What Is The Capital Of Jammu And Kashmir?

Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost Indian state, is nestled amidst the Himalayan mountains. The state shares domestic borders with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and international borders with Pakistan and China. Jammu and Kashmir is one of the few Indian states to have more than one capital. Moreover, it is the only Indian state to have seasonal capitals. While Srinagar is the capital of the state in summer from May to October, Jammu is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir from November to April.

The Summer Capital Of Jammu And Kashmir: Srinagar

The city of Srinagar is the state’s largest city. The metropolis has an area of 294 square km and hosted a population of 1,180,570 individuals in 2011. The city is based on the banks of the Jhelum River in the Kashmir Valley of the state. Srinagar is a beautiful city with lakes, rivers, gardens, and mountains adding to the charm of the city. It is a popular tourist destination that is famous for houseboats, traditional Kashmiri handicrafts, and a rich Kashmiri culture.

The Winter Capital Of Jammu And Kashmir: Jammu

Jammu is the Jammu Division’s biggest city. It occupies an area of 167 square km and housed a population of 502,197 in 2011. The city is located on the Tawi River’s banks in the Shivalik hills region. Mountains surround the city. Like Srinagar, Jammu is also a prime tourist destination. It is the gateway to the Kashmir Valley and the famous Hindu pilgrimage site of the Vaishno Devi. It has numerous other attractions in the form of temples, mosques, palaces, gardens, lakes, etc.

Why Jammu And Kashmir Has Two Capitals?

As the season changes in the state from summer to winter or vice versa, all the offices of the government of Jammu and Kashmir move from one capital to the other. This seasonal shift of the government offices began prior to the country’s independence as part of the ‘Darbar Move’ practice, a century-old practice. 

The Darbar Move is believed to have started in the latter half of the 19th century by Ranbir Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. He would shift his capital between the two cities to avoid extreme weather conditions in the two seasons. 

The practice continues even today in the post-independence era. The smooth functioning of the government offices in the country is ensured by the adoption of proper security measures. Every year, Srinagar receives facelifts prior to the Darbar Move where the path to the Civil Secretariat, the seat of the government in the city, is renovated. Other infrastructural improvements also take place. Hundreds of trucks carry furniture, electronic devices like computers, and other important documents between the two cities during such shifts. Even the High Court of the state is relocated seasonally. Given the huge funding requires to arrange for such shifts, voices have been raised over the years in protest against the Darbar Move in independent India.