UpdateBot at 05:50, 29 June 2022

2022-06-29T05:50:08Z

New page

{{About||the village in Albania|Gurëz|the village in [[Bhojpur district, India]]|Gurez, Bhojpur}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Gurez
| native_name = Guráai
| native_name_lang = scl
| other_name = Gurais
| settlement_type = Tehsil
| image_skyline = Habba Khatoon.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = View of Habba Khatoon in Gurez
| pushpin_map = India Jammu and Kashmir#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Jammu and Kashmir
| coordinates = {{coord|34.6333|N|74.8333|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = {{nowrap|[[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]]}}
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Government of Jammu and Kashmir.svg}} {{nowrap|[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bandipore district|Bandipora]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 2580
| population_total = 37992<ref name="Bandipora district census">{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A-2_Data_Tables/01%20A-2%20J%20&%20K.pdf|title=Bandipora district census|work=Govt of India Census|accessdate=13 July 2021}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]<ref name="Bandipora district census"/>
| demographics1_info1 = 59.17%
| demographics1_title2 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]<ref name="Bandipora district census"/>
| demographics1_info2 = 653 [[female|♀]]/ 1000 [[male|♂]] 
| demographics_type2 = Languages
| demographics2_title1 = Official
| demographics2_info1 = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Urdu]], [[Hindi]], [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[English language|English]]<ref name="OfficialLang">{{cite web |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf |title=The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 |publisher=The Gazette of India|date=27 September 2020 |access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020 | work=Rising Kashmir | date=23 September 2020| url=http://risingkashmir.com/news/parliament-passes-jk-official-languages-bill-2020 | access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>
| demographics2_title2 = Spoken
| demographics2_info2 = [[Shina language|Shina]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]
| leader_title = [[State legislative assemblies of India|Vidhan Sabha Constituency]]
| leader_name = [[Gurez (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Gurez]]
| leader_title1 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]]
| leader_name1 = Vacant<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jk-assembly-dissolved-amid-claims-for-power/articleshow/66739283.cms|title=Jammu and Kashmir Assembly dissolved|work=The Economic Times|accessdate=22 November 2018|last1=Rashid |first1=Hakeem Irfan }}</ref>
| leader_title2 = [[Sub-Divisional Magistrate]]
| leader_name2 = Dr. Mudasir Ahmad Wani, JKAS<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Sub-Divisional-Magistrate-Gurez-100507071770130/|title=SDM Gurez|via=Facebook|accessdate=13 July 2021}}</ref>
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 193503
| registration_plate = JK-15
| website = {{url|bandipore.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Gurez''', or '''Gurais'''<ref>Spelt {{lang|ks|گُریز}} in [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] and {{lang|scl|گورأى}} in [[Shina language|Shina]]</ref> (''Guráai'' in the local [[Shina language]]),<ref>{{Cite journal| last1 = Schmidt| first1 = Ruth Laila| last2 = Kaul| first2 = Vijay Kumar| date = 2008| title = A comparative analysis of Shina and Kashmiri vocabularies| journal = Acta Orientalia| volume = 69| pages = 231–303| doi = 10.5617/ao.7372| doi-access = free}} In this orthography ''áa'' represent a long ''a'' with a high falling pitch.</ref> is a valley located in the high [[Himalayas]], about {{convert|86|km}} from [[Bandipore]] and {{convert|123|km}} from [[Srinagar]], to the north of the [[Kashmir valley]]. At about {{convert|8000|ft|order=flip}} above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It has diverse fauna and wildlife including the [[Himalayan brown bear]] and the [[snow leopard]]. The [[Kishanganga River]] flows through the valley.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/travel/kashmir-gurez-valley.html|title=A Journey to Kashmir's Gurez Valley|newspaper=The New York Times |date=17 September 2018 |last1=Benanav |first1=Michael }}</ref>

The valley lies near the [[line of control]], which separates it from the [[Astore district|Astore]] and [[Neelum district]]s of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Being situated very close to the [[Burzil Pass]], which leads into Astore, the inhabitants are ethnic [[Dards]]/[[Shina people|Shins]]. They speak the [[Shina language|Shina]] language and have the same styles of dress and culture as their kinsmen in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://gurais.wetpaint.com/page/Gurez+an+Introduction%3A | title = Gurez an introduction | date = 4 January 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090710154416/http://gurais.wetpaint.com/page/Gurez+an+Introduction%3A | archive-date = 10 July 2009 }}</ref>

