It was during the seventeenth century that the world sat up and took notice of the beautiful state of Jammu and Kashmir when the great Mughal Emperor, Jehangir had announced that if there was any place that was worthy enough to be known as a paradise on earth, it was definitely the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Such was the beauty and serenity that the place offered its guests. The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir can be divided into three important areas for the purpose of simplicity and understanding. They are Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.

Jammu is famous for its Vaishno Devi Temple that attracts over a million pilgrims every year. Kashmir Valley is known for its beautiful snow-clad peaks, lush and green gardens, placid lakes and streams and some incredible natural beauty. Ladakh is famous for its countless Buddhist monasteries that are architecturally brilliant and for its awesome trekking trails that is sure to excite every adventure lover.

Tourist Places in Jammu and Kashmir

Gulmarg

This is probably one of the best and largest skiing resorts in the Asian continent. This place receives the maximum snowfall in the state and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The thick forest covers that prove the perfect canopy for the white skiing grounds attract tourists from all over the globe. Visitors to Gulmarg would surely feel rejuvenated at the pollution free air and the chill calmness of the mountains.

Sonmarg

Known as the Meadow of Gold, this place is dominated by a sprawling cover of farmlands that glow in green. Coupled with the beautiful blue hues of the skies and the white snow cover of the mountains, Sonmarg is a must-see place in Jammu.

Ragunath Temple

Located right in the centre of the Jammu city, this famous temple is dedicated to Lord Ram. The interiors of the temple dazzle in gold and there are small shrines in this temple which tell us the story of the great epic of Ramayana.

Bahu Fort

Home to the famous temple of Goddess Kali, this fort was built many thousands of years ago by Raja Bahulochan and was renovated by the Dogri rulers who took over the reins of Kashmir.

Mubarak Mandi

This is the main market complex of Jammu and is a perfect amalgamation of Mughal, Rajasthani and Gothic architectural styles. The palace of mirrors in this complex is a huge tourist attraction. The Pink Hall of this complex houses the world famous Dogra Art Museum which contains around 800 rare exhibits of paintings from different styles.

Tourist Places in Kashmir Valley

Dal Lake is an important tourist attraction in Kashmir Valley. During winters, this lake turns into ice and many skating activities are conducted here. During summers, when the ice melts, there are beautiful houseboats and boat bazaars on this lake which attract lots of tourists. Kashmir Valley, in itself, is famous for the huge number of gardens it houses like the Nishant and Shalimar Gardens and the Chashme Shahi. There are three important and ancient temples in valley. One is the world famous Amarnath caves, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that during winters, Lord Shiva appears by Himself in the form of an Ice Lingam. Crores of devotees flock to this place to offer their prayers at the caves where the Lingam is formed. Once summer sets in, the lingam melts automatically. Another famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in this valley is the Sankaracharya temple. The Hari Parbat Temple on top of the Sharika Hills is dedicated to Goddess Sharika Bhagwati. Some of the famous hill stations in this area are Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Aru and Betaab Valley.

Tourist Places in Jammu

The area of Jammu in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is home to many historic forts, monuments, temples and hill stations. Some of the culturally rich forts that are found here are Ramnagar Fort, Bhimgarh Fort and the Old Fort of Punj. The hill stations that are situated here are Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Sanasar and the ecological tourist places of Shivkhori and Mantalai. Vaishno Devi shrine, Sheshnag (dedicated to the Snake God), Durga shrine, Narasimha Temple and Parvati Shiva temple are some of the historic shrines of this area.

Tourist Places in Ladakh

Ladakh dominated by calm and serene Buddhist monasteries and relaxation centres are home to many steep and silent valleys like Leh and Nobra. The Tso Moriri and Pangong Lakes and Zanskar trekking trails of Ladakh are huge tourist attractions are flooded with thousands of international and domestic tourists during seasonal times.