Jammu & Kashmir at a Glance :

Area : 2,22,236 sq km (approx.)

Capital : Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)

Location : Northern Most Part Of India

Districts : 14

Languages : Urdu , Kashmiri, Dogri, Paharim, Balti, Ladakhi, Punjabi , Gujari and Dadri

Population : 10,069,917 (2001)

Literacy Rate : 26.17% as per previous census

Climate : May to October (Summer), November to April (Winter).

Three Main Regions : Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh

Best Time To Visit Jammu : October To February

Best Time To Visit Kashmir : May To October & November To February

Major Tourists Places : Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Khilanmarg, Kargil, Leh and Drass.

About Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu Kashmir is the first Himalayan state of India, but its not another hill land of India. Jammu and Kashmir is really three regions: the foothill plains of Jammu; the lakes and blue valleys of Kashmir rising to alpine passes, the high altitude plains and starkly beautiful mountains of Ladakh, which lies beyond those passes. It's enough to move one to poetry. Among the most attractive part that this Indian state has is the adventure oppurtunities that can be seggragated into trekking, mountaineering and Trans Himalayan Jeep Safari.

Climate Of Jammu & Kashmir
The climate is one of opposites: while in summer time the heat builds upto breaking point in the foothills, people of Ladakh and Kashmir wait for the snow to melt.on the high passes. From October onwards, Jammu becomes a much more pleasant destination. However, the best time to enjoy vale of Kashmir and the adventures of Ladakh region is between the months of May and September.

People And Culture Of Jammu & Kashmir
The majority are Muslims living in the Kashmir valley; culturally and ethnically, the closest links are with peoples in the northwestern highlands of the Gilgit district in the Pakistani sector. While Hindus dominate the Jammu region and Ladakh is majorly influenced by the Trans-Himalayan Buddhism.The Kashmiri language is influenced by Sanskrit and belongs to the Dardic branch of Indo-Aryan languages also spoken by the hill tribes of Gilgit. The great majority of the population resides in the lower reaches of the valley.

The ancient caves and temples of Kashmir, reveal a strong link with Indian culture at the beginning of the Christian Era. At one time the classical dances of the south are believed to have been practised. These arts survived only in folk forms and were performed principally at marriage ceremonies. The popular Hafiza dance performed by Kashmiri women to the accompaniment of Sufiana Kalam was later replaced by the Bacha Nagma, performed by young boys dressed like women. The Bhand Jashna or the "festival of clowns", a 300- to 400-year-old genre of Kashmiri folk theatre performed in village squares, satirizes social situations through dance, music and clowning.

Adventure Sports In Jammu & Kashmir
In the summer season Kashmir offers a series of a little less rigorous adventure sports, such as Water Skiing, on Srinagar's Dal and Nagin Lakes, a popular part time in the valley. Water trekking is calculated to delight anyone wanting to explore the valley in a boat. A Gondala, locally known as Shikara, takes sightseers along a five-day route along rivers and lakes situated within the valley. Enjoy spending nights camping along the way. Trout fishing is another delightful water sport in Kashmir and fishing season lasts all through summer.

What can make a mountaineering expedition, an adventure one could never forget? If its done on the glaciers that are still craving to be explored. The Himalayan range offers some of the most rigorous mountaineering challenges one can ever come across. The glaciers of Ladakh and Kashmir regions can test one's survival to the fittest and most testing of them all is the Siachen glacier, known as the largest glacier outside the Polar Regions.

How to reach

* By Air
The Indian Airlines and some private domestic airlines connect Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh to the major metropolitan cities of India.
* By Rail
A good rail network connects Jammu to various parts of India. The same cannot be said about the other cities. Difficult terrain and unreachable heights make it difficult to create rail infrastructure.
* By Road
There are national highways and a number of other roadways leading to the major cities and important towns. Manali to Leh and Srinagar to Leh highways are considered to be one of the most difficult in the world. Crossing these highways is a challenge that many adventure travelers accept without hesitation.