Surankote () is a town in the
Surankote Tehsil
Surankote Tehsil is a tehsil of the Poonch district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is headquartered at the Surankote.
Administration
The Surankote tehsil is headquartered at Surankote.
Demographics
The total proj ...
of the
Poonch district of the
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n union territory of
Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to:
* Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent
* Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory
* Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...
. It occupies the Surankote valley, located between the
Pir Panjal
The Pir Panjal Range (Kashmiri: ) is a group of mountains in the Lesser Himalayan region, running from east-southeast (ESE) to west-northwest (WNW) across the Indian territories of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and then Pakistan's ...
and ranges within the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
. It receives snowfall in winters. It is famous for the existence of lakes (9 major and few small) on the Pir Panjal range which are not still connected with the outside world. Although some people visit these lakes by foot for recreation and refreshment.
Geography
Surankote township is located at some 27 kilometres to the south-east of
Poonch Poonch, sometimes also spelt Punchh, may refer to:
* Historical Poonch District, a district in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in British India, split in 1947 between:
** Poonch district, India
** Poonch Division, in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, ...
city and 221 kilometres from winter capital
Jammu
Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters and the largest city in Jammu district of the union territory. Lying on the banks of the river Tawi Ri ...
. The valley comprises 33 villages. The total projected population of the valley is 124,755 which includes
Paharis,
Gujjar
Gurjar or Gujjar (also transliterated as ''Gujar, Gurjara and Gujjer'') is an ethnic nomadic, agricultural and pastoral community, spread mainly in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, divided internally into various clan groups. They were tradit ...
s,
Bakerwal
The Bakarwal (also Bakkarwal, Bakharwal, Bakrawala and Bakerwal) are a nomadic ethnic group, who along with Gujjars are listed as Scheduled Tribes in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1991.https://tribal.nic.in/downloads/CLM/CLM_1/1 ...
s and a visible
Kashmiri Kashmiri may refer to:
* People or things related to the Kashmir Valley or the broader region of Kashmir
* Kashmiris, an ethnic group native to the Kashmir Valley
* Kashmiri language, their language
People with the name
* Kashmiri Saikia Baruah ...
minority. Twenty-four villages are located on the western slopes of the main
Pir Panjal range
The Pir Panjal Range (Kashmiri: ) is a group of mountains in the Lesser Himalayan region, running from east-southeast (ESE) to west-northwest (WNW) across the Indian territories of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and then Pakistan's ...
while 19 villages are found on the slopes of the Rattan Panchal range. The climatic conditions resemble that of
Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
. Some high peaks of this valley can be seen from Lahore on a very clear day the highest peak is
Tatakuti standing at 15502 ft. With crystal-clear water, the alpine lakes viz. Sukhsar, Neelsar, Bhagsar, Katorasar, Kaldachnisar and Nandansar, fall in this region. The historical waterfalls,
Noori chamb falls in Behramgala of this region. In local dialect the passes, alpine lakes and meadows are called gallies, sars and margs or dhoks respectively. Some of the common dhoks in
Poonch Poonch, sometimes also spelt Punchh, may refer to:
* Historical Poonch District, a district in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in British India, split in 1947 between:
** Poonch district, India
** Poonch Division, in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, ...
are Girjan, Panjtari, Isanwali, Nainsukh, Dharamarg, Pirmarg and Sarimastan etc.
Demographics
As of the 2011 census Surankot has a population of 8,892. Males constitute 53% of the population while females form 47% share. The average literacy is 73%.
Islam is followed by almost 86% population. Paharis are an agricultural tribe and are estimated to be the largest community living in Surankote.
Tourist attractions
Noori Chamb
Noori Chamb associated with the name of Mughal Queen
Nur Jahan
Nur Jahan, born Mehr-un-Nissa P ersian: نورجهان (; – 18 December 1645) was the wife and chief consort of the Mughal emperor Jahangir from 1620 until his death in 1627.
Nur Jahan was born Mehr-un-Nissa, as the daughter of a Mirza Ghi ...
is known for its waterfall. It is situated near Behram Galla in Surankote Tehsil about 45 kilometres from Poonch town. The fall of the stream gives rise to dense clouds of water vapours which engulfs the area & spread all over. The Emperor
Jahangir
Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim (30 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was the fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 until he died in 1627. He was named after the Indian Sufi saint, Salim Chishti.
Ear ...
had developed so much fancy & liking for this fall that he named it Noori Chamb after the name of his beloved queen
Nur Jahan
Nur Jahan, born Mehr-un-Nissa P ersian: نورجهان (; – 18 December 1645) was the wife and chief consort of the Mughal emperor Jahangir from 1620 until his death in 1627.
Nur Jahan was born Mehr-un-Nissa, as the daughter of a Mirza Ghi ...
. Mughal queen used to stay here for relaxation. She had got fixed a mirror beside the fall on the mountain wall where she used to have her make-up after the bath. Many locals call
Noori Chamb a milky waterfall, due to the white-coloured vapours formed during descending.
Peer Ki Gali
Peer ki Gali is a holy place situated between two villages, Poshana and Heer Pur, along Mughal road. Peer ki Gali is likely to be called the heart of the Mughal road. The name
Peer Ki Gali
The Pir Panjal Pass, also called Peer Ki Gali (or ''Peer Gali''), is a mountain pass and a tourist destination located in the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir. It connects the Kashmir Valley to the Rajou ...
has some auspicious relevance as the word 'peer' means a person devoted to religion, as per the Muslim faith. The history of this place dates back to the time of a holy and religiously elevated person named as Alamdar-e-Kashmir, Sheikh Noor-u-Din Noorani (RA) (1378 to 1441).
Transport
Road
Surankote is well-connected by road to other places in Jammu and Kashmir and India by the
NH 144A.
Rail
Surankote is not connected with railways. The nearest railway station is
Jammu Tawi railway station
Jammu Tawi (station code: JAT) is a railway station in Jammu city in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Background
Jammu Tawi is the largest railway station in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a major railhead for other places in the r ...
located at a distance of 208 kilometres.
Air
The nearest airport is
Jammu Airport
Jammu Airport, officially known as Jammu Civil Enclave, is a domestic airport serving Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated 14 km (8.7 miles) from the India–Pakistan border.
Infrastructure
Terminal 1
The terminal can only ...
located at a distance of 210 kilometres.
See also
*
Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to:
* Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent
* Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory
* Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...
*
Poonch Poonch, sometimes also spelt Punchh, may refer to:
* Historical Poonch District, a district in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in British India, split in 1947 between:
** Poonch district, India
** Poonch Division, in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, ...
References
Poonch district, India
Tehsils of India
Tourist attractions in Poonch district
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