Bandipore

Bandipore (English: /ˌbændɪˈpɔː/) or Bandipora is the headquarters of district of Bandipore in the

union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located on the northern banks of Wullar Lake—
the second-largest freshwater lake in Asia. Bandipora has a terraced garden similar to that of
Nishat Bagh in Srinagar. Bandipora is bound by mountains on three sides and by Wular Lake on
the fourth. Bandipora is famous for three A's - A'lim (knowledge), Adab (good habits or literature)
and Aab (water). As can be known from the folklore, the name of Bandipora originated either
from Bund of Wular as Bund e pur, from the local folk-singing bands (bāṇd) as Baand e pur or
from the enclosed (band) geographical location as Bandh e pur. Bandipora is bound by
mountains on three sides and by Wular Lake on the fourth.
 Bandipore
Bandipora

Town

Bandipore

Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India

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Coordinates: 34.4167°N 74.6500°E (https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Bandipore&
params=34.4167_N_74.6500_E_type:city(37081)_region:IN-JK)

Country India
Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir
District Bandipora
Area[1]
 • Total 13.40 km2 (5.17 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 37,081
 • Density 2,800/km2 (7,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Bandipori, Bandiporiya, Bandipuri, Bandipuria
Languages
 • Official Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[2][3]
Demographics[1]
 • Literacy 75.13%
 • Sex ratio 838
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 193502
Vehicle registration JK15
Website bandipore.nic.in (http://bandipore.nic.in)

History
In 1963, the town of Bandipore was gutted by a fire, which destroyed hundreds of shops and
houses. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, ex-Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, visited the town
soon after the fire and said that the fire took place at the wrong time.[4]

Geography

Bandipore is situated on the banks of the Wular, a large fresh-water lake that 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. The main source of pollution to Wular is Jhelum River. The Jhelum River
carries all the waste from Srinagar city and other surrounding areas and deposits it in Wular.
Despite being the richest wetland of South Asia and the largest freshwater lake in Asia, no steps
have been taken to save Wular. 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 Bandipore. It is just 30 kilometres
(19 mi) from Bandipore via Aloosa 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.

Bandipore was the connecting link between North India and Central Asia via the Silk Road. At
Pazalpora village there was a customs and immigration department which is now a forest
check-post. Due to this fact, Bandipore is also known as the gateway to Central Asia. There are
strong links between Skardu, Gurez and Bandipore.

Demographics
Religion in Bandipore Town (2011)[5]

   Islam (95.04%)
   Hinduism (4.57%)
   Sikhism (0.08%)
   Christianity (0.14%)
   Buddhism (0.03%)
   Jainism (0.003%)
   Not Stated (0.13%)

As of 2011 Indian census,[5] Bandipore had a population of 37,081. Males constitute 54% of the
population and females 46%. Bandipore has an average literacy rate of 66.53%, lower than the
national average of 74%, with 75% of the males and 55% of females literate. Twelve percent of
the population is under 6 years of age.

It is a Muslim-majority region, though there were few villages where Pandits also lived before
they mass migrated in the early 1990s. The Pandit population was in large numbers at Ajar,
Sonerwani, Kaloosa, Kharapora, Mantrigam, Aragam, etc. Some Pandit families at Ajar and
Kaloosa did not migrate. The temple at Kaloosa, known as Sharda Mandir, dates back to old
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 Chakreshipora, 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 speak Kashmiri, some speak Gojri and Pahari, Also Tehsil Gurez is
Shina-speaking and has a Shina majority. There are few Pashtun villages on the Line of Control.
The Kishan Ganga Hydro Electric Power Project is also located in the Gurez Tehsil of Bandipore.
The project is worth INR 15000 Crores. Presently it generates 330 MW of electricity for the
neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir (state).

Education

The literacy rate in the main town of Bandipore and adjoining areas is quite high. However, as per
the 2011 census, for the whole district, the literacy rate is one of the lowest in Jammu and
Kashmir.
 Attractions

Arin Nallah Trout Heaven

Bandipore is the location of the Forest Training and Research Institute in Jammu and Kashmir
[established in 1911]. It is 3 km distance from the main town. The Darul Uloom Raheemiyyah
(School for Philosophers) is the largest religious institution in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the
largest Islamic institution of valley headed by Moulana Mohammad Rahmatullah Mir Qasmi.

Bandipore is known for trekking, mountaineering and fishing. Langmarg is one of the beautiful
meadows. The famous Arin Nallah is home to one of the most exotic trout (Rainbow Trout, Silver
Trout and Gray Trout).

Mount Harmukh

Local Trout Hunter

For mountaineers, Mount Harmukh remains the main attraction, It is located on the eastern side
of the town. Commercial cabs ply on that route till Kudara that is the farthest point where the
cabs stop, and from there onwards the terrain becomes hilly and one has to trek 17 kilometres
(11 mi) to the higher reaches of Mount Harmukh. Sheera Sar [Lake of Spirits] acts as a base
camp for all the mountaineering expeditions for Mt Harmukh.
To the north lies Gurez, 86
kilometres (53 mi) from Bandipore. Commercial cabs ply on this route during summers, however,
in winters the route remains closed due to heavy snowfall. However, recently a DySP ranked
officer, Sheikh Aadil, started an initiative, GoGurez, inviting people from all over India to visit
Gurez to experience the untouched beauty of the Land. The initiative has received a warm
response from people.

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

Transport

Road

Bandipore is well-connected by road to other places in Jammu and Kashmir and India by the
Bandipora–Srinagar Road.

Rail

Bandipora is not connected with railways. The nearest railway station is Sopore railway station
located at a distance of 34 kilometres.

Air

The nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport located at a distance of 65 kilometres.

References
 1. District Census Handbook Bandipora, Part B (https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0109_PART_B
_DCHB_BANDIPORE.pdf) (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. pp. 20–21. Retrieved
10 March 2021.

2. "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222

037.pdf) (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

3. "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020" (http://risingkashmir.com/news/parliament-passes-j

k-official-languages-bill-2020) . Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.

4. Aslam, Faheem (4 January 2011). " 'Neglected then, neglected now' " (https://web.archive.org/web/20110
107204657/http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/Jan/4/-neglected-then-neglected-now--50.as
p) . Greater Kashmir. Archived from the original (http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/Jan/4/-ne
glected-then-neglected-now--50.asp) on 7 January 2011.

5. "Bandipora Town Population" (https://www.censusindia2011.com/jammu-kashmir/bandipore/bandipora/

bandipore-mc-population.html) . Census India. Retrieved 11 July 2021.

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Last edited 20 days ago by MB