The state of Jammu & Kashmir is a region of widely varying people and geography. In the south, Jammu is a transition zone from the Indian plains to the Himalaya. Nature has lavishly endowed Kashmir with certain distinctive favours which hardly find a parallel in any alpine land of the world. Correctly, the rest of the state is Kashmir but in practice this title is reserved for the beautiful valley of Kashmir, a large Himalayan valley in the north of the state. A spell on a houseboat on Dal Lake has always been one of India's real treats and Kashmir also offers some delightful trekking opportunities and unsurpassed scenery. Set in the womb of the Himalayas and gifted with beautiful and inspiring natural scenery, it emerged as a highly advanced seat of learning from very early times, taking its place along with the famous Universities of Taxila and Nalanda. Ramparts of high mountains and seclusion of the land helped her top reserve the life and conditions of early times which is rather difficult to resuscitate in regard to other such mountainous regions. The cultural heritage of Kashmir is, therefore, very rich and derives its inspiration and strength both from her natural environs and the rich literature and literary traditions alike.

Fact File

Altitude : 305 meters

Area : 20.36 sq.km

Temperature : Between 20 to 40 deg in summer and between 4 to 20 deg in winters

Languages : Dogri, Hindi, Kashmiri, English

Clothing : Light clothes in summer, heavy woollens in winter

Best Season : September to March

Places to visit

	Raghunath Temple
	Ranbireshwar Temple
	Peer Khoh
	Bahu Fort
	BAGH-E-BAHAR
	Ranbir Canal
	Amar Mahal Palace Museum
	Dogra Art Gallery

Excursions

	Akhnoor: 32 kms. Regular bus-services available from Jammu.
	Batote: 113 kms, 1560 metres. Health Resort on the Jammu-Shrinagar highway.
	Kud: 106 kms, 1738 metres. Resort on Jammu-Shrinagar highway.
	Mansar Lake: 80 kms. Regular bus-services available from Jammu.
	Purmandal (Chhota Kashi): 39 kms. Religious place connected by bus with Jammu
	Accommodation is available in pilgrim shelters.
	Patnitop: 112 kms, 2024 metres. A resort & picnic spot on the Jammu-Shrinagar highway.
	Ramban: 148 kms.
	Ramnagar: 102 kms. Regular bus-services available from Jammu.
	Sanasar: 129 kms, 2079 metres. 19 kms from Patnitop, slightly away from the National Highway.
	Sudhmahadev: 120 km, 1225 metres.
	Surinsar Lake: 42 kms. Picturesque spot. Accommodation available in huts.
	Kishtwar High Altitude National Park: 248 kms.

Hoe to get there

Air : Jammu is on Indian Airlines and also on private airlines network. However the latter needs re-confirmation constantly. Indian Airlines connects it with Delhi on a flight that also touches Chandigarh and Amritsar, and continues on to Srinagar. Jammu airport is 7 km from the city.

Rail : Jammu is a major railhead in Northern India, and the terminus on this route. It is linked to Delhi through convenient overnighters. The city is connected to many North Indian towns, and to Bombay, Pune, Kanyakumari, Madras and Calcutta on direct services.

Road : Jammu is on the National Highway and is linked beyond Jalandhar to Delhi and further to all parts of the country. As winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, it is connected to destinations in those two regions by all weather roads and to Ladakh via Srinagar from May to October.