“Projecting deep into the heart of Asia, Jammu & Kashmir, a component State of the Indian Union, covers an area of 222713 square Kilometers. It is nestled securely among the Himalayas at an average height of 1829 metres above the sea and is approximately135 Kilometres in length and 32 to 40 Kilometres in breadth. In the North, East and West, range after range of mountains guard the valley from the outer world and in the South it is cut off from the Punjab by rocky barriers 80 to 120 Kilometres in width. The mountains which surround Kashmir are infinitely varied in form and colour. To the north lies a veritable sea of mountains broken into white-crested waves hastening away in wild confusion to the great promontory of Nanga Parbat (8056 metres). To the east stands Haramukh (5200 metres), the grim mountain which guards the valley of the Sindh. Further south is Mahadeo, sacred to the Hindus, which seemsalmost to look down upon Srinagar, the lofty ranges of Gwash Brari (5477 metres) and the peak of Amarnath ( 5329 metres ). On the south is the Pir Panjal range with peaks of 4572 metres. Further north are the great rolling downs of the Tosamaidan (4308 metres) and in the north- west corner lies the Kajinag (3730 metres).

“Kashmir is the land of lakes, rivers and flowers. The fresh water lakes and tarns lying in the valley against the charming mountain background are the Wular, the Dal and the Manasbal. The Wular lying in the north- east of the valley is the largest fresh water lake of India . It is 20 Kilometres long and 8 Kilometres broad. The Dal lake lies at the foot of hills to the east of Srinagar and is 6.43 Kilometres long and nearly 3.2 Kilometres broad. Against the mountain background which is reflected in its calm expanse, and enclosed by trees, the lake looks superb. The Manasbal lake is the deepest, its greenish-blue waters reflecting the hills which surround it.

“Besides these lakes which are fed by the springs and melting snow streams trickling down the mountains, there are number of tarns formed by glacial action. The lakes and lake-lets found in the upper valleys around Haramukh are Gangabal, Lool Gool and Sarbal. They are at an elevation of nearly 3692 metres above sea level. Gangabal lake with its shimmering waters is held sacred by the Hindus of Kashmir. To the South -east of Pir-Panjal range lies the lovely lake of Kaunsar Nag (3938 metres) fed by a glacier and surrounded by three peaks . It is said to be a source of Jhelum river . In the Lidder Valley there are large glaciers like Kolahoi which is about 8 Kilometres in length and comes down as low as 3410 Metres. From here to the East on the way to the Amarnath cave lies the Shesh Nag at an elevation of 4307.5 Metres . Thus the valley seems to be a happy combination of mountains and lakes. There are numerous springs associated with old snake worship which gives them sanctity. No description of the valley would be complete without a mention of the river Jhelum which rising at VeriNag in the South and traversing the entire length of the valley, escapes at Baramula as a roaring foaming torrent . The Jhelum known in the valley as Vitasta is its very life.”

“There is a legend that the Kashmir valley was aeons ago, a vast mountain lake called Satisar and geologists attest this. That volcanic action had some share either in the formation of the original lake or its subsequent desiccation, is most probable and is to be traced in the mountains around the vale.The soil contains remains of fresh water fish and fossil oysters –the black shells of the water chest nut may be found in layers embedded in the earth at a height of 457 Metres above the level of the valley. These indicate a fluvial origin. Traces of beaches may also be seen on the sites of the mountains . The flat and uniformly even surface of plateaus can only be attributed to their having remained submerged for ages beneath the still, calm waters of a deep vast lake.