Bandipore district


Bandipore district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and [Kashmir |Jammu and Kashmir] in the disputed Kashmir region. It is one of the 20 districts in the Jammu and Kashmir. Bandipore town is the administrative headquarters of the district. Bandipore is located in the foothills of the snow-clad peaks of Harmukh overlooking the shores of Wular Lake and has produced hundreds of scholars and intellectuals. The district is known for its tourist places such as Wular Vintage Park, Athwatoo and Gurez valley. Before 1947, this town was a big trade and literary centre of Kashmir. This district was carved out from the erstwhile Baramulla district in 2007. The district is bounded by Kupwara district from the north, Baramulla district from west, Ganderbal district from the east, Kargil district in Ladakh, Neelum District in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir and Astore district in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan. Bandipore district is the only district in Kashmir Division that shares border with Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan region. This district occupies an area of 398 km2. The district has a population of 392,232 as per 2011 census.

Administration

District Development Council

  • DDC Chairperson Bandipora: Abdul Gani Bhat
  • Vice-chairperson: Kaunser Shafeeq

    Education

Some of the institutions and colleges of Bandipur which provide quality education to the students of district Bandipore.
The district comprises seven tehsils: Ajas, Aloosa, Bandipore, Sumbal, Hajin, Gurez and Tulail. The district has three Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Gurez, Bandipore and Sonawari. All of these are part of Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency.
The district comprises twelve community development blocks: Aloosa, Arin, Baktoor, Bandipore, Bonkoot, Ganastan, Gurez, Hajin, Naidkhai, Nowgam, Sumbal and Tulail.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Bandipore district has a population of 392,232, roughly equal to the nation of Maldives. This gives it a ranking of 561st in India. The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 26.31%. Bandipore has a sex ratio of 899 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 57.82%. 16.66% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 0.10% and 19.22% of the population respectively.
At the time of the 2011 census, 82.39% of the population spoke Kashmiri, 8,82% Gojri, 8.18% Shina, 1.91% Pahari and 1.27% Hindi as their first language.

Places

----Shrine of Hazrat Syed Jaffar Ud Din Bukhari
Located in Ajas, on the Bandipora–Srinagar Road -Hazrat Syed Jaffar Ud Din Bukhari was born in the 12th century in the historic city of Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan. Coming from a noble lineage known for its piety and deep spiritual roots, he became a towering figure in the spiritual history of the region. His life, marked by devotion and wisdom, left an enduring impact on generations of seekers.
Hazrat Jaffar Ud Din Bukhari passed away in the 13th century. His final resting place in Ajas, Bandipora, along the Srinagar Road, has since become a revered shrine. Today, it stands as a serene place of devotion, attracting pilgrims and spiritual seekers who come to draw inspiration and solace from his legacy.