| Sopore सोपोर |
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| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District(s) | Baramulla |
| Population • Density |
58,416 (2001[update]) • 1,200.754 /km2 (3,110 /sq mi) |
| Sex ratio | 1000:886 ♂/♀ |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
61 square kilometres (24 sq mi) • 1,556 metres (5,105 ft) |
Sopore (Kashmiri: सोपोर (Devanagari), سوپور (Nastaleeq)), known as Suyyapur (Sanskrit: सुय्यपुर) in antiquity,[1] is a prosperous town in the Baramulla district of Jammu & Kashmir, India. It is 35 km (22 mi) north-west of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and 16 kilometers south-west from the District headquarters of Baramulla. Sopore is a trading center and is surrounded by a large number of hamlets. The town is famous for its apples which are considered among the best in Asia.It is also known as the APPLE TOWN OF ASIA. .
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Sopore was founded by the famous Utpala engineer and irrigation minister Suyya during the peaceful reign of king Avantivarman in 880 AD.[2] As such the name of the city is Suyya-pur, which has been shortened to Sopore.[2] When the engineer Suyya was working in Sopore no people were coming forth to plunge themselves in gushing water.[2] The king, Avantiverman, thereupon ordered that a part of treasury may be thrown into the water; consequently, a large number of people plunged into the river to get as many coins as they could.[2] The skill of Suyya worked and the river was cleared of silt.[2]
Till the end of 14th century the town did not observe any significant growth. It was after the independence of India, that Sopore saw a rapid rise in population and expansion of the town. After independence, a new bridge about 1.5 miles downstream from the site of old bridge was constructed and agglomeration of Administrative Offices brought radical change in the overall development of the town. The rapid urban growth of the town can be attributed mainly to its locational advantage as the center of the valley, its rich and fertile soil which is good for agriculture, the abundance of water, potentially supportive for the rearing of a rich variety of fish due to the proximity to Wular lake and several forest resources.
Sopore is located at .[3] It has an average elevation of 1556 metres (5105 feet). Sopore occupies almost central position in the valley of Kashmir surrounded by Picturesque Lolab valley and Bandipora town in the East-north; on the west by Outskirts Of Baramulla City and on the South by Karewas of tangmarg Tehsil.
As of 2001[update] census,[4] Sopore had a population of 58416 (2001 census) and area of 61 km² making it the fourth largest town after Srinagar, Jammu and Anantnag. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sopore has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: Male literacy is 63%, and female literacy is 46%. In Sopore, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The majority of old Sopore's population resides on the banks of Jhelum River which passes through the township. Main areas in old Sopore include:Chankhan Khushalmutto, Muslim Peer, Kralteng, Baba Yusuf, Sofi-Hammam, Khankah, HathiShah, Arampora, Maharajpora, Jamia qadeem, Peer mohala and Batpora. These localities are marked by homes with old style of architecture. New Sopore consists mainly civil lines areas like iqbal nagar, New Colony, Badambagh, Noorbagh, Gousia Coloney,Ashpeer sahib, Sideeq Colony, Shalimar Colony, Moominabad, Jalalabaad,Naseerabaad,New light Colony,shah kirman colony(consisting of baba raza,bagh-e-islam,al-kousar,nigeen bagh,alamdar mohalla) Model town and many more. Sopore has quite a population inhabiting several satellite areas.
The majority of Sopore's population practices Islam, although there is a significant Hindu population. Sopore is also dotted by many places of religious significance. The more important ones include: Khan-kah Shah-i-Hamdan and Jamia Masjid. Besides there are numerous little shrines (locally called 'Astans') spread all over the place. Frequented by people from many areas, some of these spiritual places include: Baba Shukur Din Watlab Sopore, Shiekh Hamza Makhdoomi Tujar, Syed Fatullah Haqani Bomai, Saed shahib Darapora Zainagir, Daid Mouj Mundji, Arza sahib takya khan zainagair ,Hathi-Shah Sahib, Rahim-Sahib Armpora, Hab Shahib Hathlangoo, Shah-Dargah Sahib, Syed Jamal-Din Sahib, Khuj Sahib-Shiva,Baba Sahib Botingoo to name a few.
There still exist several old Hindu shrines including Rishi peer Mandir (Batpora) , Shiv Mandir,Bhairon Mandir and Kali Mandir. Historically, many in Sopore used to venerate the local Peers (holy men) as in the past, the township was home to several of these holy men. The more famous ones are: Ahad Sahib , Lassa Sahib Arm, Ama Sahib Gaknoo, Aziz Sahib Vandhome.