| Jammu and Kashmir Sights |
| See also the sights sections from individual towns for more information. Jammu Jammu is known as the city of temples as a number of temples wrapped in age-old myths dot the area. There are also quite a few forts and palaces. Some important places of interest are Ranbireshwar Temple, Raghunath Temple, Bahu Fort & Gardens, Peer Baba, Mahamaya Temple, Lakshmi Narayan temple, Amar Mahal Palace, Sudh Mahadev temple, Gauri Kund, Mansar Lake, Purmandal. Apart from these, 48kms away from Jammu, the shrine of the Goddess Vaishnodevi is one of the most important tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir. It is considered one of the most sacred places worship among the Hindus. Kashmir Houseboats are greatest attraction in Kashmir. The bewitching water-boat residences carved out of cedar wood are impressively finished with stately living rooms, drawing and dining rooms, carved wooden furnitures, beautifully embroidered rugs and fabrics. The main idea behind the concept of a houseboat is the fact it provides a haven for those who like to spend a quite holiday, away from the noise and bustle of the cities. Most of the houseboats have all the amenities of a five star hotel. The houseboats have everything from spacious bedrooms, sun decks washrooms with the latest amenities, electricity and plumbing etc. Here also you find some old temples and mosques of exquisite architecture. Some important attractions in Kashmir valley are Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Chashma Shahi, Pari Mahal, Hazratbal Mosque, Jama Masjid, Shankaracharya Temple, Makhdoom Sahib, Martand, Awantipur. Another important site in the region is Pahalgam. Situated at the confluence of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the river Lidder, Pahalgam is a hill station of breathtaking beauty. At a distance of 46 Kms from Pahalgam and 141 Kms from Srinagar, Amarnathji is an important pilgrimage in the region. Devout Hindus undertake the long tedious trek to reach the caves during the months of July and August, when icons of Lord Shiva are formed naturally in ice stalagmites. Ladakh The region of Ladakh bears close similarity to the barren moonscape. Here snowcapped mountains of the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram reach several thousands feet up to the arch of azure sky. Quaint little hamlets and crumbling old monasteries hide in the rocky cliffs. The prayer flags flutter in the wind and the river Indus meanders gracefully through the towering willows and poplars. Leh is the most significant town in the region, which also serves as the base for exploring further towards the Himalayas. Important sites in Leh-Ladakh region are: Leh palace, Shey Palace, Stok Palace, monasteries of Phiyang, Hemis, Thiksey, Likir, Spituk, Alchi, Lakes of Pangong and Tso-moriri etc. The state has a lot to offer to its adventure loving visitors like trekking, mountaineering, skiing, paragliding, parasliding, cycling, water sports, angling, hand gliding and hot air ballooning. |