History of Kashmir India has immense interest for a world traveler planning for India travel. Kashmir is undoubtedly a paradise to those who have the spirit to discover the eternal beauty of the place. The backdrop of the Himalayas, the high-end valleys, and not to forget the deep Dal Lake, Kashmir has the physical history surpassing its land history. Kashmir was a place where Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism prospered giving the present day tourists, monasteries and temples as attraction.
Early history states that Kashmir was a lake, Jammu was founded by Raja Jamboolochan during 14th century B.C. The Muslim invasions to the state of Jammu and Kashmir are traced back to 1339 when Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir ascended the throne to be the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir. There was a significant era of Hindu rule in Kashmir as well. The Hindu rule ended with Queen Kota Raniwas in 1339.
In the 14th century, Islam became a dominant region and until the Independence of India, Kashmir valley had a Muslim stronghold with around 77 per cent of population. However, Kashmir came under the Mughal empire in 1540 with Mirz Haider taking the reign of the rule.
After the five-century rule of Mughals in Kashmir, the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed Kahmir valley in 1820. The British further sold it to Dogras after the Amritsar Treaty. Another landmark year was1925 in the history of Kashmir India after Hari Singh succeeded Maharaja Partab Singh. It was under his rule that the Indo-Pakistan divide was enforced with Independent India on August 15, 1947.
Indo-Pakistan partition and Kashmir
The conclusion of British Rule came with the proposal of division of Indian Territory into union of India and Pakistan. The princely states would join either India or Pakistan, Kashmir stood out as the region of dispute. With a population of 77 per cent Muslims, Hari Singh was under pressure to accede with Pakistan. There was also a “standstill” agreement with the Pakistan administration to allow trade and communication between the two. Further, there was a conflict over tax issue that resulted in unrest between the people of Poonch and Raja Hari Singh. With the rebels, getting support from the North-West Frontier Province Hari Sigh sought the help from Indian Government. It was during this period, that Hari Singh decided to sign the instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947. The Government of Pakistan in view of the “standstill” treaty opposed it.
History of Kashmir India post 1947
The conflict between India and Pakistan had the intervention of the United Nations. The year 1948, saw a ceasefire. Three more wars took place in 1965, 1971, and 1999. Presently, the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir is incorporated with the Indian Territory while Pakistani administration controls the northern region. Tourism in Kashmir gained grounds middle of the 19th century with Srinagar and Jammu acting as the major gateway to India.
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History of Kashmir
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