Kashmir : Do’s and Donts from 1902

Kashmir : Do’s and Donts from 1902

In 1902, the Foreign Department of the British Government in India issued a Guide for foreign visitors to the territories of the Maharajah of Jammu and Kashmir and especially to the Kashmir Valley. It was called Kashmir Visitor Rules : Rules and Regulations for Observance by Visitors and Residents in the Territories of H H The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir “ Listing some of the Rules and Regulations that were stipulated in the same. It is interesting to note that some of these are still in force in some way or the other. Please note that I have copied them verbatim as given in the Handbook of which I have a soft copy. (For some of the Rules I give an explanation in the brackets for more clarity)

Section 1 Travel Rules

• Information as to the usual routes for entering and leaving Kashmir may be obtained from the Assistant Resident. The route via Jammu and Banihal is private, and may not be used except with the special permission of His Highness the Maharaja obtained through the Resident. (The present Highway Route was an exclusive preserve of the Maharaja as the normal Route which went from Rawalpindi would entail the Maharaja having to go through British territory to get to Kashmir )

• Persons subject to these rules are not allowed to travel from Kashmir to Simla (or vice versa) across the hills, or the plains (or vice versa) vid Kishtwar, Bhadarwah and Chamba, except with special permission of His Highness the Maharaja obtained through the Resident. (So no Trekking into Kashmir :)) (Even to this day there are Roads and Passes which connect Kashmir with these places but except locals few people ever use them)

Section 2 General Rules Applicable to Jammu and Kashmir

• Cows and bullocks are, under no circumstances, to be killed in Jammu and Kashmir, and visitors are requested to see that their dogs do not worry these animals.

• Visitors are required to settle all accounts before leaving Kashmir ; and should see that their servants do likewise, otherwise their servants may be detained at the last moment by order of the Court on the plea of a Creditor.

Section 3 : Rules applicable for Srinagar

• Servants of visitors found resorting to places other than the fixed latrines are liable to
  Punishment.

• Grass-cutters are prohibited from cutting grass in, or in the neighbourhood of, the station occupied by Europeans.

• Riding and cycling on the buud are strictly prohibited. The Police have had orders to see that this rule is rigorously enforced.

Section 4 : Camping Sites

• Visitors to Srinagar are !lot ptt-mitted to encamp in the Dilawar Khan Bagh situated
  within the city, nor in the Nishat, Shalimar, or Chashmah Shahi gardens in the Dal Lake. The fixed camping places are the Wunslli, Hari Singh, Ram Munshi, and Chenar Baghs at Srinagar and the Nasim Bagh on the Dal Lake. Visitors are also informed that the plot of ground at Sumbal, known as the " Nandi ICeshwar Bhairalva," should not be used for camping purposes.

• The Chenar Bagh is specially reserved for bachelors. No parties of which ladies are
  members are permitted to encamp within it.

Section 5 : House Boat Rules (Since Europeans couldn't buy / lease Land in Kashmir most of them lived in House Boats)

• No boats of any kind, including dungas, house boats, &c., shall have water-closets
  leading into the river. The water-closets of all existing house boats shall be closed, and in future no house boats shall be built with such open closets.

• No sweeper or servant shall throw into the river any kind of offensive matter or
  sewage ; sweepers of house boats must carry away all refuse and solid and liquid excreta. When in Srinagar, such offensive matter shall be deposited in places assigned by the Municipal Committee, aid while outside Srinagar, shall be deposited in some dry land away from the banks of river.

The Hari Parbat Fort over the Dal Lake. Pic from April 2017. Srinagar, Kashmir.