Vol 6 Issue 2 March 2016 ISSN No : 2230-7850 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Multidisciplinary Research Journal Indian Streams Research Journal Executive Editor Editor-in-Chief Ashok Yakkaldevi H.N.Jagtap Welcome to ISRJ RNI MAHMUL/2011/38595 ISSN No.2230-7850 Indian Streams Research Journal is a multidisciplinary research journal, published monthly in English, Hindi & Marathi Language. All research papers submitted to the journal will be double - blind peer reviewed referred by members of the editorial board.Readers will include investigator in universities, research institutes government and industry with research interest in the general subjects. Regional Editor Manichander Thammishetty Ph.d Research Scholar, Faculty of Education IASE, Osmania University, Hyderabad. Mr. Dikonda Govardhan Krushanahari Professor and Researcher , Rayat shikshan sanstha’s, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur. International Advisory Board Kamani Perera Mohammad Hailat Hasan Baktir Regional Center For Strategic Studies, Sri Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, English Language and Literature Lanka University of South Carolina Aiken Department, Kayseri Janaki Sinnasamy Abdullah Sabbagh Ghayoor Abbas Chotana Librarian, University of Malaya Engineering Studies, Sydney Dept of Chemistry, Lahore University of Management Sciences[PK] Romona Mihaila Ecaterina Patrascu Spiru Haret University, Romania Spiru Haret University, Bucharest Anna Maria Constantinovici AL. I. Cuza University, Romania Delia Serbescu Loredana Bosca Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Spiru Haret University, Romania Ilie Pintea, Romania Spiru Haret University, Romania Fabricio Moraes de Almeida Anurag Misra Federal University of Rondonia, Brazil Xiaohua Yang DBS College, Kanpur PhD, USA George - Calin SERITAN Titus PopPhD, Partium Christian Faculty of Philosophy and Socio-Political ......More University, Oradea,Romania Sciences Al. I. Cuza University, Iasi Editorial Board Pratap Vyamktrao Naikwade Iresh Swami Rajendra Shendge ASP College Devrukh,Ratnagiri,MS India Ex - VC. Solapur University, Solapur Director, B.C.U.D. Solapur University, Solapur R. R. Patil N.S. Dhaygude Head Geology Department Solapur Ex. Prin. Dayanand College, Solapur R. R. Yalikar University,Solapur Director Managment Institute, Solapur Narendra Kadu Rama Bhosale Jt. Director Higher Education, Pune Umesh Rajderkar Prin. and Jt. Director Higher Education, Head Humanities & Social Science Panvel K. M. Bhandarkar YCMOU,Nashik Praful Patel College of Education, Gondia Salve R. N. S. R. Pandya Department of Sociology, Shivaji Sonal Singh Head Education Dept. Mumbai University, University,Kolhapur Vikram University, Ujjain Mumbai Govind P. Shinde G. P. Patankar Alka Darshan Shrivastava Bharati Vidyapeeth School of Distance S. D. M. Degree College, Honavar, Karnataka Shaskiya Snatkottar Mahavidyalaya, Dhar Education Center, Navi Mumbai Maj. S. Bakhtiar Choudhary Rahul Shriram Sudke Chakane Sanjay Dnyaneshwar Director,Hyderabad AP India. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore Arts, Science & Commerce College, Indapur, Pune S.Parvathi Devi S.KANNAN Ph.D.-University of Allahabad Annamalai University,TN Awadhesh Kumar Shirotriya Secretary,Play India Play,Meerut(U.P.) Sonal Singh, Satish Kumar Kalhotra Vikram University, Ujjain Maulana Azad National Urdu University Address:-Ashok Yakkaldevi 258/34, Raviwar Peth, Solapur - 413 005 Maharashtra, India Cell : 9595 359 435, Ph No: 02172372010 Email: [email protected] Website: www.isrj.org Indian Streams Research Journal International Recognized Multidisciplinary Research Journal ISSN: 2230-7850 Impact Factor : 4.1625(UIF) Volume - 6 | Issue - 2 | March - 2016 KASHMIR TOURISM – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Zahoor Yousuf Sofi Ph. D, Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University. ABSTRACT : Kashmir has often been described as “Paradise on earth and Switzerland of the east”. It has unique geographical feature and its aesthetic beauty is well known in the world. Kashmir, nestled in north-western folds of the Himalayas has enormous potential for tourism. Its colorful history, multicolored landscape, diverse ethic stock, lush green forests, variable wildlife, snow-covered peaks, giant glaciers, high altitude lakes, adventures treks, perennial streams, gushing springs, climate, invigorating, pollution free rural surrounding and strategic location provide everything that a tourist may look for to pass holidays. Thus, the valley attracts tourists from all over the world. The present paper throws light on the development of tourism and the places of tourist interest in Kashmir. KEYWORD: Kashmir, tourism, development, paradise, potential, attract, tourists. Available online at www.lsrj.in 1 KASHMIR TOURISM – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE INTRODUCTION: