Introduction :-
Jammu & Kashmir are really three regions; the foothills' plains of Jammu; the lakes & blue valleys of Kashmir rising to alpine passes, & the high altitude plains & starkly beautiful mountains of Ladakh which lies beyond those passes. Kashmir shares a sensitive border with Pakistan & so when peace is enjoyed at the border, there is prosperity in Kashmir & when there is unrest at the border, Kashmir's fortunes correspondingly declines. Kashmir is located in the heart of south-central Asia amongst the most populace countries of the world. It shares its borders with China, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
History :
Jammu & Kashmir has always been a centre of conflict for independent India. When India and Pakistan became independent, there was much controversy over which country the region should go to. The population was predominantly muslim but J & K was not a part of 'British India', it was a 'princely state' and as such the ruler had to decide which way the state move - to Muslim Pakistan or Hindu India. As Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre relates, the indecisive maharaja only made his decision when a Pakistani prompted invasion was already crossing his borders and the inevitable result was the first Indo-Pakistani conflict. Since that first battle Kashmir has remained a flashpoint for relations between the two countries. Two-thirds off the region is now Indian and one-third is Pakistani; both countries claim all of it. Furthermore, Kashmir's role as a sensitive border zone applies not only border zone applies not only to Pakistan. In 1962, the Chinese invaded Ladakh, prompting India to rapidly reassess it's position in this remote and isolated region.
Cities of Jammu & Kashmir
 Drass, Pahalgam, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Jammu.
Tourist Attraction of Jammu & Kashmir :-
Puga Valley
The Puga Valley is famous for its hot water springs. Every year hundreds of visitors come to this valley for a bath in these springs as this is known to help people suffering from rheumatism and skin diseases.
Hazratbal
This mosque on the shores of the Dal Lake, houses one of the most sacred Muslim relics, a hair of Prophet Muhammad, brought here in 1700 AD by Khawaja Noor-ud-Din from Bijapur. On specific days in the year, it is shown to the faithful who gather in the courtyard.
Raghunath Temple
Centred in the heart of the city, the Raghunath Temples constitute among the biggest groups of shrines in north India. Multi-hued marble sculptures and exquisite wall paintings attract attention to these legendary temples.
| 