Dawar is the central township in the area. The population of the area is estimated to be about 30,000, and is scattered among fifteen villages. Due to heavy snowfall (around {{convert|2|m|ft|0}}) and closure of [[Razdan Pass]] in winter, the valley remains cut off for six months of the year.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-oIlDwAAQBAJ&q=razdan+pass&pg=PT31|title=The Outsider's Curse: A Memoir of the First "Outsider" Lady IAS Officer|last1=Kumar|first1=Sonali|last2=Kumar|first2=Prasenjeet|date=27 May 2017}}</ref>

==History==
Historically, Gurez was part of ancient [[Dardistan]], stretching between [[Sharada Peeth]] in the west, [[Minimarg]] in the north, [[Dras]]s in the east, and Bagtore in the south. The valley falls along the ancient [[Silk Route]], which connected the Kashmir Valley with [[Gilgit]], before continuing further to [[Kashgar]]. Archaeological surveys in valleys north of Gurez have uncovered hundreds of carved inscriptions in [[Kharoshthi]], [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]], and [[Classical Tibetan|Tibetan]]. In particular, the carvings provide insights into the origins of the [[Kashmiri people]] and the early history of Buddhism.

The ancient capital of the [[Shina Dards|Dards]], Dawar, is located in the [[Gurez Valley]] and is an important archaeological site. Other archaeological sites of importance in the valley include Kanzalwan, where the last council of Buddhism is believed to have been held and, further downstream, the ruins of the ancient [[Sharada Peeth|Sharda University]] are preserved along the Kishenganga/Neelum River.

Prior to the partition of Kashmir, Gurez had been a destination for foreign tourists, including [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]], who is known to have visited some time before he became the US president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081206/saturday/main1.htm|title=Hidden paradise|date= 6 December 2008}}</ref> During the colonial period, Gurez was often visited by trekkers. Nehru and Indira Gandhi, accompanied by Sheikh Abdullah, were among those who visited the area in the 1940s, fishing for trout at Naranag, one of the lakes in the mountains above the valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?235414|title = GUREZ: KASHMIR: FIRST-HAND REPORT|date=27 August 2007}}</ref>

==Geography==

While describing the Kishenganga Valley (Gurez), Walter R. Lawrence writes in his book ''[[The Valley of Kashmir]]'',

<blockquote>
"Perhaps [[Pahalgam]], the village of the shepherds that stands at the head of the Liddar valley with its healthy forest of pines, and Gurez, which lies at a distance of thirty-five miles from Bandipora, the port of the [[Wular Lake]], will before long rival in popularity the other margs. Gurez is a lovely valley five miles in length lying at an elevation of about 8000 feet above the sea. The Kishenganga river flows through it, and on either side are mountains. The climate is dry and mild, excellent English vegetables can be grown, and the wild raspberries and currants are delicious."<ref>(P: 16)</ref>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>"The valley is extremely picturesque, as the river comes dashing along through a rich meadow, partly covered with lindens, walnut and willow trees, while the mountains on either side present nothing but a succession of most abrupt precipices, and Alpine lodges, covered with fir trees."<ref>Sir Charles Ellison Bates, 1872 AD</ref></blockquote>

===Habba Khatoon===
[[File:Habba Khatoon Dramatic club.jpg|thumb|left|Fareed Kaloo; president Habba Khatoon club presenting a cultural item in Gurez]]
[[File:Hajji Abdul Aziz Samoon at a press conference.jpg|thumb|Hajji Abdul Aziz Samoon(middle) at a press conference in Srinagar]]
Gurez's most formidable peak is Habba Khatoon, around which legends abound and at one time, even a film starring [[Dimple Kapadia]] was planned.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20020304/uk-travel.shtml | title =Gurez: Kashmir Untouched | date = 4 March 2002}}</ref> This pyramid shaped peak was named after the Kashmiri poet Habba Khatoon. She was a beautiful and intelligent woman from Saffron village chandhara, and originally known as "Zoon" (which means Moon in English). She was the daughter of a peasant Abuddi Rather, who married her to an illiterate peasant boy named Habba. Zoon was ill-treated by her mother-in-law and husband, because she spent most of her time in poetry and singing. Dejected by her plight, she changed her name to Habba Khatoon.