Kashmir is one of the popular tourist destinations in Asia. The tourism in Kashmir valley offers a wide array of places to see. The delighting backwaters, hill stations and landscape make Kashmir a beautiful tourist destination. Historical monuments, forts, places of religious importance, hill resorts, etc. add to the grandeur of the valley. Thus, they attract tourists from all over the world. Kashmir valley offers various categories of tourism. These include adventure tourism viz, water rafting, skiing and religious tourism. Tourism industry employs thousand of boatmen, porters, housemen and craftsmen. It provides live hood to more than two lakh people directly and thousands of indirectly. It also has vast potential to contribute to the state’s economy1. Tourism has emerged as an important multidisciplinary subject, embracing various aspects of human activities, ecology, economy and society. It comprises complete system of nature which in includes the man and his activities, wildlife, mountains, valleys, rivers, water, forests, trees, social and cultural system, flora and fauna, weather, climate, sun and the sea. Tourism is an organized industry, its dimensions are wide, its location varies and its benefits spread over large segments of the population. The tourists both foreign and domestic all contribute to the development of economy of the area provide employment to the people and afford opportunities to them2. DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN KASHMIR The international tourist traffic has increased incredible over the years, particularly after the world war second. India has contributed in lot to international tourism. After independence the country adopted a policy of development through planning, in 1952, when the first year plan was formulated. India has so many tourist attraction places like Delhi, Chennai, Shimla, Goa and Kashmir. Kashmir among them is one of the most beautiful tourist attraction places. Kashmir, the northern part of the state is known as the ‘paradise on earth’, and the ‘Switzerland of the east’. It is bounded by two mountain ranges, with Its scenic splendor, meandering streams, serene lakes, gushing brooks, snow- clad mountains and green pastures have all along attracted tourists from all over the world. ANCIENT PERIOD From the ancient times, the state has long traditions of tourism. It was who king Ashoka who conquered Kashmir in about 250 B.C.E. His own conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism laid the Kashmir’s gateway open for Chinese, and various other travelers who wanted to quench the thrust of Buddhist and Sanskrit knowledge. The first Chinese traveler to enter Kashmir was probably Chemong who entered the valley shortly after 404 C. E. Another Chinese traveler Fa-hein left for India along with 25 Buddhist monks in 420 C. E. Another great Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang’s visited India in 631 C. E. was corroborated with this historical event. Other great Chinese scholars who visited Kashmir are Yuan Chwang and Ou-kong. This advent of foreign students and scholars influenced the art and culture of the Kashmiri’s under the rule of king Lalitaditya. Kashmir became the synagogue of foreign scholars and erudite, and many cultural mission from other countries were received with respect3. MEDIEVAL PERIOD Tourism in the Kashmir traversed its course from the time of Mughal monarchy till its present day of turmoil. Mughal kings and princes laid the beautiful gardens, utilized springs, erected forests, enriched the land with a variety of vegetation and flowers, planted tempting fruit trees, revolutionized handicrafts and skills and left behind them, the dignity of Mughal architecture in their monuments. Kashmir is an attraction to be cherished, as a land to be explored, and a subject to be written about, Available online at www.lsrj.in 2 KASHMIR TOURISM – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE became famous in the world since Bernier, told the world Cachemire (Kashmir), the paradise of the Indies. François Bernier, the French Physician at the court of Aurangzeb, the first European to enter the valley of Kashmir in 1665 says. “it is not without reason that Mughals called it the Terrestrial Paradise of the India, that Akbar tried so hard to conquer and that his son Jahangir fell so much in love with it”4 In the medieval period, the travel period was widened when diplomats from overseas kingdom started to pour into the state. Mughal emperors initially developed it as a “summer health resort.” Akbar himself visited the valley in 1589, and it was on his directions that boats in the Dal lake were transformed into residential one. Mughal kings showed lot of interest towards the valley. After Akbar, Jahangir spent lot of time in the Kashmir, and says that “Agar Firdous bar rue Zamin ast, Hamin ast- o,Hamin ast-o-Hamin ast”. (If, there is a paradise