Jammu and Kashmir is the northern most state of India situated in the Himalayas, between 32° 15' and 37° 05' north latitude and 72° 35' and 83° 20' longitude East. Geographically, the State can be divided into four zones. First, the mountainous and semi mountainous plain known as Kandi belt, the second, hills including Shivaliks, the third mountains of Kashmir Valley and Pir Panchal range and the fourth is tract of Ladakh. Culturally, the state has three distinct regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The state capital is Srinagar.

Kashmir was once a large lake, but subsidence of the mountain near Baramulla made way for the outflow of water. Ashoka introduced Buddhism to Kashmir in the 3rd century BC, which was later strengthened by Kanishka. Lalitaditya (697-738 AD), a famous Hindu ruler, extended his rule up to Bengal in the east and Turkistan in the northwest. Zain-ul-Abedin (1420-70) was a famous Muslim ruler, who came to Kashmir when the king Sinha Dev fled before the Tatar invasion. In 1586 Akbar conquered Kashmir. In 1752, Kashmir came under the control of Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan.

Jammu was once divided into 22 hill principalities. Raja Maldev, one of the Dogra rulers, conquered many territories to consolidate his kingdom. In 1782 Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed the territory to Punjab. He later handed over Jammu to Raja Gulab Singh, one of his more powerful governors. On 26 October, 1947 Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in favour of the Indian Union.

Handicrafts is the industry of the state. Papier-mâché, wood carving, carpets, shawl-making, embroidery, etc. are among Kashmir’s exquisite handicrafts.

Festivals: On the tenth day of the bright fortnight Assuj is celebrated as the day of victory of Rama over Ravana. Four Muslim festivals celebrated in the State are Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha, Id-Milad-un-Nabi and Meraj Alam. The famous Hemis Gumpa festival of Ladakh takes place in the month of June. In Spituk monastery in Leh, enormous statues of Goddess Kali are exhibited once in the year on occasion of the annual festival, which falls in January.

Kashmir is described as paradise on earth. Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Amarnath shrine in the Valley, Vaishno Devi shrine near Jammu and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh are important tourist destinations.

at a glance:
Date of formation:
Capital: Srinagar (Summer capital); Jammu (Winter capital).
Area: 222,236 sq km
Districts:
Cities & Towns: 75
Roads:
National Highways ( km):
Population: 10,143,700; Male 5,360,926; Female 4,782,774.
Projected Population as on 1st March 2008 (000'): 12,366
Languages:
Literacy: % (1991 census)
Climate:
State Animal:
State Bird:
State Tree:
State Flower: To be declared