The emperor of Kashmir, Yousuf Shah Chak, was enthralled by her beauty, intelligence and poetry. He arranged her divorce from Habba and married her. According to the story, Shah Chak was imprisoned by his rival King Akbar, Habba Khatoon used to wander near the peak that now bears her name to look for her lover. After her husband's death, she wandered the banks of river Jhelum in mourning. She died twenty years later by drowning into the jhelum and now her tomb is at Athwajan.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://go2kashmir.com/kashmir_gurez_valley.html | title = About Gurez | author = Go to Kashmir | access-date = 13 December 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081121092534/http://www.go2kashmir.com/kashmir_gurez_valley.html | archive-date = 21 November 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.dailykashmirimages.com/news-first-shina-conference-concludes-16330.aspx | title = Shina conference | author = Kashmir Images | access-date = 4 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005191305/http://dailykashmirimages.com/news-first-shina-conference-concludes-16330.aspx | archive-date = 5 October 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Habba Khatoon Drama club was founded in 1976 by the poet Late Hajji Abdul Aziz Samoon (Retired Police Officer; SSP). The club played a pivotal role in safeguarding the cultural ethos and traditions of the Dard-Shin tribe. Hajji Abdul Aziz Samoon(KPS) was also Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Dard-Shina Development Organization (JKDSDO), a body representing Dard community in the state JKDSDO
<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2010/Dec/16/the-shina-poet-19.asp | title =Shina Poet | author= Greater Kashmir}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.dailykashmirimages.com/news-dard-community-alleges-discrimination-16579.aspx | title = Dard community alleges discrimination | author = kashmirimages | access-date = 26 October 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120523030822/http://www.dailykashmirimages.com/news-dard-community-alleges-discrimination-16579.aspx | archive-date = 23 May 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

== Economy ==
===Energy===
There is no central electricity in Gurez, although, as of 2009, a [[hydro-electric]] plant was constructed by the [[National Hydroelectric Power Corporation]]. It is unclear if any of the generated energy will be available to the valley itself.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/electricity-still-a-far-fetched-dream-for-gurez-valley_100240322.html | title = Electricity still a far-fetched dream for Gurez valley| date = 30 August 2009}}</ref> India had initially planned to construct a 100-metre-high dam on the Kishenganga, which would have flooded the majority of the Gurez Valley and forced nearly all of its residents to relocate. But due to resistance by the Dard Shin and by Pakistan Government, which is constructing a dam downstream, the dam's height was reduced to 37 metres. Set for completion in 2016, the dam now diverts water from the Kishenganga towards Wular Lake in Bandipora district via a 20 kilometre concrete tunnel, and generates 330 Mega Watts electricity for the Indian States. Although construction of the dam has temporarily bring work and money into the area, the Dard Shin have expressed concern that around 130 families were forced to leave their homes and to relocate in the different districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and more than {{convert|300|ha}} of land in the valley is submerged.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.geographical.co.uk/Magazine/Photostories/Gurez_Valley_-_May_10.html | title = Dammed if you do | date = May 2010 | access-date = 8 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101228020145/http://www.geographical.co.uk/Magazine/Photostories/Gurez_Valley_-_May_10.html | archive-date = 28 December 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Because of the lack of electricity, there is no significant industrial activity in the valley. The only electricity which is available comes from a few diesel generators which provide power to some parts of the area in summer for an hour at a time.
The Indian government's relocation plans are unclear, and it has not yet committed to providing hydroelectricity to those who will remain in the valley.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.geographical.co.uk/Magazine/Photostories/Gurez_Valley_-_May_10.html| title = Dammed if you do| date = May 2010| access-date = 8 January 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101228020145/http://www.geographical.co.uk/Magazine/Photostories/Gurez_Valley_-_May_10.html| archive-date = 28 December 2010| url-status = dead}}</ref>

===Fishery===
Kishenganga River, with a length of {{convert|150|km}}, supports world-class [[trout]] with an average weight of {{convert|24|lb|order=flip}}. As of 2006, there were plans to develop the fishery potential of the area, making it a resource for the surrounding region.

Fish in the river include:<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?ContentId=7373| title = Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network GAIN| date = 2 September 2006| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120220165637/http://www.growfish.com.au/content.asp?ContentId=7373| archive-date = 20 February 2012}}</ref>

* Brown trout (''[[Salmo trutta fario]]'')
* [[Rainbow trout]] (''Salmo gairdneri'')

==Demographics==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Gurez Tehsil (2011)<ref name="Gurez Population"/>
|label1 = [[Islam]]
|value1 = 83.98
|color1 = Green
|label2 = [[Hinduism]]
|value2 = 14.24
|color2 = Orange
|label3 = [[Sikhism]]
|value3 = 1.16
|color3 = Yellow
|label4 = [[Christianity]]
|value4 = 0.36
|color4 = Blue
|label5 = [[Buddhism]]
|value5 = 0.05
|color5 = Gold
|label6 = Not Stated
|value6 = 0.21
|color6 = Black
}}

