Jammu & Kashmir

In all of India, Jammu and Kashmir is the only state with a Muslim majority (64%). As its name suggests, it consists of two distinct regions. In the north lies Kashmir, with a strong Islamic presence dating back to the 14th century. The Hindu minority, by contrast, is clustered in the region of Jammu and represents 32 percent of the population.

The mighty Himalayan Mountains run through Jammu and Kashmir, which forms the northernmost tip of India. Its neighbors include Pakistan and China, and the main rivers are the Indus, the Jhelum and the Chenab.

For decades, the region of Kashmir has been at the heart of territorial disputes between India and Pakistan. Matters became even more complex in 1989, when Kashmiri militants began fighting for independence from India. It's estimated that since that time, more than thirty thousand people—Kashmiri civilians and militants, and Indian and Pakistani soldiers—have been killed. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have been displaced. Because of the political situation in Kashmir, the Indian government pays special attention to this area.

Before 1989, around 500,000 tourists flocked to the Vale of Kashmir annually from all over the world. This famous valley is surrounded on all sides by high mountains, whose slopes are covered with evergreen pines. It's referred to by some as "Paradise on Earth."

The people of this state speak Urdu and Kashmiri, and 80 percent make their living in agriculture, raising rice, wheat and corn. Woodcarving and making shawls and carpets are honored traditions in Kashmir. During the cold winters, people keep warm by carrying a kangri, or small earthen pot filled with burning coals, under their cloaks or shawls.