Draft:Kashmir Region

Kashmir
Kàsheer
Region of India
Map of Kashmir and surrounding regions
Country	India (administered)
Union territory	Jammu and Kashmir
Largest city	Srinagar
Government	Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Area	15,948 km² (6,158 sq mi)
Dimensions	Length: 135 km (84 mi) Width: 32 km (20 mi)
Elevation	1,620 m (5,310 ft)
Population (2011)	Total: 6,888,475 Density: 431.93/km² (1,118.7/sq mi)
Language (official)	Kashmiri
Demonym(s)	Kashmiris, Koshur
Highest peak	Machoi Peak (5,458 m)
Largest lake	Wular Lake (260 km²)
Longest river	Jhelum River (725 km)
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)

Kashmir region is a historical, geographical and cultural area located in the central Himalayas. In many classical and medieval sources, the name Kashmir referred specifically to the upland basin centred on modern Srinagar, inhabited predominantly by Kashmiri-speaking people. Over time, especially during the Dogra period, the word Kashmir also came to be used in a broader political sense to describe the entire princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which included regions ethnically and linguistically distinct from the central area.

The region is known for its unique language, climate, landscape, and historical continuity, and today forms a significant part of the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Etymology

The origin of the name Kashmir is traditionally linked to the Sanskrit term Kaśmīra. Texts such as the Nilamata Purana describe the land as having been a lake drained by the sage Kashyapa, giving rise to interpretations like Kashyapa-mira ("Kashyapa's lake"). Other theories associate the name with Kasmira, meaning a high, cold region. Medieval Persian and Arab authors, including Al-Biruni, consistently used Kashmir to refer to the central Himalayan basin whose inhabitants possessed a distinct culture and language.

Climate

The Kashmir Valley has a moderate climate, which is largely defined by its geographic location, with the towering Karakoram Range in the north, Pir Panjal Range in the south and west, and Zanskar Range in the east. It can be generally described as cool in the spring and autumn, mild in the summer and cold in the winter. As a large valley with significant differences in geo-location among various districts, the weather is often cooler in the hilly areas compared to the flat lower parts.

Summer is usually mild and fairly dry, but relative humidity is generally high and the nights are cool. Precipitation occurs throughout the year and no month is particularly dry. The hottest month is July (mean minimum temperature 16 °C, mean maximum temperature 32 °C) and the coldest are December–January (mean minimum temperature −15 °C, mean maximum temperature 0 °C).

The Kashmir Valley enjoys a moderate climate but weather conditions are unpredictable. The record high temperature is 37.8 °C and the record low is −18 °C. On 5 and 6 January 2012, after years of relatively little snow, a wave of heavy snow and low temperatures (winter storm) shocked the valley covering it in a thick layer of snow and ice.

The Valley has seen an increase in relative humidity and annual precipitation in the last few years. This is most likely because of the commercial afforestation projects which also include expanding parks and green cover.

Srinagar
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     48     7 −2     68     8 −1     121     14 3     85     21 8     68     25 11     39     30 15     62     30 18     76     30 18     28     27 12     33     22 6     28     15 1     54     8 −2 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: HKO
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.9     45 28     2.7     47 31     4.8     57 38     3.3     69 46     2.7     76 51     1.5     85 59     2.4     86 65     3     85 64     1.1     81 54     1.3     72 42     1.1     59 34     2.1     47 29 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

History

Early period

Archaeological discoveries indicate human settlement in the region since the Neolithic age. Early political formations consisted of Naga tribes and Indo-Aryan groups. Buddhist and Hindu traditions flourished over the centuries.

Mauryan and Kushan rule

Under Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE), the region became part of the Mauryan Empire and an important centre of Buddhism. The Kushans later influenced the area and strengthened cultural links with Central Asia.

Karkota dynasty

From the 7th to the 9th century CE, the Karkota dynasty ruled as a major Himalayan power. Under Lalitaditya Muktapida, Kashmir engaged in extensive diplomatic, cultural, and military contacts.

Utpala and Lohara dynasties

Following the Karkotas, the Utpala and Lohara dynasties governed the region. Kalhana's Rajatarangini and its sequels provide a continuous narrative of this period.

Shah Mir Sultanate (1339–1586)

In 1339, Shah Mir established a Sultanate that lasted nearly 250 years. Islam spread widely during this era, and rulers like Zain-ul-Abidin promoted the arts, religious tolerance, and administrative reforms.

Mughal rule (1586–1752)

The Mughal Empire annexed Kashmir in 1586. It became a well-known imperial retreat, celebrated for gardens, architecture, and cultural interaction.

