JAMMU & KASHMIR & LADAKH

Jammu and Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty since time immemorial and has
been aptly described as “heaven on earth”.

• It is a state in northern India which is mostly located in the Himalayan Mountains.

• Srinagar (Summer)
Capital • Jammu (Winter)

Date of Formation 26 October 1947

State Boundaries Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
International Boundaries Pakistan, China, Afghanistan
Language Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, Balti, Ladhaki, Purig, Gurji, Dadri, Hindi, Punjabi
• Dal Lake
• Shalimar Bagh
• Pahalgam Gulmarg
Tourist Place
• Vaishno Devi
• Ladakh

Rivers Chenab, Jhelum, Indus, Zanskar, Suru, Nubra, Shyok, Kishan Ganga, Ravi, Tawi
• Mountain ranges (Karakoram range, Laddhak range, Zanskar range, Pir Panjal)
• Valleys (Kashmir valley, Tawi valley, Chenab valley, Poonch valley, Sind valley,
Geographical Features • Lidder valley)
• Great Plains of Northern India

• India : Jammu, Kashmir Valley & Laddakh region

• Pakistan (since 1947) : Gilgit-Baltistan & Azad Kashmir region
Political division of J & K
• China (after 1962) : Aksai Chin region

State Animal Hangul

State Bird Black-necked crane
State Tree Chinar
State Flower Lotus
Number of districts 22
• Sub-Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
• Sub-Tropical Pine Forests
• Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests
Forests • Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests
• Alpine Forests
• Forests in Cold Arid Zone

• Dachigam National Park (Srinagar)

• Kishtwar National Park (Kishtwar)
National Parks
• Hemis High Altitude National Park (Ladakh)
• Salim Ali National Park (Srinagar)
 • Kazinag National Park (Baramula)

Lakes Dal Lake, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Manasbal Lake, Sheshnag Lake
Major Crops Paddy, Wheat, Fruit, Saffron
• Kar-i-Kalamdan or the art of making lacquered pen cases out of paper pulp is
a famous handicraft industry; Kashida embroidery.
• Basholi Painting, Calico Painting, Phoolkari
Arts & Crafts • Carpets, Kashmiri Shawls, Wood craving, Chainstitch, Crewel, Papier-mache,
Namda
• Clay Moulding, Ladhak Carpet and Pashima Weaving, Thanka and Fresha
Painting
Dances & Music forms Kudd, Dogri/Pahari music, Hafixa, Bacha/Nagma dance, Rouff, Dhumal, Geetru

• Saffron festival
• Gurez Festival
• Tihar
• Navroz
Festivals • Eid
• Urs
• Shab-e-Miraj
• Bahumela
• Shikara Festival
• Jhiri Mela

Folk Theatre Bhand Pather

• Zoji La Pass
• Changla Pass
• Khardung La Pass
Passes
• Shingo La
• Banihal Pass

Mountain Peaks Golden Throne, Nanga Parbat, K2, Gasherbrum

Ramsar Wetlands Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Hokersar, Wular Lake, Tsomoriri
• Changthang cold desert wildlife sanctuary
• Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) wildlife sanctuary
• Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary
• Gulmarg wildlife sanctuary
• Lachipora wildlife sanctuary
• Limber wildlife sanctuary
• Surinsar-Mansar wildlife sanctuary
Wildlife Sanctuaries • Hirpora wildlife sanctuary
• Baltal-Thajwas wildlife sanctuary
• Hokersar wildlife sanctuary
• Jasrota wildlife sanctuary
• Lachipora wildlife sanctuary
• Nandini wildlife sanctuary
• Rajparian wildlife sanctuary
• Ramnagar Rakha wildlife sanctuary
 • Trikuta wildlife sanctuary

Minerals Limestone, Gypsum, Marble, Coal, Magnesite, Borax, Graphite

• Uri-I Hydroelectric Project (Jhelum)
• Baglihar Stage- I Hydroelectric Project (Chenab)
• Ranjit Sagar Dam Hydroelectric Project (Ravi)
Power Projects
• Chutak Hydroelectric Project (Suru)
• Nimmo – Bazgo Hydroelectric Project (Indus)

• High Altitude Research Laboratory (Gulmarg)

Institutions • Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (Srinagar)

• Raghunath Temple
• Vaishno Devi Mandir
Temples • Amarnath
• Sudh Mahadev

• Samstangling
Monasteries • Hemis monastery

• Hazratbal Mosque
• Khanqah of Shah Hamadan
Mosques
• Jama Masjid

• Suresh Raina
• P.N.Kaul (Ex-CAG)
• T.S. Thakur, incumbent Chief Justice of India
Personalities • Chain Singh, Indian national shooting team
• Vikrant Mahajan
• Bansi Kaul

