The much revered and the very enchanting river Jehlum is one of the seven rivers collectively referred to as sapta-sandhu. The river finds its mention in the ancient Indian scriptures of the Rig-Veda where is called as Vitasta. The ancient Greeks called the mighty river as Hydaspes after the titan descended god born to Thaumas-the sea god and Elektra-the cloud goddess. Hydaspes was the brother of the goddess of rainbow-Iris and Harpies- the lord of snatching winds. The historical battle between Alexander the Great and King Porus of Jehlum in 326B.C is documented as the Battle of Hydaspes. Mogul Emperor Jahangir was very fond of this river with clear blue waters and called it ‘Bebat’, though its initial course is a bit muddy.
This 772 km long river of which 177 km is covered in India has an aura about it. It is sheltered amidst the huge Himalayas and moves through the beautiful Kashmir valley along its meandering course. In Srinagar alone, seven bridges are built across its width at a number of places to facilitate movement of people, goods and vehicles over it. The charming and enthralling capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is located on either side of the valley benefiting from its rich waters to sooth its land and give life to its people. The fishermen spreading their nets in the early mornings into its wide lap sitting on their shikaras boats, the floating lotus-their deep rooted stems are collected for preparing Kashmiri dish popular as nadu set as balls in rich tomato curry and relished with steamed rice is the normal everyday scene along this Grand River.
The most enchanting sight is the presence of full equipped houseboats on River Jehlum and on the Dal Lake and the equally beautiful Nagin Lake where Kashmiri families actually live. They often rent a part of these floating homes to tourists and guests at reasonable prices. During mornings and afternoons children from families living in houseboat can be seen going and coming back from regular schools. They climb down their houseboats and set on to their journey to school located on the land on the shikaras, vigorously rafted by someone from the family and come back the same way. Interestingly there are markets and small size field beds on River Jehlum and the Dal Lake to cater to the regular needs of the locals living on the water abodes. Tourists love to see this unique arrangement. When tourists pass by through the Dal Lake riding on the shikaras whilst enjoying the scenic beauty of the valley, shop keepers and their agents whisk on their shikaras to display and demonstrate their Kashmiri made products to the tourists.
River Jehlum is the tributary of River Indus. It finds its birth from the womb of a deep spring at Verinag. This is somewhere located in the south-eastern side of Kashmir at the foot of the great Pir Panjal Mountains. It gets widened as it flows in characteristic loops and curves through the heart of Srinagar until it merges with the Wular Lake-the largest freshwater lake of Asia. It then travels along a deep narrow Baramulla gorge before entering the Pakistan part of Punjab. However once it enters the deep Baramulla gorge, the river ceases to be navigable as it forms a deep bed and takes up a rapid flow. It is the most western and largest flowing rivers that enter the plains of Punjab giving life and relief to its heat drenched soil. The impressive river finally sleeps upon its mergence with river Chenab at Trimmu in Jhang in Pakistan. The Chenab then joins Satluj when it is referred to as River Panjnad. At Mithankot the Panjnad finally confluences with River Indus and enters the Arabian Sea.
This 772 km long river of which 177 km is covered in India has an aura about it. It is sheltered amidst the huge Himalayas and moves through the beautiful Kashmir valley along its meandering course. In Srinagar alone, seven bridges are built across its width at a number of places to facilitate movement of people, goods and vehicles over it. The charming and enthralling capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is located on either side of the valley benefiting from its rich waters to sooth its land and give life to its people. The fishermen spreading their nets in the early mornings into its wide lap sitting on their shikaras boats, the floating lotus-their deep rooted stems are collected for preparing Kashmiri dish popular as nadu set as balls in rich tomato curry and relished with steamed rice is the normal everyday scene along this Grand River.
The most enchanting sight is the presence of full equipped houseboats on River Jehlum and on the Dal Lake and the equally beautiful Nagin Lake where Kashmiri families actually live. They often rent a part of these floating homes to tourists and guests at reasonable prices. During mornings and afternoons children from families living in houseboat can be seen going and coming back from regular schools. They climb down their houseboats and set on to their journey to school located on the land on the shikaras, vigorously rafted by someone from the family and come back the same way. Interestingly there are markets and small size field beds on River Jehlum and the Dal Lake to cater to the regular needs of the locals living on the water abodes. Tourists love to see this unique arrangement. When tourists pass by through the Dal Lake riding on the shikaras whilst enjoying the scenic beauty of the valley, shop keepers and their agents whisk on their shikaras to display and demonstrate their Kashmiri made products to the tourists.
River Jehlum is the tributary of River Indus. It finds its birth from the womb of a deep spring at Verinag. This is somewhere located in the south-eastern side of Kashmir at the foot of the great Pir Panjal Mountains. It gets widened as it flows in characteristic loops and curves through the heart of Srinagar until it merges with the Wular Lake-the largest freshwater lake of Asia. It then travels along a deep narrow Baramulla gorge before entering the Pakistan part of Punjab. However once it enters the deep Baramulla gorge, the river ceases to be navigable as it forms a deep bed and takes up a rapid flow. It is the most western and largest flowing rivers that enter the plains of Punjab giving life and relief to its heat drenched soil. The impressive river finally sleeps upon its mergence with river Chenab at Trimmu in Jhang in Pakistan. The Chenab then joins Satluj when it is referred to as River Panjnad. At Mithankot the Panjnad finally confluences with River Indus and enters the Arabian Sea.
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