Ganderbal district is an Indian-administered district in Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary sources (a) through (d), reflecting due weight in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (f) through (h) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (i) below). (a) (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories."; (b) (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state."; (c) C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947"; (d) Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute betw een India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China." (e) Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir."; (f) (subscription required) Quote: "... China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962."; (g) Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million. AJK has six districts: Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Kodi, Rawalakot, and Poonch. Its capital is the town of Muzaffarabad. AJK has its own institutions, but its political life is heavily controlled by Pakistani authorities, especially the military), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control." (h) Quote: "Kashmir’s identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised “Line of Control” still separating Pakistani-held Azad (“Free”) Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir."; (i) Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'." It was formed in 2007 and has 6 subdistricts (tehsils): Kangan, Ganderbal, Tullamulla, Wakura, Lar, and Gund.
Geography Ganderbal district, has its district headquarters located at in the town of Ganderbal, is at an average elevation of above mean sea level. The town is at a distance of from Srinagar city. The total geographical area of Ganderbal district is 259 km2.
The mountainous Ganderbal district is spread across the Sind River. It is the only river in Jammu and Kashmir on which three hydroelectric power stations are functional, and provides water for irrigation. 80% of the population of the district is engaged with farming. The river sand (bajri), often mixed with cement, it produces is of high value.
Harmukh is the highest peak in the region and Gangbal the largest alpine lake.
Sub Districts The district currently has six subdistricts (tehsils): Kangan Ganderbal Tullamulla Wakura Lar Gund
It is further divided into nine CD blocks: Ganderbal, Wakura, Lar, Kangan, Gund, Sherpathri, Phaag, Manigam and Batwina.Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly created districts dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2012-04-24 Each block consists of a number of panchayats. Ganderbal District has 2 assembly constituencies: Kangan and Ganderbal.
Villages The villages of Ganderbal district include:
Baba Dariya Din Gogjigund Haripora Kangan Lar Naranag Nawabagh Ganderbal Paribal Shallabugh Shallabugh Sonamarg Wakura
Demographics Population According to the 2011 census Ganderbal district has a population of 297,446. This gives it a ranking of 572nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of . Ganderbal has a sex ratio of 874 females for every 1000 males (this varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 58.04% Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 0.04% and 20.53% of the population respectively. 15.81% of the population lives in urban areas. Social groups Kashmiris and Gujjars are two major social groups of the Ganderbal district. Kashmiris make up 69.2% and Gujjars 20.21% in district's total population. Almost Gujjar is considered to a be major ethnic group of the district. Kashmiris (included Hindu & Muslim) and Gujjars includes Bakarwal (subgroup of nomadic Gujjars).
Language
Kashmiri and Gujari are two major spoken languages in Ganderbal district. Kashmiri spoken by 68.92% and Gujari by 20.21% Gujari of district's total population. Other spoken languages include: 3.49% Pashto, 2.61% Pahari, 1.33% Shina and 1.31% Hindi as their first language. Gujari makes up 40% of the population in Kangan tehsil. Balti and Shina are also spoken by small populations in the high mountains.
Religion
Ganderbal district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census. Hindu Muslim Christian Sikh Buddhist Jain Other Not stated Total Total 5,592 290,581 406 486 25 8 4 344 297,446 1.88% 97.69% 0.14% 0.16% 0.01% 0.00% 0.00% 0.12% 100.00% Male 5,182 152,571 255 458 19 1 3 231 158,720 Female 410 138,010 151 28 6 7 1 113 138,726 Gender ratio (% female) 7.3% 47.5% 37.2% 5.8% 24.0% 87.5% 25.0% 32.8% 46.6% Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males) 79 905 – – – – – – 874 Urban 389 46,498 53 38 3 0 1 57 47,039 Rural 5,203 244,083 353 448 22 8 3 287 250,407 % Urban 7.0% 16.0% 13.1% 7.8% 12.0% 0.0% 25.0% 16.6% 15.8%
Tourism The Ganderbal district is located in valley of the Sindh River, also known as Nallah Sindh. It is often called the District of Lakes, as it possesses the large number of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir (union territory).
