Baramulla

The history of Jammu and Kashmir is shaped by its position at the crossroads of Central Asia, South Asia, and the Himalayan world. Ancient texts and archaeological evidence suggest that the Kashmir Valley was inhabited as early as the Neolithic period, with early settlements flourishing around the region’s lakes and riverbanks. By the first millennium BCE, the area had become an important centre of early Hindu and Buddhist learning. Classical Sanskrit chronicles, such as the Rajatarangini, describe a succession of local dynasties, elaborate temple complexes, and a thriving intellectual culture that attracted scholars, poets, and monks. Buddhism spread widely across the region, and Kashmir became a major stop on the Silk Route, linking India with Tibet and Central Asia. Adi Shankaracharya revived Hinduism later on here. From the 7th century onward, Kashmir developed into a renowned centre of art, architecture, and scholarship.