Cashmirart

The rapid felling of trees, deforestation, shrinking wetland and ecological degradation are creating conditions for another massive flood in Jammu and Kashmir, claim experts on biodiversity. The experts said that playing with ecology will not only affect one particular region but put the life of entire mankind in danger. They were speaking at National Media Workshop on Biodiversity organised by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in which more than 20 journalists from all over the country participated. "Massive construction activities took place in Himalayan region. We destroyed its ecological balance, which resulted in a massive flood. Water even inundated Lal Chowk in Srinagar city," said Fayaz Ahmed Khudsar, Scientist in-charge, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Delhi. He was referring to September 2014 floods in Kashmir which “4„... drowned Srinagar city and areas of South and North Kashmir. "Kashmir is know...

Chrysanthemums are the most prominent blooms during autumn in Kashmir. However, a visit to sprawling karewas of Pampore provides a mesmerizing scene of Saffron flowers emerging almost straight from the soil making a vibrant, colourful painting on a rugged canvas. Anyone gets hooked to fascinating Saffron colouration with an aura of joie de vivre. Saffron, the king of spices, is not only pride of Kashmir, but it depicts the rich history and heritage of Kashmir and its people. With reddish-purple flowers, crimson floral threads (stigmas and styles) it governs our colour sense, and through unique fragrance and pigment our cuisine culture. Anyways, the decreasing pro-duce of Saffron in Kashmir for the last many years is a matter of concern. In 2010 authorities through federal governments, all-out assistance started ambitious 'National Saffron Mission' (NSM) with a huge investment. The mission was a multi-pronged strategy of rejuvenation and restore congenial cultivation condition...

This is the season of great beauty. We call it harud in Kashmiri. Leaves are on fire and life presents a different look. But there is something missing which we would taste in the good old days of the past. it's autumn (harud). The season when it looks everywhere yellow. Days of fall but of beauty too. The days when Chinar  trees are on fire, when winds shake trees and leaves bow to the ground. These are the days of harvest (rather the days of result) of what we have done whole year. In these harud days the above mentioned things are in common experience everywhere, but there are some colours of this autumn which seem to be missing in this advanced world. The missing flovour of those things haunts the nature lovers like me. Gone are the days, when we used to dry (sundry) vegetables like brinjals, tomatoes, bottle guards, red chillies etc. These vegetables were dried in open sun for few days, then stored for harsh winter days. When it was difficult to venture out because of ...

There is a wide variety of handicrafts available in Ladakh, ranging from pashmina shawls to Tibetan styled rugs and silver jewellery, to tangkhas, emphasizing the importance of Ladakh as an important centre of trade on the great silk route. There is not a great deal of handicraft unique to Ladakh except for the metal workers of Chiling. Chiling is about 19 kms up the Zanskar river from Nimo, home to a community of artisans that work on silver, brass and copper, and produce items for domestic and religious use such as tea and chang pots, tea-cup stands and lids, hookah bases, ladles and bowls, and silver chortens for installation in temples and domestic shrines. Craftsmanship in general has not moved out of the realm of personal and domestic uses. Patttu, a rough woolen material used for clothing is made from locally produced wool spun by women on drop spindles, and woven by women on portable looms. Baskets woven out of willow twigs or a kind of grass are used for carrying load....

The crafts of Manipur can be found in the emporiums and stores throughout India which speak volumes of their popularity The northeastern state of India, Manipur is a storehouse of variety of crafts. Manipuris make their crafts with a lot of passion and style. Crafts of Manipur are a prized possession and have been widely acclaimed by connoisseurs of crafts from all over the world. The papier -mache, decorative items made out of ivory, dolls and jewelry are highly esteemed mementos.  Manipur is blessed with  cane and bamboos , which is used to make a wide range of utility and decorative items. Some of the bamboo and cane products are sofa sets, murhas, mats, basketry, tray, chair, table, flower vase, ashtray etc. The baskets of cane are very famous which have distinct motifs, patterns and intricate weaves. The Bamboo screen chiks have attained commercial proportions. The screens of Manipur consist of beautiful room dividers stage and mandap backdrops. They are ...

