal, Magnesite, Borax, Graphite
Power Projects	Uri-I Hydroelectric Project (Jhelum) Baglihar Stage- I Hydroelectric Project (Chenab) Ranjit Sagar Dam Hydroelectric Project (Ravi) Chutak Hydroelectric Project (Suru) Nimmo – Bazgo Hydroelectric Project (Indus)
Institutions	High Altitude Research Laboratory (Gulmarg) Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (Srinagar)
Temples	Raghunath Temple Vaishno Devi Mandir Amarnath Sudh Mahadev
Monasteries	Samstangling Hemis monastery
Mosques	Hazratbal Mosque Khanqah of Shah Hamadan Jama Masjid
Personalities	Suresh Raina P.N.Kaul  (Ex-CAG) T.S. Thakur, incumbent Chief Justice of India Chain Singh, Indian national shooting team Vikrant Mahajan Bansi Kaul

 

 

Facts

• Dachigam National Park – Srinagar – is best known as the home of the hangul, or Kashmir stag (state Animal).
• Hemis National Park – Ladakh- famous for Snow Leopard, Asiatic ibex, Argali (Great Tibetian Sheep).
• Kishtwar National Park is famous for Himalayan Snow Cock and brown bear.
• Kazinag National Park is famous for Markhor (Capra falconeri), Himalayan Musk Deer (Maschus crysogater)
• India produces the finest Pashmina (Cashmere) wool in the world, the main and best quality coming from the Changthang plateau of Ladakh region of J&K State.
• Pashmina wool is produced by Changra (Pashmina) goat in Ladakh and Chegu breed of goat in the eastern parts of Himalayas.
• Basohli is famous worldwide for Basohli painting.
• Asia’s largest Tulip Garden is in Srinagar
• Banihal-Qazigund rail link has India’s longest railway tunnel (11Km approx)
• Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India is situated in the Himalayas and stretches from Ladakh (J&K) in the north to Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) in the south. • Shikaras -traditional small wooden boats, and houseboats are a common feature in lakes and rivers across the Valley.
• China-Pakistan Economic corridor (CPEC) – passes through Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan occupied kashmir to which India has objection. That is one of the major hindrances in India joining OBOR.
• The Shanti Stupa is white-colored domed-shaped structure, located in Chandspa which looks extremely beautiful during night when it is illuminated. This peace pillar was built a ‘peace sect’ of Japanese Buddhist organization to celebrate the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism and for the promotion of world peace. It was inaugurated by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama in 1985. This pillar is known for its gilt panels depicting the life stories of Lord Buddha.
• The hangul or Kashmiri stag is the only species of European red deer found in India.
• In Ladakh, they believe in Bon which is an animistic religion in which the forces of nature are worshipped.
• The biggest attraction of the Dal Lake are the houseboats that can be seen floating there.
• The Mughal Gardens of Srinagar is a popular tourist attraction.
• Kashmir is also known for its traditional crafts and has some of the best handicrafts in the country; carpets, shawls, paper mache and walnut wood craft to name a few.
• Kalhana, the first Indian history writer, gave a vivid account of the history of Kashmir before the 10th century AD.
• The greatest Muslim king of early medieval age in Kashmir was Zain-ul-Abidin, who ascended the throne in AD 1420 and ruled up to 1470.
• In 1587, Akbar annexed Kashmir into his vast empire.
• Jahangir, son of Akbar and next Mughal ruler, visited Kashmir 13 times and created two beautiful gardens on the bank of Dal Lake, namely, the Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh.
• In 1819, the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed this region, but their empire remained in place only for 27 years.
• Ladakh, also known as “Little Tibet”
• Urdu written in the Persian script is the official language of the state.
• Kawa, traditional green tea with spices and almond, is consumed all through the day in the chilly winter climate of Kashmir.Siachen Glacier is 70 km (43 mi) long making it the longest Himalayan glacier.
• Ranbir Canal has the largest irrigation net work of the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
• The Martand Canal is one of the oldest canals of Jammu and Kashmir State.
• Wood from Kashmir is used to make high quality cricket bats known as Kashmir willow
• State has maximum number of Ramsar sites (4) in India
• The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960. It was brokered by the World Bank.
• Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India with a Muslim-majority population.
• The name Srinagar means the “City of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth”. It was founded by Ashoka the Great.
• The present city of Srinagar was built by Pravarsena II adjoining the old city.
• India’s first floating post office is in Kashmir.

Article 370

• Article 370 of the Indian constitution is an article that gives autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The article is drafted in Part XXI of the Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.
• The State’s Constituent Assembly was empowered to recommend the articles of the Indian constitution to be applied to the state or to abrogate the Article 370 altogether.
• After the state Constituent Assembly dissolved itself without recommending abrogation, the Article 370 was deemed to have become a permanent feature of the Indian Constitution.

Article 35A

• Is a provision incorporated in the Constitution giving the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature a carte blanche to decide who all are ‘permanent residents’ of the State and confer on them special rights and privileges in public sector jobs, acquisition of property in the State, scholarships and other public aid and welfare.
• The provision mandates that no act of the legislature coming under it can be challenged for violating the Constitution or any other law of the land.

 

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Also read more about other Indian States 

• ANDHRA PRADESH
• ARUNACHAL PRADESH
• ASSAM
• BIHAR
• CHHATTISGARH
• GOA
• GUJARAT
• HARYANA
• HIMACHAL PRADESH