KASHMIR, a Native State in political connec tion with the Government of India. It extends from lat. 32° 17' to 36° 58' N., and long. 73° 26' to 80° 30' E. Area, 79,781 square miles ; population in 1881, about 1,500,000. The State comprises, in addition to the districts of Kashmir proper, Jamu and Punch, the governorships of Ladakh and Gilgit, including the districts of Dardistan, Baltistan, Jeh, Talail, Sara, Zanskar, Rupshu, and others ; but the provinces of Kashmir and Jamu form the more important part of tho State. The valley of Kashmir is traversed in its whole length by the river Jhelum, which rises at the cast end of the valley, and winds from one side of the plain to the other, at one time washing the base of the northern hills, at another receding to a considerable distance from them. The Jhelum flows with a tranquil stream, and being, for boats of considerable burden, navigable throughout the whole of the level country as far up as Islamabad, is the great highway for the traffic of the country. From all times the valley has been the retreat from the heats of India for the conquering races. Its oldest record is contained in the Raja Taringini, composed in A.D. 1125, giving a historical account from B.C. 1182, and describing the draining of the valley through an opening in the Baramoola mountain. A Kaurava or Naga dynasty seems to have ruled there for about 1266 years, with one of whom, Gonerda, authentic history com mences. It was annexed to the Moghul empire under Akbar in A.D. 1586. It has since been ruled over by chiefs of the Daurani and Barakzai tribes of Afghans, but was taken in 1819 by Ranjit Singh of Lahore ; and on the 15th March 1846, Gulab Singh, ruler of Jamu, a Dogra Rajput, was invested at Amritsar with the title of maharaja of Kashmir.
The ancient rulers have been the Kashmir Kaurava dynasty, 1266 years, B.C. 3714 to s.c. 1217 ; Gonerdiya dynasty, 1013 years, B.C. 318 to n.e. 28; Aditya dynasty, 192 years, B.C. 10 to A.D. 135; Gonerdiya dynasty, 592 or 433 years ; Naga, 260 years 5 months, A.D. 594 to 1296.
The principal ancient cities of Kashmir arc the old capital of Srinagari, the new capital called Pravarasenapura ; Khagendrapura and Khuna musha, built before the time of Asoka ; Vijipara and Pantasok, which are referred to Asoka him self ; Surapura, a restoration of the ancient Karnbuva ; Kauishkapura, Ihishkapura, and Jushkapura, named after the three Indo-Seythian princes by whom they were founded ; Parihasa pura, built by Lalitaditya ; Padmapura, named after Padma, the of Raja Vrihaspati ; and Avantipura, named after Raja Avautiverma.
The Kashmir temples are Marttand, Avantipore, Payech, llhaniyar, and Waniyat. Marttand, 60 feet by 38 feet, is now in ruins. It is 5 miles east of Islamabad, and is built on an elevated plateau that overlooks the valley. Its exact date cannot bo determined, but it is somewhere between the years 370 and 500 A.D. It overlooks the fittest view in Kashmir. Its enclosing courtyard is 220 feet by 142 feet. The enclosure was erected by Lalitaditya, who reigned A.D. 725 to 761. General Cunningham, however, thinks that the temple was erected by Ranaditya, who reigned A.D. 578 to 594. The courtyard of this, and of all the Kashmir temples, was constructed to admit of it being filled with water. The principal Naga figures in the niches have three or five headed snake-hoods at the back of their heads. The Avantipore temples were erected by Avantivenna, who was the first king of the Dtpala dynasty, and reigned from A.D. 875 to 904. He was it zealous Saiva. The style is rich in detail.
The Kashmirian sacred buildings are distin guished by great elegance of outline, massive boldness in the parts, and good taste in decora tion. Lofty pyramidal roofs, trefoiled door ways covered by pyramidal pediments, and great width of intercolumniation, are among the prin cipal features of the Kashmirian temple. The material generally found to have been used is a blue limestone, capable of taking the highest polish, to which circumstance Captain Cunning ham refers the beautiful state of preservation in which some of the buildings exist.