Bandipore

Bandipore (also spelled Bandipora, Bandipur, Bandipura) (Kashmiri: بنڈ پُور, बंडपूर, Bandapuur, Hindi: बांडीपुर, बांडीपोर, बांडीपोरा, बांडीपुरा; Urdu: بانڈی پور) is a new District in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is bounded on the west by Kupwara district on the south by ganderbal and baramulla District, on the east by Kargil district and on the north by Neelum District and on the north east by Skardu district, Pakistan. It is located on the northern banks of Wular Lake - the biggest lake of clean water in Asia. Bandipore town has a Nishat Bagh similar to the one in Srinagar. in kashmiri there is a famous phrase about Bandipora or in other words Bandipora is famous for three A's - A'lim(knowledge), Adab(good habits or literature) and Aab(Water).

Geography

Bandipore is situated on the banks of the Wular, the largest fresh-water lake in Asia which is home to a lot of migratory birds. Inadvertent dumping of the polluted river waters and sewage affluence has led to a pandemic growth of algae in the waters of the Wular which is threatening the lake and its supporting life itself. Bandipore is also a stepping town to the higher reaches of Razdan, Gurez and Tragbal.

The famous lolab valley in Kupwara district is adjacent to the Bandipora. It is just 30 km from Bandipora via Aaloosa village. Once this road is upgraded it will become a lifeline of the lolab valley and it will provide an additional route to the Kupwara district.

Bandipora was the connecting link between North India and Central Asia via the silk route. At Pazalpora village there was a custom and immigration department which is presently there as a forest check post. There are strong links between skardu gurez and Bandipora.

Tehsils

Bandipore is divided into three tehsils

• Gurez
• Sonawari
• Bandipura

Demographics

As of 2001 Indian census, Bandipore had a population of 25,714. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Bandipore has an average literacy rate of 51%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with 65% of the males and 35% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

It has a Muslim majority though there are a few villages where Pandits also lived before their migration to the other parts of the country. The Pandit population were in large numbers at Ajar, Kalusa, Kharapora, Mantrigam etc. The Pandit families at Ajar did not migrate. They are living happily next to their Muslim neighbors. The temple at Kalusa (or Kaloosa) on the banks of Madhumati, known as Sharda Mandir dates back to olden times. It has a very big and old tree which is a few hundred years old and is a rare tree of its type. This is popularly known as Bran, a revered tree. There are many villages in this newly formed district named after Hindu gods and goddesses such as Chittarnar, named after Chakerishwar. The forest training school of Kashmir is located in Bandipore. It was established in 1905. This institute is a premier body in the conservation process of the forest department.

The majority of the population speaks Kashmiri. Tehsil Gurez is Shina speaking and has a Shina majority. There are few Pashtun villages on the line of control. The famous Kishan Ganga Hydro Electric Project is also located in the Gurez Tehsil of Bandipore. Project is worth Rs. 200 Crore (Rs. 2 billion).It will generate electricity of 320 MW, which will be distributed from Kashmir.

Education

The literacy rate in the main town of Bandipore and adjoining areas is quite high. The Pandit population had nearly 100 percent literacy. Bandipore has produced eminent scholars and poets.

Towns and villages

The important villages of Bandipore are Dachigam,Ahamshareef, Ajar, Aloosa, Aragam, Arin, Ashtangoo, Ayathmullah, Barazullah, Bonakoot, Binleepora, Doban, Gamroo, Garoora,Gundpora(pore), Gurez, Kalusa, Kehnoosa, Kemah, Khayar, Kharapora,Konan, Lawaypora, Mader, Mangnipora, Mantrigam, Muqaam, Nadihal, Nusoo, Panar, Panzigam, Papachan, Patushai, Pathkoot, Qazipora,Quil, Sonarwani, Sumlar, Tangath, Turkpora, Wanagam, Watapora, Waven, etc.

One of the sacred places of Hindus is Danishwar, locally also called as Chota Amar Nath. It a cave in dense forests of Erin. Pilgrim have to crawl about 60 meters to reach a cave where there are engraved features of Lord Shiva. People used to go there on the Sharvan Purnima, the date on which Amar Nath Yatra is being performed.

Tulbul project

The Tulbul project is a "navigation lock-cum-control structure" at the mouth of the Wular Lake. It envisages regulated water release from the natural storage in the lake to maintain a minimum draught of 4.5 feet in the river up to Baramulla during the lean winter months.

There has been an ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over this project since 1987. The project was conceived in the 1980s and work began in 1984. It was stopped midway in 1987 after Islamabad raised objections alleging that the project violates the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. India is insisting on the revival of work on this project. The Jhelum, which flows through the Kashmir valley, provides an important means of transportation of goods and movement of people. To sustain navigation throughout the year it is considered necessary to maintain a minimum depth of water, which will permit movement of boats. India holds that this is permissible under the treaty, while Pakistan maintains that the project is a violation of the treaty. India says suspension of work is harming the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir and also depriving people of Pakistan of irrigation and power benefits that may accrue from regulated water releases.

