| Rawalakot راولا کوٹ |
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Rawalakot
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| State | Azad Kashmir |
| District | Poonch District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,010 km2 (390 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 459 m (1,506 ft) |
| Population (1998) | |
| • Total | 371,000 |
| • Estimate (2006) | 402,535 |
| • Density | 375/km2 (971.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Calling code | 05824 |
| Number of towns | 3 |
| Number of Union councils | 21 |
| Website | www.myrawalakot.com |
Rawalakot (Urdu: راولا کوٹ), is a town in Azad Kashmir, and is the district headquarter of Poonch Division and Poonch District. It is in a beautiful valley at an elevation of 1,615 metres (5,299 ft).
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Rawalakot is situated 76 kilometres (47 mi) from Kohala, Pakistan and about 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Rawalpindi. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via Goyain Nala and Tayeen roads. It is also linked with Rawalpindi via Sudhnuti. Rawalakot is a hill station.
Surrounding villages include: Singola Awanabad, Thorar, Mong, Androte, Rehara, Hurna Maira, Kottera, Barian Pothi, Khayi Gala, Kharick, Rairbun, Topa Soon (Soon Topa 8 km from Rawalakot), Kaimon, Titrot, Motialmara, Trar Dewan, Chaire, Chapanidahar, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Parat, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Pakgali, Paniola, Banakha, Khayt Chrian, Mohri Farman Shah, Dreak, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira, Thorar, Rehara, Bangoin, Jandala, Timrota, Thala Tain and Pachiot. Bagh District lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south. The road passing through (Jalooth) Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh and Muzaffarabad. The other road that passes through Mohri Farman Shah, Shuja Abad is the shortest path that connects Rawalakot city with Bagh. Toward the west are the Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan. Rawalakot is linked with Kotli.
Average temperature during the summer varies from 60 to 75 °F (16 to 24 °C). During the winter, snowfall starts during the month of December and lasts through January. The rainy season lasts from April through June.[1]
Rawalakot has an estimated population of 50,000 largely local residents while some proportion of people from other areas working in government sector as well.
Pakistan and India agreed to facilitate travel between the two parts of disputed Jammu and Kashmir by providing entry permits to divided Kashmiri families to travel across the Line of Control (LOC). Thousands of divided families are living on either side of the LOC since 1948 after a cease fire line was drawn which divides Kashmir between Azad Kashmir and Indian Kashmir. The cease fire line was turned into the Line of Control (LOC) after the Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan in 1972. Both countries started bus services between the two Kashmirs in April 2005 for families to reunite and truck service in October 2008, for businesses to flourish. The Poonch-Rawalakot bus service was started on 20 June 2006 through Tatrinote and Chakan Da Bagh point. A total of 87 persons on first day crossed the Chakan Da Bagh point on foot after coming on board the two buses on either side.
On Saturday, October 8, 2005 a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed 73,338 people and left up to three million homeless in Azad Kashmir alone. The city of Rawalakot, the capital of the Poonch, suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buildings have been reconstructed.
In addition to the Agriculture University of Azad Kashmir, Rawalakot has a Government College for men and women, numerous higher secondary schools/high schools, and a number of private schools.
During the earthquake of October 8, 2005, many degree colleges were badly damaged, but these have not yet been rebuilt.[3]
The Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls has been established in Rawalakot to replace the Post-Graduate College for Girls, located at Kharick, which faced severe destruction in the October 2005 earthquake.
Through a joint organization of IHLAS Media Holding of Germany and DITIB (Religious Affairs of Turkish Islamic Union Germany), the Government of Turkey took on the task for the construction of Rawalakot Post-Graduate Girls College with the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority. The reconstruction effort was later joined by the Turkish Islamic Union of Netherlands, which participated through donations of Basic Health Unit facilities to the said school.
The design, construction, decoration and landscaping of the school have been carried out by Turcon Private Limited. A geological survey of the land led to the decision of construction limited to two floors. In a campus-wise set-up, all the buildings have been scattered in a 240,000-square-foot (22,000 m2) area. The educational facilities include 30 classrooms, five laboratories, a gymnasium, hostel, lodging for teachers, principal’s house, BHU, mosque, multipurpose hall, and an administration block. A total of 14 buildings exceeding a covered area of 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) have been built for the school. Basic amenities such as computers, television sets, music system, sofa sets, beds, mattresses and blankets for teachers and students have been arranged for with the help of donors. Thousands of trees and flowers have also been planted for landscaping.
Construction was done using conventional methods. Both ends of the buildings have been strengthened through shear walls, providing an earthquake-proof structure to ensure safety of the children. The materials used in construction are the same as in the developed countries.
Lightweight insulated shingle roof material has been imported and used for the first time in Pakistan for added comfort. Well-insulated U-PVC type windows have also been used.
Rawalakot has no theatres; however, the university does have some cultural events.
A local newspaper by the name of daily Dharti Rawalakot (Chief Editor Abid Siddique) is published daily. Many authors have been produced in the valley of Rawalakot. The internationally recognized magazine Mearaj International is circulated in Rawalakot, published from Kashmir, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Daily newspapers from Pakistan are available in English as well as Urdu. The most read newspaper is the Urdu-language Daily Jang; radio stations include BBC London and Voice of [1] Kashmir FM 105 Rawalakot. Parhari writers include Muhammad Sagheer Khan, Liaqet Laiq and Hameed Kamran.
Lodges, government-owned and private guest houses, and hotels are available in different parts of Rawalakot. Attractions include: mountain-based adventure tourism, rock climbing, mountaineering, trekking, summer camping and hiking, water-based adventure tourism, and paragliding.
Small hotels with living accommodations are available in and around the city. Many guest houses and Government-owned cabins are also available in Rawalakot and Banjosa. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accommodations are used by government officials on their tours.
Rawalakot has a downtown area, which consists of shops selling everything from groceries to electronic goods.