Pampore

Pampore
Saffron Town of Kashmir
city
Nickname(s): Pampar
Pampore

Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Coordinates: 34°01′N 74°56′E / 34.02°N 74.93°E / 34.02; 74.93Coordinates: 34°01′N 74°56′E / 34.02°N 74.93°E / 34.02; 74.93
Country  India
State Jammu and Kashmir
District Pulwama
Elevation 1,574 m (5,164 ft)
Population (2001)
  Total 46,595
Languages Kashmiri, Urdu
  Official Urdu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Pampore or Pampur is a historical town situated on the eastern side of river Jehlum on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous for its Saffron, so known as "Saffron Town of Kashmir". The postal code of the area is 192121. The area is about 11 km from Srinagar city centre Lal Chowk.

Geography

Pampore is located at 34°01′N 74°56′E / 34.02°N 74.93°E / 34.02; 74.93.[1] It has an average elevation of 1,574 metres (5,164 feet). The town is of historic importance and is situated on the eastern bank of Veth also known as Jehlum (in Urdu). It extends from Galandar in South to Khankah Bagh in North, being in close proximity to Srinagar city with a distance of 11 km from Lal Chowk. Pampore is divided into many Mohallas namely Namlabal, Drangbal, Kadlabal, Frestabal, Tulbagh, Abu Bakr Colony, Khankah Bagh, Laterabal, Noorani Colony, Gousia Colony, Umar Colony, Allama Iqbal Colony, Sheikh-ul-Alam Colony, Sir Syed Colony. Pampore is one of the most urbanized area.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[2] Pampore tehsil had a population of 60613. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Pampore has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy. As in 2011, Pampore town had a population of 21,680, males being 11007 (51%) and females 10673 (49%). [3]

It is more a suburban town with all the facilities like fire station, hospital and other amenities. The area is Business as well as Educational Hub.

Economy

Though in earlier times Saffron Business used to be the main occupation of the people in Pampore. The town is famous for its saffron, and claims to produce the world's best saffron. Most of the people have land under saffron cultivation, and can be seen picking flowers in the flower picking season. Pampore is also famous for its baked bread Girda (also called Shirmal) baked by bread makers at Namlabal Pampore. This bread is often served at marriages and other religious functions. The economy of the town was badly hit by September 2014 floods that devastated almost everything. The town is now coming out of the destruction. Business is booming again in the main town.

Transport

National highway passes through the main town. Railway is also passing through the town and nearest railway station is Pampore railway station. Huge construction is taking place for the express-way which is believed to ease the traffic.

Religion

Most population of Pampore town follow Islam. Pampore town was home to a good number of Kashmiri Pandits, a symbol of which is seen as a temple in main heart of Pampore. Pampore has one of the oldest mosques of Kashmir known as "Khanqah-e-Aaliya or Khanqah-e-Masoodia" which is known as the 'Central Jamia Masjid of Pampore' (Markaz of Pampore). It is primarily made of wood which is said to be brought by floods as per sayings. It is said that once heavy floods washed away the old mosque and then same floods brought about with them wood that rested at the place where mosque stood earlier and Hazrat Saeed Baba Sahib a Sufi saint, decent of Hazrat Khawaja Masood Wali Pampori (R.A) decided to built the Khanqah with this wood. Very close to Historic Khanqah-e-Aaliya Wa Jamia Masjid, Pampore is the joint Shrine of two great Sufi Saints Hazrat Khawaja Masood Wali Pampori (R.A) and his Khalifa Khaas Hazrat Shaykh Sharif-ud-Din Wali (R.A) popularly known as Shog Baba Sahib.

Education

In Educational Sector the area is considered as one of the key education centres. Both government and private schools exist in the town, including:-

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, February 13, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.