                              '==Notable residents=='

Some of the prominent personalities of the area include the famous scholars and intellectuals like ''''Nizam-ud-din Bhatt''''-A Great Politician,who is alone responsible in bringing transparency,particularly from Ikhwan Rajj---Drive bandipora wd new look of development--Much literate and highly honest--Remained == a sucessful Journalist,Lawyer and a great social analyst.... ''''''Yavour Haji'''''''''--

== Great Analyst,, Young in age but with lot of experience,, a famous anchor having great hold in variety of languages and is mostly popular for his multi behaviour')))) ' Kulsoom Nizamuddin Bhat-- Great Journalist,Gold Medalist,spent long time wd Dainik Bhaskar and is presently working as PRO ERA. Abdul Ahad Nadim - a great poet, Ghulam Hassan Shah Khuihami - a historian who is famous among the historians of the world, . The contemporary scholars and intellectuals of 20th century of universal fame include Professor Manzoor Ahmed Fazili - a political analyst and historian, Late Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani - leader of world fame assassinated on 3 November 1999, Abdul Rashid Nazki - famous Kashmiri poet and Sahitya Academy Award winner, Dr. Muhammed Maroof Shah - Scholar and an authority on Mysticism.Dr Muhmmad Amin Malik famous physicist and top researcher and a great writer working as Associate Professor in Higher education Department belongs to Ayathmulla chittarnar of District Bandipora.Dr Qayoom Lone famous anesthesiologist working as Professor at SKIMS srinagar also belongs to Ayathmulla chittarnar of District Bandipora.Other famous personalities include Dr Altaf Gauhar Haji- first qualified Surgical Oncologist of the State, Dr. Abdul Qadir Haji - a prominent cardiologist in United States with specialization in electrophysiology and Dr Irfan ul hassan haji- first Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in the district and 7th in state. Hilal Ahmad Mir of QuilMuqam famous for his work on post harvest technology(Horticulture) presently Sr.Consultant British supermarket's in United Kingdom.'Prof. G. R. Khan - Professor National Institute of Techenology,Ghulam Nabi Khan(also known as Dada Sir) One of the most great personalities Mr. Ahmadullah Affandi - a prominent figure of J&K Bharat Scouts and Guides who has been awarded with a number of state and national awards, Dr. Nazir Ahmad Mir - world famous for his work on food technology particularly "fruit preservation", Dr. Manzoor A. Zarger - an oncology researcher in United States who works for world renowned National Institutes of Health of United States government, Er. Mohammad Shafi Wani - founder president of All India National Institutes of Technology's Non-Teaching Employees Federation,Dr. Mohsin Pervez - Computer Science Scholar, and Mr. Muhammad Saleem Baig - a notable marketing research specialist. . One of the revolutionary Educationist of bandipore Syed Mohammed Syed Andrabi who happens to be the first post graduate in Persian from bandipore, has played a gigantic role in shaping the basic education system of the area. His son Naeem Akhtar Andrabi became a secretary rank officer, also posted as seccretary to the CM, retired Secretary Tourism, also served as secretary GAD,Presently Chief Spoksperson Peoples Democratic Party. One of the doyens of Journalism Muzamil Jaleel is one of the editors of Indian Express And visiting scholar at the American Universities happens to be from Bandipore. Other notable personalities of Bandipora also include Mr. J.N. Bhat - retired Indian High Commissioner, Dr (Gen) S.K. Kaul - one of the first Cardiothoracic surgeons of the Indian Army, Mr.Kailash Nath Kaul- the first editor of Martand Newspaper which was the first Hindi News paper of Kashmir, Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Bonakoot Bandipora, a well known veterinarian has qualified KAS examination at a very young age. Mr. S.N. Bhat, IAS, Dr. B.K. Bhat, Dr. S.N. Kaul, Dr. S.K. Kaul, Dr. A.N. Bhat,andDr. Saligram Bhat.

Attractions

Bandipora plays host to one of the famous Forest Training and Research Institute in Jammu and Kashmir. Its a 3KM distance from the main town. Apart from being beautiful, the Darul-Ullom-Rehamia [School For Philosophers] is the largest religious Institution in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bandipora is know for tracking, Mountaineering and Fishing. The Famous Arin Nallah is home to one the most exotic Trout [Rainbow Trout, Silver Trout and Gray Trout]

Arin Nallah Trout Heaven

Mount Harmukh

Local Trout Hunter

For Mountaineers The Mt Harmukh remains the main attraction, It is located in the eastern side of the town. Commercial Cabs ply on that route till Kodara that is the farthest point where the cabs stop, and there onwards the terrain becomes hilly and one has to track [17KM] till the higher reaches of Mount Harmukh, Sheera Sir [Lake of Spirits] acts as a base camp for all the mountaineering expeditions for Mt Harmukh. In the north Lies Guraze, One of the most beautiful places in Jammu and Kashmir is 86km from Bandipora. Commercial Cabs ply on this route during summers, however in winters the route remains closed due to heavy snowfall.

The place is surrounded by areas of scenic beauty and ranges such as Sarendar, Kudara, Vewan, Mowa and Tresangam, all of which are inhabited by the Gujjars ("Bakarwals"). Although being a scenic place where peace and tranquility is in the environment, Bandipora has never been considered a tourist place and does not figure anywhere on the tourist map of Jammu and Kashmir.