Rawalakot

Rawalakot Valley

Location

Rawalakot (Urdu: راولا کوٹ) is a city in Azad Kashmir, an area of Kashmir currently occupied by Pakistan near the border of India. Rawalakot is the capital of the Poonch District of Azad Kashmir. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at elevation 1615 meters (5300ft). It is 76 kilometers (47 miles) from Kohalla, and is also linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via the neighboring districts of Azad Pattan and Dhalkot,and with Muzaffarabad via Kohalla by asphalt roads.

It is one of the most beautiful and charming city of Kashmir. With its breathtaking view and enchanting waterfalls, it is truly a paradise on earth. Surrouding villages include Hurnamaira, Bhalgran, Motialmara, Rehara and Bagh

Communications

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2005 Eathquake Damage Rawalakot

Rawalakot has an airport which has not functioned since 2000 due to lack of demand for airtravel by the local population and the indifference of the Government of Pakistan.

Two privately owned Cable Television systems are available in Rawalakot, which transmits Pakistani and international television programs. A local FM radio station has been established. Cell phone service is available through two private cell phone operators.

The local phone company is operated by Pakistan Army.

Construction of Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad pattan has considerably reduced the distance travel time. During summer the place becomes full of green grass and beautiful flowers including many varieties of roses.

Publications and Literary Activities

Respected local periodical by the name of "Dharti" is published monthly and features interesting articles covering local political and social activities and serves as a literary outlet for local creative writers and poets. This periodical has subscribers from Azad Kashmir to Calgary in Western Canada.

Many authors as well as poets have been produced in the Pearl Valley of Rawalakot.

Daily news papers from Pakistan are available in English as well as Urdu. Most read newspaper is the urdu daily jang and the most listened to Radio Statio is BBC London.

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Rawalakot Bazaar

Shopping

The town has few good bazaars where all essential commodities of life are easily available. In Rawalakot, besides Dahra rest house, some good hotels and private guest houses provide comfortable accommodation.

Hotels and Rest Houses

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Banjosa Rest HouseDr. Rehana Kausar MD, a Native of Rawalakot practicing in Texas USA.

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Banjosa Rest HouseDr. Rehana Kausar MD, a Native of Rawalakot practicing in Texas USA.

Small hotels with living accomodations are available in and around the city. The most notable being the Rawalakot International Hotel which provides decent and clean accomodations for a price ranging from Rs. 600 to 1000 per day. It is prudent to negotitiate the price. Government owned cabins are available in Rawalakot and Banjonsa. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accomdations are used by Government Officials on their tours. Privately owned Deira Guest House also accepts reservations.

Banking

Rawalakot has four Pakistani banks, National Bank of Pakistan, Muslim Commercial Bank, Habib Bank Ltd and United Bank Ltd.

Population

Rawalakot has an estimated population of 50,000. Over 80% of the population belongs to the Sudhan tribe, however other tribes are also represented. Pathans may live in Rawalakot but are not citizens of Kashmir.

Leading Personalities from Rawalakot

Sardar Ibrahim Khan the founder and First President of (Free) Azad Kashmir;

Shaikh Ghulam Ahmad, an author, educator and philanthropist.

General (Retd) M. Rahim Khan, the former Chief of Pakistan Army in East Pakistan, former Chairman Pakistan International Airlines, former Chairman Pakistan Chrome Mines Ltd and Secretary General Ministry of Defense.

M. Rashid Khan former Chairman Pakistan Banking Council. Financial Consultant.

Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan former chairman joint chiefs of staff, Pakistan Army.

Earthquake of 2005

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Cuban Medical Assistance

The town suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buidlings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the Governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.

Cuba along with other countries provided medical assistance to the population of Rawalakot for which the populace is forever grateful.