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Kashmir valley
Vale of Kashmir
Satellite imagery of the Kashmir Valley, showcasing the snow-capped peaks of the Pir Panjal Range (left in image; southwest in compass) and the Great Himalayas (right in image; northeast in compass) flanking it on either side
A 1938 geological map of the Kashmir Valley
Length	83 miles (134 km) Northwest-Southeast
Width	20 miles (32 km)
Area	15,520.3 km (5,992.4 sq mi)
Geography
Location	South Asia
Country	Administered by India in the disputed Kashmir region
State	Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir
River	Jhelum

The Kashmir Valley, also known as the Vale of Kashmir, is an intermontane valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir, a region in Indian-administered Kashmir. The valley is surrounded by ranges of the Himalayas, bounded on the southwest by the Pir Panjal Range and on the northeast by the Greater Himalayan range. It is approximately 135 km (84 mi) long and 32 km (20 mi) wide, and drained by the Jhelum River. It forms the bulk of the Kashmir Division of Jammu and Kashmir.

Geography

The Kashmir Valley lies between latitude 33° and 35°N, and longitude 73° and 76°E. The valley is 100 km (62 mi) wide and covers 15,520.3 km (5,992.4 sq mi) in area. It is bounded by sub-ranges of the Western Himalayas: the Great Himalayas bound it in the northeast and separate it from the Tibetan Plateau, whereas the Pir Panjal Range in the Lesser Himalayas bounds it on the west and the south, and separates it from the Punjab Plain. The valley has an average elevation of 1,850 metres (6,070 ft) above sea-level, but the surrounding Pir Panjal range has an average elevation of 10,000 feet (3,000 m). The Jhelum River is the main river of the Valley. It originates at Verinag; its most important tributaries are the Lidder and Sind rivers. Unlike other areas of Kashmir region, the Kashmir Valley is densely populated owing to the availability of a large expanse of fertile flat land.

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.

Notes

See also

• Kashmir Division, the administrative division of India covering the Kashmir Valley.

References

1. ^ (a) Encyclopaedia Britannia (ed.), "Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent", Encyclopædia Britannica, retrieved 15 August 2019 (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories. China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962."; (b) "Kashmir", Encyclopedia Americana, Scholastic Library Publishing, 2006, p. 328, ISBN 978-0-7172-0139-6 C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947";
2. Vale of Kashmir, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 March 2021, retrieved 12 April 2021
3. "TOURISM POTENTIAL IN ECOLOGICAL ZONES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF TOURISM IN KASHMIR VALLEY" (PDF). core.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
4. ^ Guruswamy, Mohan (28 September 2016). "Indus: The water flow can't be stopped". The Asian Age. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
5. Andrei, Mihai (11 March 2019). "Why India and Pakistan keep fighting over Kashmir – the history of the Kashmir conflict". GME Science. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
6. Wani, Rashid A. (2014), "Historical Temporal Trends of Climatic Variables Over Kashmir Valley and Discharge Response to Climate Variability in Upper Jhelum Catchment", in Singh, Mehtab; Singh, R. B.; Hassan, M. I. (eds.), Climate Change and Biodiversity: Proceedings of the IGU Rohtak Conference, Volume 1, Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences, Springer Japan, pp. 104–105, doi:10.1007/978-4-431-54838-6_8, ISBN 978-4-431-54837-9, The valley of Kashmir was formed by folding and faulting as the Himalayan mountain chain was thrust between the Indian subcontinent and the rest of Asia. The valley runs northwest to southeast along the strike of the mountain chain and is drained by the river Jhelum which cuts through the Pir Pinjal at the Baramullah gap. This structural basin is 135 km in length with a maximum width of 40 km and ranges in altitude from 5,200 to 6,000 ft above sea level. Its floor stands 1,600 m above sea level in the Jhelum flood plain. It covers an area of about 4,865 km square. The valley is accessible from the Punjab plain through two famous passes; the Pir Panjal pass (3,494 m) and Banihal pass (2,832 m).
7. Vrinda; J. Ramanan (21 December 2017). "Doorway of the gods: Himalaya crosses five countries". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
8. Sharad Singh Negi (1986). Geo-botany of India. Periodical Expert Book Agency, 1986. p. 58–. ISBN 9788171360055.
9. KO (30 June 2022). "No Respite in Sight, Kashmir Swelters in Intense Heat Wave". Kashmir Observer. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
10. "Climatological Information for Srinagar, India". Hong Kong Observatory. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.

External links

• Kashmir Division Administration
• Kashmir Divisional Commissioner
• Kashmir Valley travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Vale of Kashmir
• Khan, Asma (26 April 2018). "A Tryst of the Heart and History along the Karakoram Highway". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 9 August 2019.