According to the [[2011 census of India]], Gurez Tehsil had a population of 37,992 people with 22,978 males and 15,014 females. The number of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] numbered 104 and 31,094 respectively. Most of the people in Gurez speak [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] and [[Shina language|Shina]].<ref name="Bandipora district census"/>

===Religion===
[[File:Baba Razzaq.jpg|thumb|right|Shrine of Baba Razaaq in the lap of mountain in Dawar<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.trekearth.com/members/zaid_abraham| title =Photos by Zahid Samoon | date = 16 January 2007}}</ref>]]
[[File:BABA DARVAISH.jpg|thumb|right|Shrine of Baba Darvaish in Fakirpora near Khandyal]]

Gurez is majority [[Sunni Muslim]]. Before the arrival of [[Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani]], the region was predominantly [[Hindu]]. Hamadani visited the Kashmir valley three times, accompanied by about seven hundred preachers, known as "Sadaats". Of these seven hundred people, seven settled in Gurez and included Baba Abdur Razaq Shah and Baba Dervaish whose shrines are located near the hamlet of Fakirpora. The names of the other saints are unknown, although they also have shrines, located at Chorwan, Bagtore, Dangital Tulail across the Kishan Ganga River, and at Kamri across the border near Dood-Gagi village in [[Azad Kashmir|Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://gurais.wetpaint.com/page/Rise+Of+Islaam+in+Gurez| title = Religion in Gurez| date = 14 June 2008| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090705164830/http://gurais.wetpaint.com/page/Rise+Of+Islaam+in+Gurez| archive-date = 5 July 2009}}</ref>

Islam is the largest religion in Gurez, followed by 84% of the people. Hinduism is the second-largest religion with 14.24% adherents. Sikhism and Christianity form 1.1% and 0.3% of the population respectively.<ref name="Gurez Population">{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/jammu-kashmir/bandipore/gurez-population.html|title=Gurez Population|work=Census India|access-date=29 August 2020}}</ref>

===Peer Baba===
[[File:Peer Baba.jpg|thumb|right|Grave of Peer Baba]]
The Peer Baba came from Multan (Pakistan) in 1933 and established himself in a cave at Durmat, north of Kanzalwan. He was about 35 years old, and his religion is unknown. He is said to have fasted for months without taking any food or water. On occasion, he came down to Kanzalwan and asked for food in [[Farsi]] with an [[Urdu]] accent. He never refused mutton offered by local Muslims. He was hard of hearing, spoke very little and was popularly known as "Nanga Baba". In Feb 1940, he came down from Durmat to Rajdhan during a heavy snowstorm and subsequently died. When the Dilawar Malik, one of the big landlords of Kashmir saw Peer Baba dead in a dream at the same spot, who was his devotee sent his men who tried to bring the Baba's body to Bandipur for burial, they were attacked by a large number of honeybees, and he was instead buried close to Razdaan Pass.

==Transportation==
===Air===
There is a helipad in the tehsil headquarters [[Dawar, Jammu and Kashmir|Dawar]]. There is another helipad in Badoab, 43 kilometres from Dawar. The nearest airport is [[Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport]] in [[Srinagar]], located 150 kilometres from Dawar. A helicopter service was started in the region by the state government in 2017. Using this service people can reach Gurez from the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in 20 minutes cutting down the travel time by a huge margin.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.travelinntours.com/blog/srinagar-gurez-chopper-service-introduced-at-rs-3000 | title=Srinagar - Gurez chopper service introduced at Rs 3000 }}</ref>

===Rail===
There is no railway connectivity to Gurez Valley. The nearest railway station is [[Sopore railway station]] located 115 kilometres from Dawar.

===Road===
The tehsil is connected to other places in Jammu and Kashmir and India by the Bandipora–Gurez Road. Road connectivity has been a major issue for the population due to their being heavy snowfall during the winter months. In 2015 the Border Roads Organisation had submitted a proposal to the Indian Central Government for the construction of a 18-km long tunnel that would ensure year long connectivity of the Gurez to the rest of the Kashmir Valley. However the project has not moved past the DPR stage.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/proposed-gurez-bandipora-tunnel-stuck-at-dpr-stage | title=Proposed Gurez-Bandipora tunnel stuck at DPR stage }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Markoot]]
* [[Dawar, Jammu and Kashmir|Dawar]]
* [[Tulail Valley]]
* [[Operation Eraze]]
* [[2017 Gurez sector avalanche]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://bandipore.nic.in/}}

{{Commons category}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir topics}}

{{Municipalities of Jammu and Kashmir}}

[[Category:Valleys of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Bandipora district]]
[[Category:Kashmir]]

Gurez - Revision history

UpdateBot at 05:50, 29 June 2022