GEOGRAPHY OF JK | FINAL PART
Tourism is one of the major industries of the State. This industry provides employment to lakhs of people directly and indirectly Hotliers, house boat owners, transporters, travel-agencies, traders, guides, porters, ponymen, boatmen, handicrafts and small scale industry units and many others earn their livlihood because of this industry. Private and public sector agencies provide necessary facilities to the tourists and every year the number of tourists increases.
Places of Tourist Interest
• Monuments
The ancient history of Kashmir is present in its beautiful historical monuments. These are Martand temple, Ardnwan Monastery at Harwan, Shankaracharya temple, Sharika Bhagwati-temple, and ancient ruins at Avantipora, Pattan, Baramulla, Parihaspur, Handwara and Andarkot. History of India has left deep marks in Kashmir in its grand remains of early civilisation. These are the remains of temples of learning and worship which were Kashmir's glory in ancient times.
Pari Mahal, Kabutar Khana, and Hariparbat in Srinagar are also the ancient monuments in the Valley of Kashmir.
• Gardens
The Mughal gardens- Nishat, Shalamar, Bijbehara, Achhabal, Verinag, Naseem and Chashma Shahi are some of the marks of Mediaeval history.
• Fishing
It is a sport very much liked by tourists. Mahaseer fish is found in the river Jhelum near Sumbal, Sopore, and Baramulla bridge. Trout fish is found in Harvan Hatchery and Achhabal Hatchery. Common carp is found in the river Jhelum and its tributaries. The Wullar lake, the Dal lake, the Manasabal lake and the Anchar lake are other fishing spots.
• Hunting
The hills and mountains of the state of Jammu and Kashmir are known for Big Game. Markhoor, Brown Bear, Leopard, and Barasingha are mostly found in Kanag, Baltistan, Pirpanjal and in the Middle and Inner Himalayas.
• Hiking and Trekking
Hiking and trekking is an attractive excursion for tourists. The places for hiking and trekking are:
Affarvat - 4420 meters,
Amarnath Cave - about 5372 meters,
Dras - 3050 meters,
Harmukh Mountain 5160 meters,
Kolahai - 4270 meters,
Kausarnag -3965 meters.
Qazinag - 4720 meters,
Leh - 3630 meters,
Mahadev - 3500 meters.
Nangaparbat - 8115 meters,
Khilin - 3050 meters,
Sheshnag - 6470 meters and Kajinag - 3700 meters above sea level.
Winter Sports in Kashmir
Skating in Gulmarg attracts many tourists during the months of December, January and February.
Tourist-Spots and Health Resorts
Name of Place | Distance from Srinagar
1. Achhabal | 62 Kms
2. Kokarnag | 77 Kms
3. Verinag | 80 Kms
4. Pahalgam | 96 Kms
5. Gandarbal | 21 Kms
6. Gangabal | 66 Kms
7. Sonamarg | 82 Kms
8. Gulmarg | 45 Kms
9. Lidarwat | 117 Kms
10. Chandanwari | 109 Kms
11. Aru | 99.3 Kms
12. Yusmarg | 34.5 Kms
Places of Pilgrimage
For Hindus important places of Pilgrimage are: Shri Amarnath Cave, Mattan, Khirbhawani and Mahadev. The Muslims have the following places of Pilgrimage: Hazratbal, BabaRishi (Gulmarg), Charar-e-Sharif, Shrine of Makhdoom Shah Hamza and Shah Hamdan.
Botanical Interest
Valuable plants and herbs are found in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. These vary from altitude to altitude. Interested people visit the state in search of these plants and herbs.
Arts and Crafts
Kashmiris are well known for their artistic talent and craftsmanship throughout the world. Weaving shawls, wood-carving, embroidery on silk and woollen clothes with fine, colouful and attractive designs, making of wicker-willow artifacts, silver-ware manufacture and carpet weaving of very superior workmanship are some of the arts and crafts which they have inherited from their forefathers. Tourists are very fond of these handicrafts.
House-Boat Life
Houseboat life is also a great attraction for tourists in Kashmir. In these well-furnished boats there is every kind of indoor comfort. All the necessaties and comforts of day to day life are available in these houseboats. These are in fact small luxury houses. Thousands of visitors like to stay in these houseboats not only during summer but winter days too.
Springs and Lakes
Wullar, Dal, Anchar, Harvan, Hukarsar, Konsarnag, Sheshnag and Neelnag lakes in the province of Kashmir are the best picnic spots for tourists to spend their vacation.
Kashmir valley abounds in numerous springs of which Martand, Verinag, Anantnag, Achhabal, Chashma Shahi, Khirbhawani, Alpathar, Kicharnag, Sukhnag, Vishnosar and Harmukat Ganga are famous. These places are fine picnic spots where tourists like to spend their vacation in the company of nature.
Political Divisions of Kashmir
In the year 1947 the State of Jammu and Kashmir was invaded by Pakistan. India and Pakistan fought for more than a year when cease fire was agreed upon on lst of January, 1949 and the fighting stopped. A ceasefire line of demarcation gave 79788 Sq. Kms. of area of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.
The district of Poonch lost 52% of its area to Pakistan. The district of Muzaffarabad lost some area in tehsil Muzaffarabad, Uri and Karnah. The whole of Gilgit district, Asotre district and Mirpore district also went to Pakistan. The whole of Askardu tehsil and a part of tehsil Kargil went to Pakistan. Invasion of China in 1962 also made the State to suffer a loss of its area. In 1971 Pakistan once again made unlawful possession of Chhamb, Deva, Chakla and Manawar. The State of Jammu and Kashmir, therefore, suffered serious splitting in area and population.
Only four districts - Udhampur, Jammu, Kathua and Anantnag - suffered no change; other districts suffered loss in area, either wholly or partially to Pakistan. Re-organisation was necessary; therefore, new districts like Pulwama, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch were created. The districts were further sub-divided into tehsils so that more attention could be given to the development of agriculture, cottage industries and trade.
Construction of new roads, water supply and electricity helped these rural setlements. The abolition of jagirdari of two jagirs of Poonch and Chenani also brought about a change in the area of these tehsils and districts. Poonch was made a district while Chenani was merged with the district of Udhampur.
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