The Indian state Jammu and Kashmir inhabits diverse and distinct culture. It encompasses various lifestyles and habits of the citizens that inhabit in regions of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. From the era of isolation, independence and solidarity, the citizens of Kashmir had created a distinctive tradition. The Kashmir valley which is bordered by snow dressed Himalayas is therefore considered as one of the stunning destinations in the world. Also Kashmir has vast spread of flat nation with wealthy alluvial loam, sparkling streams, haughty and hostile mountains, fast-moving water, snooty crags, dappled Chinar orchards, large lakes, and pine jungles. Moreover Jammu and Kashmir is regarded as a dissolving vessel of diverse cultures. Citizens from dissimilar social practices and religious exist together quietly in this charming state. Since moment immemorial, diverse religions like Jainism, Islam and Hinduism have added extra worth to the enriching legacy of Jammu and Kashmir. There...

Patnitop A Hill-Station With Unmatched Beauty And Adventure Located in the  Shivalik belt  of the Himalayas, Patnitop lies at an altitude of 2024 metres with all its natural beauty. This charming plateau is surrounded by dense woods and lush greenery of  Pines  and is considered one of the best-developed tourist spots in the Kashmir valley. It is situated about 112 km from Jammu on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Because of its tranquility and refreshing sites, Patnitop draws a number of tourists throughout the year. The River Chenab flows in close proximity to the location. In ancient times, there was a pond “ Patan Da Talab ” (meaning pond of the princess) where the princesses used to take bath. The town was called 'Patnitop' in the British era because of this pond. There are three ice-cold  freshwater springs  in Patnitop which are believed to have medicinal properties. Although it is relatively unknown in comparison to other hill stations of the ...

Sonamarg  Experience A Spectacular Vacation in the "Gateway to Ladakh" Sonamarg, literally meaning “ The Meadow of Gold ”, is a real treat to the eyes. This renowned hill station is a popular base for adventure sports as well. This adventure destination is located 80 km northeast of Srinagar and is known as a trekker's heaven. Being situated at a high altitude of about 2740 m, Sonamarg remains cold even during summers. The meadow, surrounded by snowy mountains, dense forests full of sycamore and alpine flowers, silver birch, and fir and pine, presents a captivating sight. May-June is considered the best time to visit Sonamarg. Adventure Activities Trekking The most popular trekking route through Sonamarg leads to the holy  Amarnath cave . This route witnesses the maximum number of devotees to Lord Shiva during Sawan Purnima. Besides, Sonamarg is the base for the major treks that pass through several mountain lakes- Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Ga...

Pahalgam Tourism A Wonderful Collection of Soul-Stirring Scenes Popular as ' The Valley of Shepherds ', Pahalgam is considered a jewel in the Lidder Valley. The small and beautiful town lies at an altitude of 2130 metres, about 95 km from Srinagar. This renowned hill resort in the Kashmir Valley also has the advantage of the stunning  Lidder River  running right through the town. The town, being situated at the confluence of the  Aru and Sheshnag Rivers , offers outstanding views of the majestic snow-capped mountains. Pahalgam is Kashmir's premier resort that stays cool even during the summer. It is one of the major  saffron growing areas  of Asia. History Pahalgam was ruled by the  Mughals  in the medieval period. Later when the region came under the  Hindu rulers , it was merged with Kashmir. It was independent during the  British period , and became a part of India after independence. Major Attractions Pahalgam and the near...

Located in the  Baramulla district , 57 km southwest of Srinagar, Gulmarg is a hill station with unparalleled natural beauty. The place is situated in a pine surrounded basin of the  Pir Panjal range . Perched at an altitude of 2730 meters above sea level, Gulmarg was discovered as a hill resort in 1927 during the British rule in India. The place was originally called “ Gaurimarg ” by the local people, but the name was changed to 'Gulmarg' by Sultan Yusuf Shah in the 16th century. Sultan was highly inspired by the beauty of the grassy slopes and flower meadows of Gulmarg. This destination served as a popular resort during the Mughal reign. Even the great emperor Jahangir once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from this valley. Gulmarg also boasts of having the highest green golf course in the world. The best time to visit Gulmarg is during winters between  November to February . Attractions of Gulmarg Baba-Reshi It is a  Muslim shrine  lo...

