Jammu and Kasmir

It’s known more for its barren and majestic mountains, than for the highest motorable road in the world. It’s well known for the thousand hues of blues at the Tsomoriri Lake, but you can also shop for everything Tibetan at the refugee markets. Be a part of the famous Hemis Monastery Festival or blend into the quietness of the Shey Valley Palace. After all this, if you just prefer the sun and silence, then four-wheel-drive your way into the Suru Valley.

Jammu and Kashmir, disputed territory in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Commonly known as Kashmir, the territory is bounded on the north by Afghanistan and China; on the east by China; on the south by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab; and on the west by the North-West Frontier Province and the Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan have claimed all of Kashmir since 1947, when they gained independence from Britain. The territory has been divided along a cease-fire line since 1949. The Indian-controlled portion is organized as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan administers the northern portion as the Northern Areas, and indirectly controls the extreme western portion as Azad (Free) Kashmir, which has an autonomous government. China controls a portion of the territory in the east.

Kashmir covers an area of 222,236 sq km (85,806 sq mi). Indian-controlled Kashmir has an area of 100,569 sq km (38,830 sq mi) and a 2001 population of 10,069,917. Pakistani-controlled Kashmir has an area of 78,932 sq km (30,476 sq mi) and an estimated population of 3 million. The area controlled by China covers about 42,735 sq km (16,500 sq mi). The capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is Srinagar. The administrative center of Azad Kashmir is Muzaffarabad.