The Mughal Emperor Jehangir said it all when he visited Kashmir in the 17th century. You’ve been places and you’ve been places, but if you have not visited this Paradise on Earth, you’ve missed out on an experience of a lifetime. The name Kashmir, in Sanskrit, implies land desiccated from water and is derived from the two words, "ka" (water) and "shimeera" (to desiccate). According to Hindu mythology, Sage Kashyap drained the erstwhile lake to produce the land of Kashmir. Modern day Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) is the northernmost state of India, lying mostly in the Himalayas. The state is bordered on the south by Himachal Pradesh, on the west by Pakistan, and on the north and east by China.

(J & K) consists of three divisions: Jammu, the Kashmir Valley, and Ladakh. Srinagar is its summer capital, and Jammu, its winter capital. (J & K) is India’s only Muslim majority state. Minority religions in the state include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The languages spoken here are Kashmiri and Urdu, with most people also speaking Hindi and English.

Kashmir is the only Indian state to witness all four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) and has something on offer for every type of traveller. While its quiet, almost virginal beauty makes it the ideal honeymoon getaway, it is also great for a family vacation, offering activities like shikara rides, horse riding, cable car rides, and much more. Adventure-seekers can trek the lovely mountainous terrain of Ladakh, and nature lovers will be smitten by the verdant greenery of the valley in summer and its snow-topped mountains in winter. For religious travellers, Kashmir offers the famous Amarnath Cave, a 5,000-year old shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, where an ice stalagmite is formed every year in the shape of a Shivling.

Once you come here, you are sure to fall in love with its beautiful gardens, vast lakes, pristine streams, alpine forests, stunning mountains, and, most of all, its friendly people. Kashmiris are very warm and welcoming people.