Thriving on both the sides of  River Jhelum , Srinagar is located in the western part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. With its unparalleled wonders, the city is famous for its lakes and the charming rows of houseboats floating on them. Situated at an altitude of 1730 m above sea level, Srinagar boasts of being the summer capital of the state of J&K. Srinagar enjoys an alpine weather and receives heavy snowfall in December-February. The best time to visit Srinagar is during summers between April and June. The city is packed with numerous sublime lakes, which offer the best setting for sports like Canoeing and Kayaking. Tourists can also enjoy rides on traditional Kashmiri boats- “Shikaras”. Kashmiri Houseboats offer a unique experience of living on water. Besides, Srinagar is probably the best place to explore the arts and crafts of the state. The traditionally rich markets of the city are popular for a number of handicrafts and dry fruits. Major Attractions Dal ...

At the time of the  Partition of India  in 1947, the British abandoned their  suzerainty  over the  princely states , which were left with the options of joining India or Pakistan or remaining independent.  Hari Singh , the  maharaja  of Jammu and Kashmir, wanted his state to remain independent. Muslims in Western Jammu province (current day Azad Kashmir) and the Frontier Districts Province (current day  Gilgit-Baltistan ) had wanted to join  Pakistan . In Spring 1947, an uprising against the Maharaja broke out in  Poonch , an area bordering the  Rawalpindi division  of  West Punjab . Maharaja's administration is said to have started levying punitive taxes on the peasantry which provoked a local revolt and the administration resorted to brutal suppression. The area's population, swelled by recently demobilised soldiers following  World War II , rebelled against the Maharaja's forces and gained control ...

Azad Jammu and Kashmir  ( Urdu :  آزاد جموں و کشمیر ‬ ‎  Āzād Jammū̃ o Kaśmīr , translation: Free Jammu and Kashmir, abbreviated as  AJK  and commonly known as  Azad Kashmir , is a nominally  self-governing  polity administered by  Pakistan . The territory lies west of the Indian-administered state of  Jammu and Kashmir , and was previously part of the former  princely state of Jammu and Kashmir . Azad Kashmir is part of the greater  Kashmir  region, which is the subject of  a long-running conflict  between Pakistan and India. The territory shares a border with  Gilgit-Baltistan , together with which it is referred to by the  United Nations  and other international organisations as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir". Azad Kashmir is one-sixth of the size of  Gilgit-Baltistan . [10]  The territory also borders Pakistan's  Punjab  province to the south and  Khyber Pak...

   One of the most important parts of the cultural identity of the  Kashmiri people  is the  Kashmiri (Koshur)  language. This language is spoken only in the  Valley of Kashmir  by the  Kashmiri Pandits  and  Kashmiri Muslims . Besides language,  Wazwan  and culture has been greatly influenced by Central Asian and Persian culture. Kashmiri is an Indo-Aryan ( Dardic  subgroup) language close to Central Asian Avestan-Persian. Cultural music and dance like  Wanvun ,  Rouff , carpet/shawl weaving |Kaleenbafi and  Koshur Sufiana  forms a very important part of Kashmiri identity. Kashmir has witnessed many spiritual gurus who migrated from their land to Kashmir. Kashmir has also even witnessed the birth of some of the great poets and suifs of all time like  Lal Daed, Sheikh-ul-Alam , Habba Khatoon and many more; and is regarded as Peer Vaer (a place or land of spiritual gurus). It is important to ...

The arts and handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir are the manifestations of the feelings and creativity springing from the hearts of its people . The arts and handicrafts of the state have earned international fame because of their beauty and quality. Most of the population of the state are in some way or the other involved in making handicrafts. Reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, the arts and handicrafts is a major tourists attraction, and there is a wide range of it here. Textiles The embroidered shawls are the most popular handicrafts of Kashmir. They basically fall into three different categories: Woolen, Pashmina, and Shahtoosh. The Pashmina and Shahtoosh are known for their fine quality (softness, warmth and lightness) because of which they are quite expensive. The cost of the shawls also depends on the embroidery done on them. Different types of embroideries such as 'sozni' and Ari or hook are done on them. Birds, trees, architectural design...