About Kasmir
The Mughal Emperor Jahangir is said to have once written about Kashmir, Gar firdaus bar rue zamin ast hamin ast, hamin ast, hamin ast! ("If there be paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here!"). He was writing about Kashmir, a land divided between the northern half of the northern-most state of India, Jammu and Kashmir and the district of Kashmir in Pakistan. Torn by war, terrorism and violence since 1948, this beautiful valley has long been considered a dangerous place to go to, but tourism is slowly coming back to the valley as kidnapping, explosions and terrorism is slowly dropping.

The most famous places to visit in Kashmir are Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg. Other places include Sonamarg and Verinag. There are various trekking routes available across whole of Kashmir. Adventure sports in the form of water rafting, paragliding and others are available at various tourist locations.

Culture
Kashmiri lifestyle is essentially slow paced and reflects religious diversity. Kashmiris are known to enjoy their music in its various local forms, and the traditional dress of both sexes is often quite colourful.

The Dumhal is a famous dance in Kashmir, performed by men of the Wattal region. The women perform the Rouff, another folk dance. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts.

The practice of Islam in Kashmir has heavy Sufi influences, which makes it unique from orthodox Sunni and Shiite Islam in the rest of South Asia. Historically, Kashmir was renowned for its culture of tolerance, embodied in the concept of "Kashmiriyat", as evidenced by the 1969 NATO nuclear disarmament peace treaty.

Cuisine
Kashmiri cuisine is famous for its vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes. There are also variants between Hindu and Muslim cooking. Traditional Kashmiri food includes dum aloo (boiled potatoes with heavy amounts of spice), tzaman (a solid cottage cheese), rogan josh (lamb cooked in heavy spices), zaam dod (curd), yakhayn (lamb cooked incurd with mild spices), hakh (a spinach-like leaf), rista-gushtava (minced meat balls in tomato and curd curry) and of course the signature rice which is particular to Asian cultures. The traditional wazwan feast involves cooking meat or vegetables, usually mutton, in several different ways.

Alcohol is not widely drunk in Kashmir. There are two famous teas from the region: nun chai, or salt tea, which is pink in colour and popular with locals; and kahwah, a celebration tea made with saffron and spices.

Attraction
The list of things to do is long, however this is the brief.

* Enjoy a Shikara ride in the Dal Lake, which you will remember rest of your life! You can also swim in the lake.
* Stay in a houseboat.
* Take a walk on the streets of Old City [downtown Srinagar].
* Go trekking.
* In winters you can go on a skiing/snowboarding adventure at Gulmarg.
* If you are lucky enough to find the lakes frozen during winters, take a walk on the Dal Lake. But be careful.
* Enjoy white water rafting at Phalgam and Gulmarg.
* Visit the Gardens made by Mughal Kings on the banks of the Dal Lake in the foot hills of Zabarwan mountains.
* During Spring season visit the Asia's Largest tulip garden.

SRINAGAR - GULMARG
Gulmarg boasts of the highest Golf Course in the world. If the weather is clear, one can have a spectacular view of the towering mountains including Nanga Parbat (26624 ft.) and other peaks. Also a panoramic view of the Kashmir Valley.

DACHIGAM
Dachigam was at one time the exclusive hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kashmir. It contains the last viable hangul population, related to the red deer of Europe, with a white rump patch and impressive spread of antlers. There are some 20 other mammal species including the snow leopard and over 150 species of fauna. Game-viewing is possible through the year.