Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty.
The high mountains of the Himalayan range are covered with snow and ice throughout the year. A number of rivers that rise from these mountains have formed beautiful valleys. Many people live in these valleys.
The people of Kashmir are very simple and hard working. Farming is the main occupation of the people. There are a number of cottage industries in the hilly regions. The farmers cut small fields into the side of the mountain slope. These fields look like huge steps in the mountains. Agriculture in such please is called terrace farming.
The farmers mainly grow rice in such fields. They also grow maize potatoes and vegetables in their terraced fields. They grow fruits like apples, peaches, cherries, and walnuts. Kashmiris stay at home and make beautiful handicrafts from wood, brass, silver and Papier- Mache. Kashmiri shawls are famous for their embroidery and fine texture. `Pashmina’ shawls are famous all over the world.
The main food of Kashmiris is rice. Another major occupation of the people in the hilly areas is rearing sheep for their wool and goats fro their meat.
Kashmiri, Ladkhi, Dogri and Urdu are the language spoken by the Kashmiris. Men and women in Kashmir wear phirans and salwars. A long cloak is called a phiran. During the winter months, people use clay pots called kangri inside their dresses. They put burning charcoal into it to keep themselves warm. The famous pilgrim centers of this place are Amaranath and Vaishno Devi temples.
Id is biggest festival in the valley. People of all religions greet one another on this occasion.
Himachal Pradesh is also full of mountains, hills, rivers and valleys. Simla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh.
The lifestyles of the people here are almost the same as those of Kashmir. The main crops grown are rice, barley and maize. Fruits like apples, apricots, plums, pears, peaches and grapes are also grown here. The apples of Himachal Pradesh are famous. Kulu, Manali and Simla are the famous hill stations in this area.
Women wear tight Pyjama and long shirts. They cover their head with a scart. Men also wear shirts and pyjama. Men used a cap popularly known as `Himachali cap’. The people of Himachal Pradesh speak Hindi and pahari. Nati is the popular folk dance.
Dussehra is the most important festival in Himachal Pradesh. On this occasion tourists from all over India come here in large numbers to see the Dussehra celebrations. The middle pats of the Himalayan mountains fall in the state of utter Pradesh. Lucknow is the capital of utter Pradesh.