Kashmir Valley

 

Shri Nathji had an old association with Kashmir since the days of Shri Babaji Maharaj. In 1934, He visited Kashmir with His brother Prem Nath as a tourist. Shri Nathji would always speak about the legendary Kashmiree shawls, which were of such fine pashmeena wool that they could purportedly be threaded through a finger-ring. He was deeply moved by the Kashmirees, the people of Kashmir, and had a great love for them.

The Kashmir Valley is a valley located between the Karakoram and the Pir Panjal Range in the state of of Jammu & Kashmir. It is around 135 km long and 32 km wide, formed by the Jhelum River. Kashmir Valley borders Jammu region to the south, Ladakh region to the east, and the Line of Control in the north and the west.

Mughal emperor Jahangir called it "Paradise on Earth. "According to folk etymology, the name "Kashmir" means "desiccated land" (from the Sanskrit: Ka = water and shimeera = desiccate). In the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in the mid-12th century, it is stated that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a lake. According to Hindu mythology, the lake was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son of Brahma, by cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varaha-mula). When Kashmir had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there.

Kashmir valley is a popular tourist destination for domestic (Indian) and foreign tourists. Among the popular tourist places in the valley are Gulmarg that has a ski resort, Dal Lake that has popular house boats, Pahalgam and Amarnath Temple.