Bijbehara

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?Bijbehara Jammu and Kashmir • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Anantnag
Population	29,703 (2001)

Bijbehara is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[1] Bijbehara had a population of 29,703. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bijbehara has an average literacy rate of 53%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 64% and female literacy of 42%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The town of Bijbehara is situated in the north of district headquarters on the banks of river Jehlum popularly known as "Veth". It is one of the famous towns of the district and was a center of Yamaraz. It is four miles to the north of Anantnag town. The Mughal Prince Dara Shiku constructed a bridge which was 100 yards long and 6 yards wide spanning the river Jehlum at Bijbehara near the Mughal garden. The bridge was washed away by heavy floods. The famous oldest Chinar of the sub-continent is located in the garden popularly called as "Padshahi Bagh" which is now under the control of Tourist Deptt. and its contract has been assigned to JK Bank for its better development and maintenance. The garden comprises 25 Chinars. The oldest Chinar is 70 feet in circumference at ground level. The Padshahi Garden is 25 canals and 10 marlas. The Dara Shiku Garden is also on the bank of the Jehlum. The garden is of 224 canals area. The Padshahi Garden and the Dara Shikwa Garden are separated by the river Jehlum which is spanned over by a bridge known as "Padshahi Bagh Bridge", thus connecting the two gardens.

Guru Nanak had also stepped to this famous town and presently a Gurudwara under name "Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Pehli Padshahi Gurudwara Bijbehara" is at this place.

The place has got some historical background too. The town of Bijbehara is filled with Chinar trees and hence it is also called "THE TOWN OF CHINARS". The Chinar trees were imported by Mughal emperors from Iran and enhance the beauty of the town. Besides the town is surrounded and intersected by plateaus and hence adds to the beauty of the town. The plateaus include the famous plateau "THE TOTAK SHAH" from which the whole town can be seen. Some portion of the District Anantnag is also visible from the same plateau.

website of District Anantnag