85+ Unknown Facts About Jammu and Kashmir You Must Know !

Jammu and Kashmir is the only place in India where Saffron (Kesar) is grown commercially. 🌸

The Saffron grown in Pampore is considered the most expensive spice in the world by weight. 💰

The region was originally a massive lake named 'Satisar', according to ancient geological and mythological texts. 🌊

Legend says the sage Kashyapa drained the water of Satisar, creating the valley of 'Kashmira'. 🏔️

J&K has two capitals: Srinagar (Summer) and Jammu (Winter). ❄️☀️

The centuries-old practice of moving the entire government secretariat between capitals (Darbar Move) was stopped in 2021. 🛑

The Chenab Bridge in J&K is the world's highest railway bridge, standing 359 meters above the river bed (higher than the Eiffel Tower). 🌉

Wular Lake in Bandipora is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia. 💧

The Jhelum River is the only major Himalayan river that flows through the Kashmir valley. 🏞️

Gulmarg is famous for having one of the world's highest gondolas (cable cars), reaching an altitude of 3,979 meters. 🚠

The 'Betaab Valley' in Pahalgam was renamed after the Bollywood movie 'Betaab' (starring Sunny Deol) was shot there. 🎬

Drung Waterfall in Gulmarg completely freezes in winter, creating a massive icicle structure that attracts thousands. 🧊

The Zojila Pass is one of the most dangerous mountain passes in the world, connecting Kashmir to Ladakh. 🚧

Jammu is known as the 'City of Temples' due to the sheer number of historic temples in the region. 🛕

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar is Asia's largest tulip garden. 🌷

Kashmiris use a portable heater called a 'Kangri' (a clay pot with hot coals inside wicker) under their clothes to stay warm. 🔥

The traditional long cloak worn by Kashmiris to beat the cold is called a 'Pheran'. 🧥

The 'Samovar' is a traditional Kashmiri copper kettle used to brew tea, which has a central chamber for hot coals. ☕

Kashmir has a unique pink-colored tea called 'Noon Chai' (Salt Tea), which is salty, not sweet. 🧂

Another famous drink is 'Kahwa', a green tea brewed with saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and almonds. 🍵

The 'Wazwan' is a royal multi-course meal in Kashmiri cuisine, typically consisting of 36 different dishes. 🍽️

In a Wazwan, almost 15-30 dishes are preparations of meat (mutton/lamb). 🥩

The 'Gushtaba' (a meatball in yogurt gravy) is known as the 'Dish of Kings' and is usually served at the end of the meal. 👑

Kashmir is famous for its 'Kandur' culture; every neighborhood has a traditional baker (Kandur) who bakes fresh breads like Girda and Lavasa. 🥖

The willow wood found in Kashmir is the best in the world for making cricket bats. 🏏

Most international cricketers prefer bats made from Kashmiri Willow or English Willow (which also grows here). 🌳

The Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu attracts over 10 million pilgrims annually. 🚶‍♂️

The Amarnath Yatra involves trekking to a cave at 3,888 meters to see a natural ice lingam that waxes and wanes with the moon. 🌕

The Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar houses a relic (Moi-e-Muqqadas), believed to be a hair strand of Prophet Muhammad. 🕌

The Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar is built on a hilltop and dates back to 200 BC (though rebuilt later). 🕉️

The Kheer Bhawani Temple has a mysterious spring; locals believe the water changes color to predict the future (black/red implies bad times). 🔮

Jammu's Raghunath Temple is one of the largest temple complexes in northern India. 🏛️

Martand Sun Temple (now in ruins) was once a grand structure dedicated to the Sun God, famously featured in the movie 'Haider'. ☀️

The Charar-e-Sharif is one of the oldest Sufi shrines in Kashmir, dedicated to Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani. 🕊️

The 'Khooni Nala' on the Jammu-Srinagar highway is said to be haunted by a woman in a white sari who caused accidents. 👻

Udhampur Army Quarters are rumored to be visited by 'flying lights' or spirits of soldiers at night. 🔦

Gawkadal Bridge in Srinagar is considered one of the most haunted spots due to a tragic massacre that occurred there in the 90s. 🌉

Locals speak of the 'Abdullah Jinn', a spirit that supposedly haunts a house in Srinagar and throws people's shoes out. 👞

The 'Twin Villages' of Kunan and Poshpura have dark legends associated with past tragedies, making visitors uneasy. 🌑

Pari Mahal (Palace of Fairies) was once an observatory but is now rumored to be home to Djinns who dislike disturbance. 🧚‍♀️

