About of Kashmir

The Nilamata Purana
describes the Valleys origin from the waters, a lake called Sati-saras.A popular, but uncertain, local etymology of
Kashmira is that it is land desiccated from water.
During ancient and medieval period, Kashmir has been an important centre for the development of a Hindu-Buddhist
syncretism, in which Madhyamaka and Yogachara were blended with Shaivism and Advaita Vedanta. The Buddhist Mauryan
emperor Ashoka is often credited with having founded the old capital of Kashmir, Shrinagari, now ruins on the outskirts
of modern Srinagar.
Among the Muslims of the Kashmir province within the princely state, four divisions were recorded Shaikhs, Saiyids,
Mughals, and Pathans. The Shaikhs, who are by far the most numerous, are the descendants of Hindus, but have retained none
of the caste rules of their forefathers. They have clan names known as krams.
Kashmirs economy is centred around agriculture. Traditionally the staple crop of the valley was rice, which formed the
chief food of the people. In addition, Indian corn, wheat, barley and oats were also grown. Given its temperate climate,
it is suited for crops like asparagus, artichoke, seakale, broad beans, scarletrunners, beetroot, cauliflower and cabbage.