Afghan rule (1752–1819)

Following Mughal decline, the Durrani Afghans conquered the region. Chroniclers describe this period as marked by heavy taxation and political instability.

Sikh rule (1819–1846)

The Sikh Empire took control in 1819. Administrative reorganisation occurred, though economic pressures continued.

Dogra rule (1846–1947)

After the 1846 Treaty of Amritsar, Kashmir became part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under Dogra rule.

Post-1947

During the Indo–Pak war of 1947, the princely state was divided. The Kashmir region came under Indian administration, where it remains today.

Geography

The Kashmir region is an upland intermontane basin surrounded by the Pir Panjal range to the southwest and the Greater Himalayas to the northeast. The terrain includes fertile alluvial plains, alpine meadows, snow-fed rivers, and glacial lakes. The Jhelum River forms the principal drainage system.

Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are mild. The climate supports orchards, saffron fields, dense forests, and high-altitude pastures. Wildlife includes the Hangul deer, Himalayan black bear, snow trout, and many migratory birds.

Demographics

Religion

Religions in Kashmir Division (2011)

1. Islam 97.16 (95.4%)
2. Hinduism 2.45 (2.41%)
3. Sikhism 0.81 (0.80%)
4. Christianity 0.17 (0.17%)
5. 0.16 (0.16%)
6. 0 (0.00%)
7. Others 0.9 (0.88%)
8. Not Stated 0.2 (0.20%)

The Kashmir is largely Muslim (97.16%) with a very small Hindu (2.45%) and Sikh (0.81%) population. The Muslim population consists of both Shias and Sunnis. The majority of the Muslim population is made up of ethnic Kashmiris, with a significant minority of Pahari-Pothwari and Gujjar-Bakarwal people mainly living at the border area adjoining Pakistani administered Kashmir. The valley had a small but visible minority of Kashmiri Hindus prior to the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in the 1990s. It is estimated that during the peak of the insurgency, 60,000 - 100,000 were forced to leave the valley.

Language

Kashmir division: mother-tongue of population, according to the 2011 Census.

1. Kashmiri (85.3%)
2. Gojri (6.27%)
3. Pahari-Pothwari (4.18%)
4. Hindi (1.26%)
5. Others (3.01%)

The majority of the population speaks Kashmiri (85.28%), while the remainder speaks either Gujari, Pahari-Pothwari or Hindi.

Urdu is also widely understood as a literary language in Kashmir due to it being a medium of instruction in schools.

Divisions

Divisions of Kashmir

Kamraz

The northern cultural region of the Kashmir Valley. It generally includes areas such as Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, and adjoining localities. The region is noted for its dialectal features and folk traditions.

Maraz

The southern cultural region of the Valley, covering districts such as Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama. Maraz has its own linguistic and cultural characteristics, particularly in rural communities.

Central Kashmir

The central part of the Valley, often referred to simply as Central Kashmir, includes Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal. While it is not considered a separate traditional division like Kamraz and Maraz, it forms the administrative and urban core of the region.

Districts

District map of Kashmir

The Indian administrative districts for the Kashmir Valley were reorganised in 1968, and 2006, each time subdividing existing districts. Kashmir Division currently consists of the following ten districts:

Name of district	HQ	Area					Population
		Total (km2)	Total (sq mile)	Rural (km2)	Urban (km2)		2001 census	2011 census
Anantnag	Anantnag	3,574	1,380	3,475.8	98.2		778,408	1,078,692
Kulgam	Kulgam	410	158	360.2	49.8		394,026	424,483
Pulwama	Pulwama	1,086	419	1,047.5	38.6		441,275	560,440
Shopian	Shopian	312	120	306.6	5.4		211,332	266,215
Budgam	Budgam	1,361	525	1,312.0	49.1		607,181	753,745
Srinagar	Srinagar	1,979	764	1,684.4	294.5		1,027,670	1,236,829
Ganderbal	Ganderbal	259	100	233.6	25.4		217,907	297,446
Bandipore	Bandipore	345	133	295.4	49.6		304,886	392,232
Baramulla	Baramulla	4,243	1,638	4,179.4	63.6		843,892	1,008,039
Kupwara	Kupwara	2,379	919	2,331.7	47.3		650,393	870,354
Total		15,948	6,158	15,226.4	721.5		5,476,970	6,888,475

Economy

Agriculture and horticulture form the backbone of the region’s economy. Apples, cherries, walnuts, almonds, and apricots are major products. The region is one of the world's historically significant saffron-growing areas. Rice cultivation is widespread due to fertile alluvial soils.

Traditional crafts—such as Pashmina shawls, carpets, wood carving, and papier-mâché—play an important economic role. Tourism, forestry, and small-scale manufacturing also contribute to the economy.