Jammu and Kashmir was a 'Princely State' ruled by the Dogra dynasty before 1947. 👑

Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state. 🤴

J&K had its own separate constitution and flag until August 2019 (Article 370 abrogation). 🇮🇳

Before 2019, Indian citizens from other states could not buy land in J&K. 🚫

On October 31, 2019, the state was officially bifurcated into two Union Territories: 'J&K' and 'Ladakh'. 🗺️

The 'Instrument of Accession' was signed on October 26, 1947, merging J&K with India. ✍️

The 'Line of Control' (LoC) is the de facto border separating Indian-administered J&K from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. 🚧

The Siachen Glacier is the highest battlefield on earth, located in the nearby Ladakh region (formerly part of J&K state). 🎖️

Kashmir has been a center of Sanskrit learning for centuries; the term 'Sharda Peeth' refers to the seat of learning in Kashmir. 📚

Dal Lake has a 'Floating Post Office', the only one of its kind in the world. 📮

The post office actually functions on a houseboat and even has a philately museum inside. ✉️

Locals grow vegetables on the lake using 'Floating Gardens' called 'Rad'. 🥬

There is a 'Floating Market' on Dal Lake where vendors trade vegetables on boats at 5 AM every morning. 🛶

The lake freezes completely during harsh winters, allowing kids to play cricket on the ice (though it's dangerous). ❄️🏏

Dal Lake is actually divided into four basins: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nigeen (sometimes considered separate). 🌊

The 'Pashmina' wool comes from a special breed of goat (Changthangi) found in the high altitudes of Ladakh/Kashmir. 🐐

A true Pashmina shawl is so fine it can pass through a wedding ring. 💍

J&K has its own official state animal: the 'Hangul' (Kashmir Stag), which is critically endangered. 🦌

The state bird is the 'Black-necked Crane' (for Ladakh region previously) and the Kalij Pheasant for J&K. 🐦

The Chinar tree is the symbol of Kashmir; its leaves turn blood-red in autumn, creating a spectacular view. 🍁

Buying a Chinar tree requires government permission because it is a protected species. 📜

Jammu and Kashmir has 5 official languages: Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, and English. 🗣️

The 'Mughal Road' was historically the route used by Akbar and Jahangir to travel to Kashmir from Lahore. 🛣️

Bahu Fort in Jammu has a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, and monkeys there are treated as sacred. 🐒

The Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel is India's longest mountain railway tunnel. 🚇

Kashmir is often compared to Switzerland for its landscapes, and many Swiss diplomats have agreed with the resemblance. 🇨🇭

The 'Rogan Josh' dish gets its red color naturally from 'Mawal' (Cockscomb flower), not just red chili. 🌶️

Jammu is famous for 'Kaladi', a type of processed cheese that is fried and eaten as a street snack (Kaladi Kulcha). 🧀

The Akhnoor Fort in Jammu is built on the banks of the Chenab river and holds archaeological significance from the Harappan era. 🏺

J&K has the highest per capita consumption of meat in India. 🍖

There is a place called 'Magnetic Hill' (technically in Ladakh, formerly J&K) where cars appear to roll uphill against gravity. 🚗

The 'Hemis Festival' (Ladakh/J&K culture) features masked dances by monks. 🎭

Kashmir was the first state in India to implement land reforms (Land to the Tiller) in the 1950s. 🌾

Srinagar is listed as a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art. 🎨

The 'Houseboats' of Kashmir were originally invented by the British because they were not allowed to buy land to build houses. 🏠⚓

There is a distinct community called 'Hanji' who live permanently on water/houseboats. 🌊

Kashmir is home to the 'Markhor', the world's largest species of wild goat, found in the Pir Panjal range. 🐐

The 'Dachigam National Park' is the only home left for the Hangul stag. 🌲

Jammu's 'Mubarak Mandi Palace' mixes Rajasthani, Mughal, and Baroque European architecture styles. 🏰

The 'Shikara' boats are not just for tourists; locals use them as water taxis and for transporting goods. 🚕

Kashmiris have a unique bread called 'Telvor' or 'Chochwor', which looks like a bagel and is eaten with tea. 🥯

The 'Atta' (flour) used in Kashmiri bakeries is often fermented, similar to sourdough. 🍞

During winter, schools in Kashmir close for nearly 3 months (Winter Vacation) due to the snow. ☃️

The 'Bhand Pather' is the traditional folk theatre of Kashmir, often used for satire and social commentary. 🎭

Kashmir has a village called 'Dras' (now in Ladakh/border) which is the second coldest inhabited place on earth. 🥶