Jammu and Kashmir or as it is called the 'Paradise on earth' is the country's northernmost state covering an area 222,000 sq km (85,715 sq miles). Its astonishingly beautiful valleys and mountains along with a rich diversity of landscapes, religions and people offer a big bundle to visitors. The predominantly Muslim Kashmir valley is a mosaic of forests, ricefields, lakes and waterways, its gentle beauty now shattered by armed insurgency. The spectacular high altitude deserts of Ladakh and Zanskar provide the setting for a hardy Buddhist culture, whose villages and monasteries retain strong links with Tibet. And for the adventure junkies the state offers ample opportunities of trekking and other sports.

Places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir are: Enquire Now

1. Leh

Mysterious dust-covered Leh sits in a fertile side valley of the Indus, about 10 km from the river. Enriched by stark awe-inspiring mountains with the cold desert beyond, it is the nearest experience of Tibet in India. The town is dominated by the nine-storeyed Leh Palace, built in 1630s by Sengge Namgyal. Much of Leh's charm lies in the opportunities it offers for pleasant strolls and walks. The places you can stop at are Chang Gali, Jokhang, Namgyal Tsemo, Shanti Stupa ("Peace Pagoda"), Zorawar Fort and Sankar Monastery.

2. Matho Monastery and Hemis Monastery

The only monastery in Ladakh of the Sakyapa sect, Matho, built in the early 16th century, is also one of the few places that continue to attract many new entrants. Hemis monastery is the largest as well as the richest of the central Ladakh monasteries. Hemis is also renowned for its spectacular annual festival, dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava who took Buddhism to Tibet.

3. Ladakh

The mountains of Ladakh – literally 'many passes' – may not be as spectacular as some parts of the high Himalaya, for as even the valleys are at an altitude of 3500m the summits are only 300o m higher. Because it is desert there is little snow on them and they look like big brown hills, dry and dusty, with clusters of willows and desert roses along the streams. Yet for thousands of visitors Ladakh is a complete magical place, remote, with delightful, gentle, ungrasping people. Places of interest in Ladakh are Pang-gong Tso Lake and Tso Moriri Lake, Spangmik and Karzok.

4. Alchi Monastery

Founded in the early 12th century AD, the religious enclave of Alchi is the jewel among Ladakh's monasteries. Because Alchi was abandoned as a site of active worship, for reasons unknown, as early as the 16th century, the 12th and 13th century paintings in its temples have remained remarkably well preserved, undimmed by the soot from butter lamps and incense sticks. Of the five temples in the enclave, the finest murals are in the two oldest, the Dukhang and the Sumtek. These have been executed with great delicacy and skill by master painters who were probably from Kashmir.

5. Kargil

For travelers between Leh and Srinagar, Kargil town is a good place to stop for the night. The town is also the base for expeditions to the Suru Valley, Zanskar and Num-kun.

6. Suru Valley

One of the Ladakh's loveliest and most fertile regions, the Suru Valley boasts rolling alpine pastures, mud-walled villages and views of majestic snowcapped peaks. The upper valley is dominated by the peaks, ridges and glaciers of the Nun-kun massif which is 7,135 m (23,409 ft) high. Enquire Now

7. Zanskar

The grandeur of its landscapes, the simplicity of life in its villages, and the serene ambience in its gompas often built around ancient ciff-top meditation curves gives Zanskar the reputation of Shangri-La. The main valley is approximately 300 km long and is ringed by mountains so access to it is over one of the high passes. The most important are the Pensi-La connecting Zanskar with the Suru Valley in the west, the Umansi-La with the Chenab valley in the south and the Shingo-La with Lahul in the east. This makes for very spectacular trekking country. Important places in the town are Padum, Pipiting, Sani, Karsha, Stongde, and the monasteries in the Lungnak Valley.

8. Jammu

FThe winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir State, Jammu is located on a buff of the Shivalik Range, overlooking the northern plains. The main site of interest is the Amar Mahal, once the residence of the maharajas, and today a museum with artifacts relating to the region's culture and history.

9. Srinagar

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is a city of lakes and waterways, gardens and picturesque wooden architecture. It is a must in every itinerary to the state. The city is full of striking places and a few among them are Dal and Nagin Lakes, Mosque of Shah Hamadan, Shah Makhdum Sahib Shrine, Patthar Mosque, Mosque of Akhund Mulla Shah, Gardens like Chashmashahi, Nishat and Shalimar, and Pari Mahal.

10. Gulmarg

Gulmarg, or the "Meadow of Flowers", at an altitude of 2,730 m (8,950 ft), was developed by the British around a meadow on the northern flank of the Pir Panjal Range. The central bowl has been laid out as a golf course, one of the highest in the world. Gulmarg, together with Khilanmarg, some 300 m (984 ft) higher up in the mountains, is among India's few ski resorts.

11. Pahalgam

In the valley of the Lidder River, Pahalgam is on the southern slope of the Great Himalayas. Pahalgam, dotted with mustard fields, also offers trout fishing, golf and short expeditions into the nearby mountains. Enquire Now