Handwara
Handwara | |
|---|---|
Town | |
  Handwara Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India  Handwara Handwara (India) | |
| Coordinates: 34°23′59″N 74°16′54″E / 34.39972°N 74.28167°E[1] | |
| Country | India |
| Union Territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Kupwara |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Committee |
| • Body | Government of Jammu and Kashmir |
| Area | |
• Total | 291.47 km2 (112.54 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 13,600[2] |
| Demographics | |
| • Literacy[3] | 64.39% |
| • Sex ratio[3] | 843 ♀/ 1000 ♂ |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[4][5] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 193221 |
| Vehicle registration | JK-09 |
| Website | kupwara |
Handwara (Urdu pronunciation: [hənd̪ʋɑːɽɑː] ; Kashmiri pronunciation: [hand̪ʋoːr]) is a town in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located on Baramulla-Handwara National Highway NH-701 and is governed by a municipal committee. Handwara is known for its high-quality walnuts, which are a major agricultural product of the region. The area's climate and soil are ideal for walnut cultivation. Handwara is also famous for its apple orchards alongside walnut production.
History
[edit]Sikh rule
[edit]During Sikh rule, Raja Zabardast Khan, chieftain of the Bomba tribe, led guerrilla warfare against the forces of the Sikh Empire, targeting their garrisons and posts in Handwara.[6][7]
Geography
[edit]Handwara is located at 34°24′N 74°17′E / 34.40°N 74.28°E at an average elevation of 1,582 metres (5,190 feet) above sea level. The region boasts breathtaking natural beauty, with the Pohru River—a tributary of the Jhelum—flowing through the town.
Demographics
[edit]According to the 2011 Indian census, Handwara has a population of 13,600.[8] Males constitute 54.26% of the population and females 45.74%.[8] Handwara has an average literacy rate of 64.39%.[2] The dominant religion in the town is Islam.
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Literacy
[edit]The Census of 2011 showed the literacy rate of Handwara at 64.39%, lower than the national average of 67.16%.[2] There is a gender difference in literacy, with a male literacy rate of 75.62% and a much lower female literacy rate of 51.88%.
Educational Institutions
[edit]- Government Medical College, Handwara
- Government Degree College, Handwara
- Shaheen Public Secondary School, Handwara
- New Millennium Public School
- AIIMS School of Learning
- Monarch Secondary School of Education
- Sunrise Public School
- Hill Grange Public School
- GD Goenka Public School
- Government Higher Secondary School Boys
- Government Higher Secondary School Girls
- Industrial Training Institute
- Sheikh-ul-Alam Public School, Handwara
- Webcom Industrial Training Institute, Handwara
Politics
[edit]Handwara is a region of considerable strategic significance, primarily due to its proximity to the Line of Control (LoC). This geographical positioning renders it a critical and sensitive zone in military and security discussions. Handwara was the home constituency of the late separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone. The current MLA of Handwara is Sajjad Gani Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference, who defeated Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzaan of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference by over 600 votes in the 2024 assembly elections.[10]
Municipal Committee Handwara is an Urban Local Body with 13 elected members, which administers the town.[11]
| # | Name | Municipal Ward | Reservation Status | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iram Amin Banday | Banday Mohalla | Women Open | Independent |
| 2 | Farooq Ahmad Bhat | Herpora | Open | Independent |
| 3 | Masroor Ah. Banday | Jamia Jadeed | Open | Independent |
| 4 | Dilshada Jan | Jamia Qadeem | Women Open | Independent |
| 5 | Gh. Mohd. Ganie | Khunabal Maqboolabad | Open | Independent |
| 6 | Bashir Ah. Khan | Khunabal Umerabad | Open | Independent |
| 7 | Zoona Behum | Durishpora | Women Open | Independent |
| 8 | Mumtaza Begum | Baghatpora | Open | Independent |
| 9 | Ateeqa Begum | Kachiwari | Open | Independent |
| 10 | Zamrooda Begum | Chotipora | Women Open | Independent |
| 11 | Mushtaq Ahmad Hanji | Tootigund | Open | Independent |
| 12 | Nazir Ahmed Bhat | Zalipora | Open | Independent |
| 13 | Ab. Majid Pandith | Wani Mohalla | Open | Independent |
Transportation
[edit]Air
[edit]The nearest airport is Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar located 78.8 kilometres from Handwara. There are plans to construct an airport in Panzgam near Kupwara.[12]
Rail
[edit]Handwara is not yet connected to railways. The nearest railway station is Baramulla railway station located 30 kilometres from Handwara.
Road
[edit]Handwara is well-connected with roads and highways. The NH 701 passes through Handwara alongside other intra-town roads.
Tourist Spots
[edit]- Bungus Valley[13]
- Reshwari
- Nagarwari
- Chornaar
Notable People
[edit]- Ali Mohammad Shahbaz (Poet)
- Abdul Gani Lone (Politician)
- Sajad Lone (Politician)
- Engineer Rashid (Politician)
- Noor Mohammad (Singer)
References
[edit]- ^ "Handwara (Google Maps)". Google Maps. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Handwara Town population". Census India. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Kupwara district Census 2011" (PDF). Govt of India Census. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ Khan, Raja Sajjad Latif (2020). Historical Documents on Jammu and Kashmir. Policy and Research Forum Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir. p. 3.
- ^ Griffin, Lepel Henry (1890). The Panjab Chiefs: Historical and Biographical Notices of the Volume 330. Government Printing, Punjab. p. 106.
- ^ a b c "Handwara Town Population". Census India. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ A-4 Towns And Urban Agglomerations Classified By Population Size Class In 2011 With Variation Since 1901. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (Report).
Class - II Population of 50,000 and 99,999 (Report). - ^ "Sajad Lone of JKPC wins Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara constituency". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/pdf/municipal%20Election/Result_Notifi_Corp.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Centre plans to build 11 new airports in J&K, 2 in Ladakh". Kashmir Life. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ "Jammu and Kashmir to develop Bungus Valley as an offbeat tourism hotspot - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
External links
[edit]
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