Jammu (Hindi: जम्मू) is one of the three regions comprising the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu borders Kashmir to the north, Ladakh to the east, Himachal Pradesh to the south and Azad Kashmir to the west. Sandwiched between the Vale of Kashmir to the north and the Daman Koh Plains to the south, the Shiwalik Range comprises most of the region of Jammu. The Pir Panjal Range, the Trikuta Hills and the low-lying Tawi River basin adds beauty and diversity to the terrain of Jammu. Home to some of the most popular Hindu shrines, such as Vaishno Devi, Jammu is one of the most famous pilgrimage tourism destinations in India. Once a seat of the Dogra Rajput dynasty, Jammu came under the control of Ranjit Singh in the 19-century and became a part of the Sikh Kingdom. Under the command of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the Rajputs were able to re-establish their control over Jammu and founded the Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir. After Maharaja Hari Singh, the last ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, signed the Instrument of Accession in 1947, Jammu became a part of the Union of India. Jammu enjoys the status of an administrative division within the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu city, the largest city in the region, is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The majority of Jammu's 2.7 million population practices Hinduism, while Islam and Sikhism enjoy a strong cultural heritage in the region.