Sonamarg
Sonamarg, is a hill station located 80 kilometers from Srinagar. At an altitude of 2,800 meters, it has views of snow-clad mountains, alpine meadows, and the Sindh River. It serves as a starting point for treks to high altitude lakes like Vishansar, Krishansar, Gadsar and Gangabal.
Manasbal Lake
Manasbal Lake, located north west of Ganderbal, is a tourist destination known for its scenery and wildlife. Covering long and wide. It is located in the Jhelum valley, north of Srinagar city. Named after Lake Manasarovar. it is surrounded by three villages: Jarokbal, Kondabal and Gratabal. The lake is known for its large growth of lotus plants. Mansbal lake
Manasbal Lake is a good place for birdwatchers. Despite its natural beauty and ecological importance, the lake faces challenges such as environmental degradation and tourism-related pressures. Manasbal Lake Lake is accessible through Srinagar involves a 30-kilometer road journey via Shadipur, Nasim, and Ganderbal.
Prang
Prang village is 12 kilometres far from the central hub (beehama) of district Ganderbal, towards the east. This village falls under the jurisdiction of tehsil Kangan. The Prang garden was a picnic spot in 1990's before the establishment of army base camp, but the army camp was later evacuated from the garden in the year 2008. This garden is situated on the banks of the Sindh River. The famous Environmental park (also known as "dumping park") is in the adjacent village of Prang. The nearby areas of this village are "Lari Prang, Check Prang, Herra Prang, Pati Prang and dragtung".
Mohand Marg Mohand Marg is an alpine meadow in the Lar tehsil. In summer it is a tourist destination for trekking and camping. Sir Aurel Stein was the first person to explore the place, pitching his camp in the summer of 1895.
It is hidden in the mountains to the north of Srinagar at the foot of Haramukh Peaks about 25 kilometers from Srinagar via the Ganderbal road towards Leh. From the road it is accessed via 5 kilometer trek up a steep path through the hill-side settlements and fields of Lar and Chount Waliwar before the 'Marg' opens out across the mountain side giving views of the Sindh Valley far below in one direction and the Valley of Kashmir in the other.
Harmukh
Harmukh (also known as Mount Haramukh or Harmukh mountain) is a mountain with an elevation of , in Ganderbal district. Harmukh is part of the Himalaya Range, and is located between Sindh River to its south and Kishanganga River to its north. It rises above the Gangabal Lake in the vicinity of Kashmir Valley.
Harmukh was first climbed by the Great Trigonometrical Survey's Thomas Montgomerie in 1856 and made the first survey of the Karakoram some to the south, and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labelling them K1 and K2. Harmukh was later climbed by many other climbers. Therefore, Harmukh is the mountain from which the world's second highest mountain peak K2 was discovered and the Serveyer's mark K2 continues to be the name.
Gangabal Lake
Gangabal Lake, also called Gangbal, is a lake situated at the foothills of Mount Haramukh (one of the highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley) in Ganderbal district, north of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir. It is an alpine high altitude oligotrophic lake, and is home to many types of fishes of which one is the brown trout.
The lake has a maximum length of and maximum width of . It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby small lake (Nundkol) and then via Wangath nullah to Sindh River.A major tributary to the Jehlum river. The trout fishes are present in the lake. Gangabal lake is approached from Srinagar by road via Ganderbal up to Naranag and then a track upslope.
Shallabugh Wetland
Shallabugh Wetland, situated in the Shallabugh village of Kashmir valley, is a good place of ecological significance. It was declared as a Ramsar Site recently. It serves as a vital habitat for numerous species of migratory birds, offering them a seasonal refuge during their journeys. The wetland's diverse flora and fauna contribute to the rich biodiversity of the region.
Religious sites Kheer Bhawani Kheer Bhawani is a temple dedicated to the goddess Bhavani, constructed over a spring in Tulmul village. The name of the temple is derived from both the rice pudding (kheer) that is used as an offering, and the goddess it is offered to.
Naranag Temple