About the Book
Kashmir, or Kasperia as mentioned in Ptolemy's Geography, is an oval valley enclosed on all sides by high snow-capped mountains. At one time this was covered by a vast lake known as Satisar. Kashmir finds mention in several Puranas from ancient times as a land of great beauty and of learning, having produced famed sages like Utpaladeva, Patanjali, Panini and others. Kashmir has the unique distinction of having written geographical and historical records available, in contrast to the other regions of India. The 6th century Nilamata Purana lists specific religious sites with corroborating topographical information, and the magnum opus Rajatarangini composed by Kalhana in the 12th century CE provides the "river of kings (Parthivavali)" from around 3450 BCE.
The book also provides information about various long-forgotten ancient sites along with excellent illustrations and photographs. Furthermore, by throwing light on many lesser known natural wonders of the region, the author provides tourists with fascinating new options to explore during their visit to Kashmir.