History of Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir is a newly created Union Territory in India consisting of two divisions: Jammu Division & Kashmir Division, both of which are administered by the Central Government of India. It is located to the north of Himachal Pradesh & Punjab and to the west of Ladakh. Jammu is known as the City of Temples & offers plentiful sightseeing opportunities with its gardens, palaces, forts & religious attractions, the most famous of which is Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra. Kashmir Valley is famous for its meadows, lakes, high altitude passes, hill stations, Mughal Gardens, Dal Lake, Shikara Ride & ancient religious sites.

Among the many interesting facts about Jammu and Kashmir, one is that it was a princely state during the rule of the British East India Company & the British Raj from 1846 to 1947. The princely state was formed after the 1st Anglo Sikh War. During the Partition of India & its political integration, Hari Singh, the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir, delayed his decision regarding integration with India.

However, on 26th October, 1947, the Maharaja acceded to India in return for military aid during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48 by signing the Instrument of Accession. That was how Jammu and Kashmir came to be a part of India. Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu & Kashmir, a separate constitution, state flag & autonomy over its internal administration, was incorporated into the Constitution.

A new chapter in the history of Jammu & Kashmir was added on 6th August, 2019, when the Government of India removed Article 370 and consequently, the special status of Jammu & Kashmir. It also passed the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which created 2 Union Territories - Jammu & Kashmir in the west & Ladakh in the East. There are now 3 administrative divisions: Jammu Division, Kashmir Division & Ladakh.

The major religion of Jammu Region is Hinduism, and it is home to important Hindu pilgrimage sites, including the famous Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra.

In Kashmir Valley, Islam is practised by the majority of people. Amarnath Cave, a major Hindu Pilgrimage Site, is located about 141 kilometers from Srinagar.