v t e Kashmir Valley
Passes	Banihal Pass Zojila Burzil Pass Sinthan top Margan Top
Valleys	Sind Valley Lidder Valley Lolab Valley Betaab Valley
Cities	Srinagar Anantnag Baramulla
Towns	Akingam Achabal Pulwama Budgam Ganderbal Shopian Bandipore Kulgam Downtown Nowshera Gurez Pattan Kangan Hazratbal Awantipora Tral Qazigund Kokernag Shangus Bijbehara Doru Pahalgam Pattan Uri Kreeri Boniyar Tangmarg Sopore Rafaiabad Karnah Kupwara Lolab Handwara Langate Charari Sharief Beerwah Chadoora Bagh e Mehtab Sumbal Sonawari Quimoh Pahloo D.H.Pora Soura Buchpora Jawahar Nagar Srinagar Rajbagh Bemina Maisuma Karan Nagar Indira Nagar, Srinagar Hazratbal Lal Chowk Sonwar Bagh Nowhatta Hazratbal Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar Lal Bazar Zukura Munawar Abad Badami Bagh Nowshera, Srinagar Singhpora Magam Kokernag Daksum
Rivers	Jehlum Sind Lidder Kishanganga Veshaw Rambi Ara
Glaciers	Kolhoi Glacier Machoi Glacier
Lakes	Anchar Lake Dal Lake Nigeen Lake Manasbal Lake Wular Lake Vishansar Lake Krishansar Lake Gangabal Lake Gadsar Lake Sheshnag Lake Tarsar Lake Nundkol Lake Satsar Lake Kausar Nag Brari Nambal Khushal Sar Gil Sar Khanpursar
Mountains	Harmukh Kolhoi Peak Machoi Peak Amarnath Peak Sirbal Peak Tatakooti Peak Sunset Peak Mahadev
Hill stations and Mughal gardens	Pahalgam Sonamarg Yusmarg Gulmarg Aharbal Nishat Bagh Shalimar Bagh Chashme Shahi Verinag Kokernag Naseem Bagh Pari Mahal Achabal
Protected areas	Dachigam Hokersar Hirpora Overa-Aru Rajparian Gulmarg
See also	History of Kashmir Kashmir conflict The Valley Of Kashmir (1895 book) Line of Control Jammu–Baramulla line Kashmiri language

v t e Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Capital: Srinagar (Summer); Jammu (Winter)
History	History of Kashmir Kashyapa Rajatarangini Kambojas Lalitaditya Muktapida Didda Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent Zayn al-Abidin Shah Mir dynasty Durrani Empire Mughal Empire Dogra Empire Sikh Empire East India Company Gulab Singh Zorawar Singh Jamwal Indian Rebellion of 1857 British Raj Kashmir Committee Partition of India Hari Singh Kashmir conflict Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts Insurgency Darbar Move Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus Development
Government and politics	Reorganisation Act (2019) Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party All Parties Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference Instrument of Accession Article 370 Elections in Jammu and Kashmir Indira–Sheikh Accord Simla Agreement Sheikh Abdullah Karan Singh Prem Nath Dogra Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad Omar Abdullah Jitendra Singh Syed Ali Shah Geelani Mehbooba Mufti Mehr Chand Mahajan Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Nirmal Kumar Singh Farooq Abdullah Ghulam Nabi Azad Yasin Malik Sajjad Gani Lone Shabir Shah Public Safety Act, 1978
Culture and places	Kashmiriyat Music Cuisine Festivals Wazwan Kanger Shikara Pashmina Basohli painting Hinduism Shaivism Sikhism Islam Alchi Vaishno Devi Amarnath Gulmarg Pahalgam Sonamarg Verinag Wangath Yusmarg Zanskar Forts National parks Lakes
Districts and divisions	Jammu division Kathua Jammu Samba Udhampur Reasi Rajouri Poonch Doda Ramban Kishtwar Kashmir division Anantnag Kulgam Pulwama Shopian Badgam Srinagar Ganderbal Bandipore Baramulla Kupwara
Cities	Srinagar Jammu Anantnag Baramulla Pulwama Kupwara Budgam Ganderbal Shopian Bandipore Kulgam Doda Poonch Rajouri Ramban Reasi Samba Udhampur Kathua Kishtwar
Towns	Akingam Achabal Pulwama Budgam Ganderbal Shopian Bandipore Kulgam Downtown Nowshera Gurez Pattan Kangan Hazratbal Awantipora Tral Qazigund Kokernag Shangus Bijbehara Doru Pahalgam Pattan Uri Kreeri Boniyar Tangmarg Sopore Rafiabad Karnah Kupwara Lolab Handwara Langate Charari Sharief Beerwah Chadoora Bagh e Mehtab Sumbal Sonawari Quimoh Pahloo Damhal Hanji Pora Soura Buchpora Jawahar Nagar Srinagar Rajbagh Bemina Maisuma Karan Nagar Indira Nagar, Srinagar Lal Chowk Sonwar Bagh Nowhatta Shalimar Bagh, Srinagar Lal Bazar Jukura Munawar Abad Badami Bagh Nowshera, Srinagar Singhpora Magam Daksum Sinthan top
Famous villages	Padgampora Iskander Pora Mazhom Rathsoon Botingoo Fatehpora Durhama Hanjiwera Hardu-Aboora Keran Kreeri Ladoora Ogmuna Seeloo Zazun Wakura Nawabagh Ratnipora Ichgam
Railways	Lines Jalandhar–Jammu Jammu–Baramulla Stations Srinagar Jammu Tawi Udhampur Qzaigund Sadura Anantang Budgam Baramulla Pampore Kakapora Nadigam Mazhom Banihal Bijbehara Pattan Sopore Awantipora Katra
Roads	National Highway 1A Jammu–Srinagar National Highway Srinagar–Baramulla highway Udhampur–Jammu highway Leh–Manali Highway Mughal Road 90 Feet Road
Local elections	2002 2008 2014 Elections in Jammu and Kashmir
Sports	Cricket Association Cricket team Football association International Cricket Stadium Kashmir International Half Marathon Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar Ladakh Marathon
Other topics	Line of Control Tourism UNMOGIP Indian Armed Forces and the Jammu and Kashmir floods, 2014 Peacebuilding Power stations Human rights abuses Crowd control Women's rights Media

34°02′00″N 74°40′00″E / 34.0333°N 74.6667°E / 34.0333; 74.6667

• Valleys of Jammu and Kashmir
• River valleys of India
• Kashmir Division