"The place is more beautiful than heaven and is the benefactor of supreme bliss and happiness. It seems to me that I am taking a bath in the lake of nectar here."

- Kalidas

Kashmir is perhaps the only place to possess an authentic account of its history from the very earliest period. This past account of the valley, its culture and traditions, the rise and fall of various Kingdoms, and the victories and defeats of the people has been noted carefully, yet critically, by the sons of its soil. True, the Kashmiri literature is very rich in information about Kashmir.

The modern state of Jammu and Kashmir covered an area of 86024 square miles (prior to 1947), extending from 32deg 78' to 36deg 58' N and from 73deg 27' to 80deg 72' E. The entire state included, besides the Jammu region, Ladakh, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Punial, and Yasin. The tiny state of Chitral, located towards the north-western side of Gilgit, used to pay tribute to the Kashmir ruler. It was due to the tireless efforts of Maharaja Gulab Singh Ji (the founder of the Dogra Hindu dynasty in Kashmir) that the State took its present shape and form in the 2nd half of the 19th century.

The beauty and the salubrious climate of the valley were known even in ancient times. The mythological traditions supported fully by the research of geologists confirm that the valley originally was a huge lake called "Satisar", (the land of goddess Sati, consort of Lord Shiva) and its waters were blocked near Baramulla (ancient Varahmulla). In the words of Sir Francis Young Husband, "The huge lake must have been twice the length and three times the width of the lake of Geneva, completely encircled by snowy mountains as high, and higher than Mount Blank, while in the immediately following glacial period, mighty glaciers came wending down to the Sindh, Lidder, and other valleys even to the edge of water."

Kashmir's greatest historian Kalhan writes about his native land: "It is a country where the sun shines mildly, being the place created by Rishi Kashyap, for his glory - big and lofty houses, learning, Saffron, icy cool water and grapes rare in Heaven are plentiful here - Kailash is the best place in the three worlds (Tri-lok), Himalayas the best place in Kailash, and Kashmir the best place in Himalayas."

Sir Walter Lawrence writes, "The valley is an emerald set in pearls; a land of lakes, clear streams, green turf, magnificent trees and mighty mountains where the air is cool, and the water sweet, where men are strong, and women vie with the soil in fruitfulness." He further writes that the valley contains everything that should make life enjoyable. There is a varied and excellent sport; there is scenery for the artist and the layman; mountains for the mountaineer; flowers for the botanist; a vast field for the geologist; and magnificent ruins for the archaeologist.

The following images are just a look at a short trip of 24 hours there.

No pellets, no bullets, no bloodshed. But there was a pale silence before the storm, searching in the valley for 24 hours. As day and night passed, I saw that the land of God was too lifeless and still. Here is the short journey into Kashmir just before the situation took place!