Cradled in the mighty Himalayas, Jammu & Kashmir is north Indian state of India. It is a land of breathtaking vistas and over 100 majestic historic sites.
Jammu and Kashmir has been a cradle of Hindu and Buddhist devotion for millennia. The ruins of the 8th-century Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag illustrate a masterpiece of Himalayan Hindu architecture. The Avantiswami and Avantishwara Temples in Avantipur, dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva respectively, reflect the grandeur of the Utpala dynasty. Nearby, the octagonal Shankaracharya Temple on a hill above Srinagar impresses modern architects and still draws pilgrims and history lovers alike. The Bumzuva Cave Temples, carved into limestone cliffs, along with Nandi and Sharada sites such as Harmukta ganga, Bheda tirtha and Papsudana-Kaptesvara offer a glimpse into ancient Hindu tirthas.
The historic sites of Kashmir also attest to it storied religious diversity. Buddhism flourished in its valleys connected to Afghanistan and central Asia. These survive as ruins of monasteries and mounds filled with murals, manuscripts, and relics of once vibrant Buddhist subtraditions.