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Ancient & Medieval Against this backdrop, Kashmir was converted to Islam in the
early part of the 14th century. It was a peaceful conversion,
with many of the followers of Shah Hamadan, the noted Persian
leader, seeking refuge in the valley. Zain-ul-Ab-ul-Din, an
enlightened Islamic ruler, introduced many of the handicrafts
for which Kashmir is now famous, including carpet weaving and
papier-mâché.
The Mughal emperor, Akbar, subdued Kashmir in 1585 and
upgraded the administration by introducing more equitable
systems of land distribution. He laid the foundations of the
city of Srinagar at the base of the Hari Parbat Hill, and
his son Jahangir and grandson Shah Jahan were responsible for
developing the famous gardens there, including those at Nishat
and Shalimar, on the banks of the Dal Lake.
With the gradual decline of the Mughal rule, the Afghans
established their rule over Kashmir in 1752. The brutally
oppressive Afghan occupation was followed by Sikh rule from
neighbouring ~Punjab~. They constructed the impressive fort on
top of Hari Parbat above the old city.
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More on Kashmir Overview Geography People Economy Festivals Wildlife Adventure Tourist Information Climate Places to Visit Drass Gulmarg Jammu Pahalgam Sonamarg Srinagar Ladakh More on Ladakh Travelogues Kashmir Journey to Ladakh
Adventure |
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Since the Britishers were barred from owning land in Kashmir, a number of houseboats developed along the banks of the Jhelum River. The British presence also revitalised an interest in Kashmir's history among various scholars, such as Auriel Stein, who translated the Rajatarangini, originally completed in the 12th century, which became the definitive guide to Kashmir's early history. In 1930, a Quit Kashmir movement led by Sheikh Abdullah evolved against the Maharaja and drew considerable support from the local people, the majority of whom were Muslim and had little in common with the Hindu Maharaja.
Post Independence
In 1975, Sheikh Abdullah took charge as the Chief Minister of the State, and after his death, his son assumed office. The 1987 accord between Rajiv Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah gave the National Conference and the Congress a common political platform, but was not taken too well by the people of the state. Separatist groups demanding the autonomy of Kashmir emerged. After imposition of President's rule in the early 1990's, the state is back to an elected form of government from 1996. The situation has improved considerably since then, but the state is far from being back to its erstwhile glory as a premier chosen destination to visit. Compiled by Puneet Sachdeva |
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Editor: Romola Butalia   (c) India Travelogue. All rights reserved. |