Kashmir Valley
（重定向自Vale of Kashmir）
![](/Images/godic/202502/19/Dal_LakeVR2135.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202502/19/Kashmir_border2135.JPG")
![Kashmir valley seen from satellite. Snow-capped Pir Panjal range separates the valley from plains.](/Images/godic/202502/19/Kashmir-sat-nasa2135.jpg")
![General view of Temple and Enclosure of Martand or the Sun, near Bhawan. Probable date of temple AD 490–555. Probable date of colonnade AD 693–729. Photograph of the Surya Temple at Martand in Jammu & Kashmir taken by John Burke in 1868.](/Images/godic/202502/19/Sun_temple_martand_indogreek2135.jpg")
The Kashmir Valley is an elliptical saucer shaped valley located between the Karakoram and the Pir Panjal Range in the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, part of the larger Kashmir region. It is around 135 km long and 32 km wide, and is drained by the Jhelum River. It is the largest Himalayan valley, and along with its surrounding highlands is sometimes called as "Kashmir proper" to distinguish it from the wider region of "Kashmir", i.e., the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.