Jammu is located against the Pir Panjir Mountains which remain snow- capped almost all year round. Jammu is the area between the Himalayan Ranges and the Punjab plains. The area in between these two is a beautiful terrain abundant with lakes and valleys. Jammu is the second largest city of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and is the administrative capital of the state in winters since Srinagar experiences extreme snowfall during this period of the year. It is believed that King Jambu Lochan built this city in the 9th century BC and that is how the region got its name. Temples and mosques dot the region. Jammu is a traditional city constituting many ethnic groups involved in agriculture or small scale industries.
Srinagar is situated in the center of Kashmir Valley which is best known as ‘Paradise on Earth’. The region is popular for its greenery, lakes and hillocks. The city lies at the bank of the Jhelum River and is famous for its spectacular surrounding beauty and also for its postcard tourist spots. Nine bridges connect the two parts of the city. Hari Parbat and Shankar Acharya hills stand on either side of the city. Some famous buildings of the city have been declared by UNESCO as heritage sites. Popular sites include Shankaracharya Temple, Martand Sun Temple, Kheer Bhavani Temple, Pandrethan Temple, Hazratbal Mosque, Dal Lake and Wullar Lake. Srinagar is particularly famous for its Pashmina shawls and stoles, wooden crafts, paper mache products and handmade Kashmiri carpets.
Srinagar is also known for its saffron which is its royal spice. Stay options include 5 star hotels,budget hotels, resorts, houseboats, lodges and guesthouses. The nearest Railway Station is at Jammu which is around 300 kilometers away. Private taxis are available for rent and touring across the city.
Both Jammu and Srinagar are parts of the same Indian state, i.e. Jammu & Kashmir. By road, the journey can be covered in 3 hours and 50 minutes. GoAir, SpiceJet and Air India also have flights operating from Jammu to Srinagar and the rates are pretty affordable. Srinagar does not have a railway station of its own and therefore traveling to the region by train is not possible. Buses are an option to travel between these two cities and the charges lie somewhere between 110 and Rs 150. Shared jeeps will cost you Rs.300 to Rs.400 from a Jammu bus stand.
