Rightly called the ?Paradise on the Earth?, Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its scenic splendor, snow-clad mountains, lush greeneries, crystal clear lakes, hospitable people and amazing wildlife. The destination is perfect for honeymoon couples, adventurous solo travelers as well as for family group trips to holidays and pilgrimage ? all alike.
Jammu is the winter capital of state and known for its temples, particularly The Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra which is visited by over 1 crore (10 million) pilgrims every year, making Jammu the most visited part of Jammu and Kashmir State. Srinagar is the summer capital of the state which is set around Dal Lake with its amazingly beautiful floating houseboats.
The trip to Jammu & Kashmir is different from that to other states, as it not only appeals to just the beautiful ambience around but also to the adventurous sports activities, exclusive local items like carpets and winter garments, and special cuisines that are not available anywhere else.
Located in the Himalayan, Pir Panjal and Karakoram mountain ranges are treat to the eyes for the natural beauty that paints
the state in white and green. Jammu and Kashmir is home to several Valleys such as the Kashmir Valley, Tawi, Chenab Valley, Poonch, Sindh Valley and Lidder Valley. The beautiful mountain peaks, massive glaciers, splendid monasteries, blue lakes, rivers, forests, verdant meadows and tall pine trees are few of the natural beauties one should devour their eyes with.
Sports activities like skiing, golf, trekking, river rafting, paragliding, camping etc are must try for the adventure lovers while visiting the state. Religious places like Amarnath and Vaishno Devi attract enormous number of pilgrims every year from all over the country and other countries too. Dal Lake, Kashmir Valley, Khardung La Pass, Gulmarg, Shalimar bagh are some of the major attractions of the state.
Some of the major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir are Srinagar, the Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, Jammu, and Ladakh. Few areas require a special permit for non-Indians to visit because of the persisting militancy unrest. Though it has always been a major disturbance, popularity has never gone down strikingly affecting the tourism.
Capital: Srinagar (Summer),Jammu (Winter)
Area: 52,198 sq. mi.
Population: 255,45,198
Language: Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, Dogri, Pahari, Ladakhi .
Best time to visit : April to June (Kashmir Valley), October to March (Jammu Region) .
Airports: Airports: Jammu, Srinagar, Ladakh.