Jammu & Kashmir
Geographical Area : 2 22 236
Population in 2001 : 1 01 43 700
Estimated population in 2025 : 1 33 53 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Jammu & Kashmir population as percentage of India :
1.04 %
Population in 2011 : 1 25 48 926
Males 66 65 561
Females 58 83 365
Sex ratio : 883
Under 6 Sex ratio : 859
Number of Districts : 14
Number of habitated villages : 6,417
Capital
Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)
Principal Languages
Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, Pahari, Punjabi, Ladakhi, Balti, Gojri and
Dadri
History and Geography
According to the most popular legend that is also recorded in Rajtarangani
and Nilmat Purana, two most authoritative books, Kashmir was once
a large lake and it was Kashyap Rishi who drained it off the water,
making it a beautiful abode. But geologists have their own theory,
which says that geographical changes made way for the outflow of
water by subsidence of the mountain at Khadianayar, Baramulla and
thus emerged the Valley of Kashmir, the paradise on earth. Ashoka
introduced Buddhism to Kashmir in the 3rd century B.C., which was
later strengthened by Kanishka. Huns got the control of the valley
in the early 6th century.
The Valley regained freedom in 530 A.D. but soon came under the
rule of the Ujjain Empire. After the decline of the Vikramaditya
dynasty, the valley had its own rulers. There was a synthesis of
Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Lalitaditya (697-738 A.D.) extended
his rule up to Bengal in the east, Konkan in the south, Turkistan
in the northwest and Tibet in the northeast. Considered as the most
famous Hindu ruler, Lalitaditya was known for constructing beautiful
buildings. Islam came to Kashmir during 13th and 14th century A.D.
Zain-ul-Abedin (1420-70) was the most famous Muslim ruler, who came
to Kashmir when the Hindu king Sinha Dev fled before the Tatar invasion.
Later Chaks overran Haider Shah, son of Zain-ul-Abedin. They continued
to rule till 1586 when Akbar conquered Kashmir. In 1752, Kashmir
passed on from the feeble control of the Mughal emperor of the time
to Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. The Valley was ruled by the
Pathans for 67 years.
The name of Jammu figures in the Mahabharata. Recent findings of
Harappan remains and artifacts of Mauryan, Kushan and Gupta periods
at Akhnoor have added new dimensions to its ancient character. The
land of Jammu was divided into 22 hill principalities. Raja Maldev,
one of the Dogra rulers, conquered many territories to consolidate
his kingdom. Raja Ranjit Dev ruled over Jammu from 1733 to 1782.
His successors were weak, and thus Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed
the territory to Punjab. He later handed over Jammu to Raja Gulab
Singh, a scion of the old Dogra ruling family, who had grown powerful
among Ranjit Singh's governors and had annexed almost the whole
Jammu region. The State was governed by Dogra rulers till 1947,
when the Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession
in favour of the Indian Union on 26 October, 1947.
Jammu and Kashmir is situated between 32° -15' and 37° -05' north
latitude and 72° -35' and 83° -20' longitude East. Geographically,
the State can be divided into four zones. First, the mountainous
and semi mountainous plain commonly known as Kandi belt, the second,
hills including Shivalik ranges, the third mountains of Kashmir
Valley and Pir Panchal range and the fourth is Tibetan tract of
Ladakh and Kargil. Geographically and culturally, the state has
three district regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Industry
Handicrafts, being the traditional industry of the State, has been
receiving priority attention of the Government in view of its large
employment base and expert potential, paper-machie, wood carving,
carpets, shawl-making, embroidery, etc., are among Kashmir's exquisite
handicrafts. This industry, particularly the carpets earn substantial
foreign exchange. The handicrafts sector provides employment to
about 3.40 lakh artisans. The number of industrial units has gone
up. The Rs.19 crore Export Promotion Industrial Park has been established
at Kartholi, Jammu. A similar Park is being set up at Ompora, Budgam.
Jammu has Urban Haats while a similar Haat is being commissioned
in Srinagar. Software Technology park involving Rs.6.50 crore has
been commissioned at Ragreth Srinagar.
Agriculture
About 80 per cent population of the State depends on agriculture.
Paddy, wheat and maize are the major crops. Barley, bajra and jowar
are cultivated in some parts. Gram is grown in Ladakh. The area
under orchards is 242 lakh hectares. The State produces fruit worth
Rs.2,000 crore annually including export of walnuts worth Rs.120
crore. Jammu and Kashmir State has been declared as Agri Export
Zone for apple and walnuts. Market Intervention Scheme has also
been launched for improving quality fruit for export by ensuing
proper grading.
The horticulture sector generates employment for 25 lakh people
directly or indirectly.
Power
Top priority has been accorded to power sector with great thrust
to tap State's vast hydroelectric potential estimated at 20,000
MW.
New policy announced to promote private investment in small hydroelectric
projects up to 25 MW. Seven hydel projects with generating capacity
of 2798 MW have been given to NHPC for execution. The State's total
requirement met by purchasing power from national grid.
Education
The State's literacy rate is 54.46 per cent as per 2001 census,
with rural literacy of 48.22 per cent and urban 72.17 per cent.
Male literacy is estimated at 67.75 per cent and female at 41.82
per cent. There are five Universities and 41 Colleges, including
8 in private sector.
Transport
Roads: The road length maintained by PWD in the State has reached
to 15,012 km.
Railways: Because of the difficult terrain Railway network has
not developed as in other parts of the Country. At present Jammu
is the Rail head of the State and the line has been extended upto
District Udhampur only (90 kms). The work on Udhampur-Qazigund rail
line is under progress and intra rail link between Quzigund to Bramulla
is complete. However the railway traffic has been thrown open from
Baramulla to Anantnag.
Aviation: Srinagar, Jammu and Leh are the major airports connecting
Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. The Srinagar airport
has been upgraded to international level.
Festivals
On the tenth day of the bright fortnight Assuj is celebrated as
the day of victory of Rama over Rawana. Shivratri festival is also
celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir. Four Muslim festivals celebrated
in the State are Id-ul-Fitr, Idul-Zuha, Id-Milad-un-Nabi and Meraj
Alam. Muharram is also observed. The Hemis Gumpa festival of Ladakh
takes place in the month of June. A special feature of the Hemis
festival is its mask dance. In Spituk monastery in Leh, enormous
statues of Goddess Kali are exhibited once in the year on the occasion
of the annual festival which falls in January. Other festivals celebrated
are Lohri marking a climax of winter. Sinh Sankranti observed in
Ramban and adjoining villages. Mela Pat observed in Bhadarwah in
the month of August.
Tourism
Kashmir Valley is described as the paradise on earth. Chashmashahi
springs, Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Dachigam, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg
and Amarnath shrine in the Valley, Vaishnodevi shrine and Patnitop
near Jammu and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh are important tourist
destinations. Ladakh festival on 15 September and Sindhu Darshan
in June are popular events
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