FACTS
• Dachigam National Park – Srinagar – is best known as the home of the hangul, or
Kashmir stag (state Animal).
• Hemis National Park – Ladakh- famous for Snow Leopard, Asiatic ibex, Argali
(Great Tibetian Sheep).
• Kishtwar National Park is famous for Himalayan Snow Cock and brown bear.
• Kazinag National Park is famous for Markhor (Capra falconeri), Himalayan Musk
Deer (Maschus crysogater)
• India produces the finest Pashmina (Cashmere) wool in the world, the main and
best quality coming from the Changthang plateau of Ladakh region of J&K State.
• Pashmina wool is produced by Changra (Pashmina) goat in Ladakh and Chegu
breed of goat in the eastern parts of Himalayas.
• Basohli is famous worldwide for Basohli painting.
• Asia’s largest Tulip Garden is in Srinagar
• Banihal-Qazigund rail link has India’s longest railway tunnel (11Km approx)
• Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India is situated in the Himalayas and
stretches from Ladakh (J&K) in the north to Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) in the
south. • Shikaras -traditional small wooden boats, and houseboats are a common
feature in lakes and rivers across the Valley.
• China-Pakistan Economic corridor (CPEC) – passes through Gilgit-Baltistan
region of Pakistan occupied kashmir to which India has objection. That is one of
the major hindrances in India joining OBOR.
• The Shanti Stupa is white-colored domed-shaped structure, located in Chandspa
which looks extremely beautiful during night when it is illuminated. This peace
pillar was built a ‘peace sect’ of Japanese Buddhist organization to celebrate the
completion of 2500 years of Buddhism and for the promotion of world peace. It
was inaugurated by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama in 1985. This pillar is known for
its gilt panels depicting the life stories of Lord Buddha.
• The hangul or Kashmiri stag is the only species of European red deer found in
India.
• In Ladakh, they believe in Bon which is an animistic religion in which the forces of
nature are worshipped.
• The biggest attraction of the Dal Lake are the houseboats that can be seen
floating there.
• The Mughal Gardens of Srinagar is a popular tourist attraction.
• Kashmir is also known for its traditional crafts and has some of the best
handicrafts in the country; carpets, shawls, paper mache and walnut wood craft
to name a few.
• Kalhana, the first Indian history writer, gave a vivid account of the history of
Kashmir before the 10th century AD.
• The greatest Muslim king of early medieval age in Kashmir was Zain-ul-Abidin,
who ascended the throne in AD 1420 and ruled up to 1470.
• In 1587, Akbar annexed Kashmir into his vast empire.
• Jahangir, son of Akbar and next Mughal ruler, visited Kashmir 13 times and
created two beautiful gardens on the bank of Dal Lake, namely, the Shalimar
Bagh and Nishat Bagh.
• In 1819, the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed this region, but their
empire remained in place only for 27 years.
• Ladakh, also known as “Little Tibet”
• Urdu written in the Persian script is the official language of the state.
• Kawa, traditional green tea with spices and almond, is consumed all through the
day in the chilly winter climate of Kashmir.Siachen Glacier is 70 km (43 mi) long
making it the longest Himalayan glacier.
• Ranbir Canal has the largest irrigation net work of the State of Jammu & Kashmir.
• The Martand Canal is one of the oldest canals of Jammu and Kashmir State.
• Wood from Kashmir is used to make high quality cricket bats known as Kashmir
willow
• State has maximum number of Ramsar sites (4) in India
• The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960. It was brokered by
the World Bank.
• Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India with a Muslim-majority population.
 • The name Srinagar means the “City of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth”. It was
founded by Ashoka the Great.
• The present city of Srinagar was built by Pravarsena II adjoining the old city.
• India’s first floating post office is in Kashmir.

ARTICLE 370
• Article 370 of the Indian constitution is an article that gives autonomous status
to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The article is drafted in Part XXI of the Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and
Special Provisions.
• The State’s Constituent Assembly was empowered to recommend the articles of
the Indian constitution to be applied to the state or to abrogate the Article 370
altogether.
• After the state Constituent Assembly dissolved itself without recommending
abrogation, the Article 370 was deemed to have become a permanent feature of
the Indian Constitution.

ARTICLE 35A
• Is a provision incorporated in the Constitution giving the Jammu and Kashmir
Legislature a carte blanche to decide who all are ‘permanent residents’ of the
State and confer on them special rights and privileges in public sector jobs,
acquisition of property in the State, scholarships and other public aid and welfare.
• The provision mandates that no act of the legislature coming under it can be
challenged for violating the Constitution or any other law of the land.