Poonch (town)

The town is at elevation of 1,021 m (3,349 ft),[2] on the bank of the Poonch River at its point of confluence with the Betar Nala. The Poonch river originates in the Pir Panjal range and flows west till the town of Poonch, after which it turns southwest. The Betar Nala originates northeast of the Poonch town, in the Pakistan-administered portion of the former district.

The Pir Panjal range of mountains separates the Poonch Valley from the Kashmir Valley. With the completion of the Mughal Road in 2010, via the Pir Panjal Pass, there is now a direct road link between the two areas.

Based on the Mahābhārata evidence,[3] and the evidence from the 7th-century Chinese traveller Xuanzang,[4] the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara were under the sway of the Republican Kambojas during epic times.[5][6][7][8][9]

Poonch has witnessed many historical eras. Around 326 BC when Alexander the Great invaded the lower Jhelum belt to fight with Porus, this region was known as Dravabhisar. In the 6th Century AD, the famous Chinese traveller Huien Tsang passed through this area. According to his observation, this region was known as part of Kashmir also known as mini Kashmir. Around 850 AD Poonch became a sovereign state ruled by Raja Nar, who was basically a horse trader. According to Rajatarangani, Raja Trilochanapala of the Poonch area gave a tough fight to Mahmood Ghaznvi, who invaded this area in 1020 A.D.

In 1596, the Mughal emperor Jahangir made Raja Siraj-Ud-Din Rathore, the descendant of Rao Jodha and Rao Suraj Singh, the new ruler of Poonch. Siraj-Ud-Din and his descendants Raja Shahbaz Khan Rathore, Raja Abdul Razak Rathore, Raja Rustam Rathore and Raja Bahadur Rathore ruled this area up to 1798 AD.

From 1819 to 1846, Poonch was a part of the Sikh Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh granted it as a jagir to Raja Dhian Singh, one of his nobles and a brother of Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu. In 1846 Poonch was part of the territories transferred to Gulab Singh, whe became the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir under the suzertainty of the British Raj. However, Poonch remained a jagir under the descendants of Dhian Singh. In the 1930s, on the recommendation of the Glancy Commission, a 75-member Legislative Assembly had come into existence under the name of Praja Sabha. Two seats were allotted to the Poonch principality. In the 1940s, Maharaja Hari Singh started integrating it with Jammu and Kashmir, as a de facto district.

In 1947, after the Partition of India, a rebellion started in the western part of the Poonch district (in the Bagh and Sudhanoti tehsils) against the Maharaja's rule and demanding accession to the newly-independent Pakistan. The rebels were armed and supported by Pakistan and they evicted the State Forces, who became ensconced in their garrison at the Poonch town. The town remained besieged for almost year, until it was relieved by the Indian Army on 20 November 1948. The western part of the district remained under the control of the rebels, who joined Pakistan as the state of Azad Kashmir. The Line of Control between the two parts of the district runs to the west of the Poonch town.

As of 2011 India census, Poonch had a population of 26,854,[1] of which 16,063 were male (60%), and 10,791 were female (40%).[1] Poonch has an average literacy rate of 79%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%. In Poonch, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Hinduism is the largest religion in the Poonch town, followed by over 44% of people. Islam is the second-largest religion with 33.49% adherents. Christianity and Sikhism form 1.28% and 20.79% of the population respectively.[10]

Poonch has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), much cooler than what is found in much of the rest of India, due to its moderately high elevation and northerly position. Winters are cool, with daytime a January average of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F), and temperatures below freezing at night. Summers are short and usually pleasant. The summer temperature generally does not rise above 31 °C. Winters are cool and characterized by rainfall due to western disturbances. Snowfall is quite common during the months of January and February.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poonch.

• 1947 Poonch Rebellion
• Kallai, Poonch District

• Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). History of the Panjab Hill States, Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Pujab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter XXIII "Punch State", pp. 698–724.