The Amarnath land row seems to have taken a serious turn today with the protestors courting arrest. Around 1000 people led by the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Committee carried out demonstrations outside the police stations. Its sad to see that the area has become a battle ground of this land issue. The streets were filled with slogans like zameen wapas karo and Bam Bam bholey. What is more shocking is almost 22 people have died over this issue.

I think the issue of restoring land to Amarnath can be solved through proper discussions. The central government and state government should really gear up now in order to settle the matter before it goes any worse.

This year almost 5.50 lakh visited Amarnath Shrine, the famed religious destination in Jammu & Kashmir, India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this cave temple is located at an altitude of 12500 feet. The number of tourists visiting this place has increased manifold-it was more than 4 lakhs in 2004. One has to traverse a 48 km long slippery road to offer prayers to the Shiva Linga made entirely from ice. The saddest part is that as many as 68 people died this year on way to the Amarnath shrine.

Recently, the shrine has come to the limelight on account of the Indian government’s refusal to return land belonging to the temple. Roads were blocked and train services disrupted by some of the major poliical parties to protest this act of the government. The Amarnath land row seems to have taken a nasty look, with people adopting violent ways to show their displeasure.

Besides being a popular tourist destination, Jammu and Kashmir is also well known for its unique and exquisite collection of flowers. Some of the well known flowers that are found here include Kerria Japonica, Visteria, Tulip, Magnolia Liliflora, Forsthia Oleaceae, Carcis Siliquastrum, Prunus Kanzan and Chrysanthemum. Scattered across various regions of the state, these flowers are also exported to other nations.

There are quite a few reputed gardens in Jammu and Kashmir where one can find an assembly of these beautiful flowers. Some of the well known gardens include the Nishat Garden and the Shalimar Garden.

Kashmir, one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of the world is also an ideal spot for shopping. The place offers an eclectic assortment of various items that include handicrafts, willow works, carpets, jewelry items, shawls, copper and silver ware and wood carving equipments. Travelers around the world can now cherish and possess these items at the Kashmir Haat in Srinagar.

Sponsored by the directorate of Handicrafts, the Kashmir Haat offers a wide range of items like fabled pashminas, papier mache, wood carvings, namdhas and chain stitch rugs all under one roof.

The initiative of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department in organizing the 1st Kashmir Cup 2008 – International Rafting Championship is surely commendable. Around 16 national and international teams are scheduled to take part in the event that is being organized at Sonmarg between 16 and 19 July 2008 on Sindh river.

            Being the first of its kind, the event will surely arouse a lot of excitement among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.