Keran is a
tehsil
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a Zila (country subdivision), district including the designated populated place that ser ...
in
Kupwara district
Kupwara district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mentio ...
,
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir may refer to:
* Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory since 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (prin ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is on the bank of the
Kishanganga River
The Neelum River, or Kishanganga River, is a river in the Kashmir region in the Indian subcontinent. It originates in the Ganderbal district of Indian-administered Kashmir, flows through the Neelam Valley into Pakistani-administered Kashmir, ...
. The village lies on the
Line of Control
The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line between the Indian and Pakistanicontrolled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but ser ...
. The Keran
block
Block or blocked may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Block programming, the result of a programming strategy in broadcasting
* W242BX, a radio station licensed to Greenville, South Carolina, United States known as ''96.3 ...
includes four panchayats: Keran, Mandian, Mandian-A, and Kundian Pathroo.
The settlement on the Pakistani side across the boundary is also called
Keran. The Kishanganga river (known by the name Neelum on the other side), flowing through the village, acts as the natural border between the two habitations. Although both sides share the same predominant religion, social and cultural practices differ significantly. Movement and interaction between the people on both sides are restricted by Indian and Pakistani authorities. Keran village is surrounded by dense forests. Shalabhatu, located in the Keran sector, is divided between Indian-administered
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir may refer to:
* Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory since 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (prin ...
and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. During the early 1990s, it was one of the most infiltration routes used by militants. The village has three border posts: Khokhri, Kulari, and Mangerta.
Following the reaffirmation of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan in 2021, the village opened to tourists for the first time, offering a unique view of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Prior to this, access was limited to locals and military personnel.
History
The village is believed to have been established by
Raja
Raja (; from , IAST ') is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian subcontinent, Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
T ...
Karan in the 11th century. In 1990, the
Indian Army
The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...
relocated the villagers due to frequent firing and shelling by the
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army (, ), commonly known as the Pak Army (), is the Land warfare, land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The president of Pakistan is the Commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the army. The ...
. A flood in 1992 destroyed much of the cultivated land. Since the fresh cease-fire accords between the governments of both countries, the valley has experienced relative peace along the border. With the opening of the border tourism in 2012, Keran has become a favored offbeat destination for tourists. The year 2023 saw the highest number of tourists visiting the Keran Valley. One of the reasons for this is the introduction of e-permissions for non-resident tourists.
See also
*
Gurez
Gurez, or Gurais (''Guráai'' in the local Shina language), is a valley located in the high Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located to the north of the Kashmir Valley, separated from it by the great Himalayan range, and is situat ...
*
Gulmarg
Gulmarg (), known as Gulmarag (; in Kashmiri language, Kashmiri), is a town, hill station, tourist destination, skiing destination, and a notified area committee in the Baramulla district of the northern Kashmir Valley of the Indian union terri ...
*
Sonamarg
Sonamarg or Sonmarg (), known as Sonamarag (; ) in Kashmiri, is a hill station located in the Ganderbal District of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located about 62 kilometers from Ganderbal Town and northeast of the capital city, Srinaga ...
*
Teetwal
Teetwal (also spelled Tithwal) is a small border village in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated on the banks of the Kishanganga River in Kupwara district, from the district headquarters and close to the Line of Control with Pakistani-admi ...
References
Villages in Kupwara district
Tehsils of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)
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