Akhnoor

History

Ancient

The place is believed to be the ancient city of Virat Nagar mentioned in the Mahabharata however, Bairat, a town in northern Jaipur district of Rajasthan is more established as the ancient Virat Nagar. The place is one of the most important historical sites in Jammu and Kashmir. Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India have established the fact that Akhnoor was one of the last bastion of the Indus Valley civilization and Manda, Akhnoor is the northernmost site. Terracotta figures and other anthropological objects belonging to the later Indus period have been found during the excavations. Beyond Akhnoor, towards the upper hilly area that joins Sivalik Hills, there has been no trace of any object that could show that Harappans moved any further beyond this town.

Excavations at Ambaran-Pamberwan sites have proved that the place was a prominent abode of Buddhism during the [[Kushan Empire| Kushan]] period and Gupta period. Apart from an ancient an eight-spoke Stupa (a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, made of high-quality baked bricks and surrounded by stone pathways, meditation cells and rooms), life sized Terracotta busts of Buddha and coins belonging to those periods were also excavated from the sites. The 14th Dalai Lama visited the place in August, 2012. Buddhist relics from the Pre-Kushan reign and silver caskets, gold and silver leaves, pearls, corals and three copper coins from the Gupta period are reported to be found. The location of the Stupas is such that it lies on the ancient routes from Pataliputra, in present-day Patna, Bihar, in India to Taxila now in Punjab Province, Pakistan.

Among other find of historical importance that indicates the place inhabited by people pre-dominantly belonging to Hinduism is the green coloured Trimurti idol made up of a single stone at Ambarran Village.

Modern

See Operation Grand Slam in the Chumb-Jourian-Akhnoor sector.

Etymology

The town is believed to have been named Akhnoor by Mughal Emperor Jahangir who once visited the area and the fort on the advice of a saint when his eyes got infected while returning from Kashmir. Amazingly, Jahangir's eyes were fully cured by the fresh air of the town blowing over the Chenab. He called the town Aankho-ka-Noor (light of the eyes) and since then the place has come to be known as Akhnoor. Some believed another etymology which is published in the official site of Akhnoor goes like this:

Geography

Akhnoor is located at . It has an average elevation of 301 m. Akhnoor is located at the right bank of the mighty Chenab. Chenab enters plains at Kathar (Khadhandhara Valley) in Maira Mandrian tehsil of Akhnoor. On the north and east, the Shiwaliks, Kali Dhar and Trikuta range surround it. Akhnoor lies on National Highway 144A that runs between Jammu and Poonch, about 28 km away from Jammu. It connects with Rajouri district on the north, Reasi district on the east and the Chamb tehsil (Pakistan-administered Kashmir) on the west. It has humid subtropical climate.

Demographics

India census, Akhnoor had a population of 11,225. Akhnoor is governed by Municipal Committee of Akhnoor having 13 wards. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Akhnoor has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 74%; with 56% of the males and 47% of females literate.

The languages spoken are Dogri followed by Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English.

Religion

Hinduism is the largest religion in Akhnoor with 92.37% followers. Sikhism, Islam and Christianity are followed by 1.91%, 2.70% and 2.38% people respectively.

References

References

1. "Official Web Site of Akhnoor Sub-Division (J&K)".
2. [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/akhnoor-caught-in-a-time-warp/article5007275.ece Akhnoor: Caught in a time warp - The Hindu]
3. [http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=1968&ex_title=A+Tryst+with+History+at+Viratnagar+ A Tryst with History at Viratnagar]
4. [http://kapasanmata.com/History.aspx Kapasan Mata]
5. [http://hillpost.in/2011/11/dalai-lama-to-visit-kushan-period-monastry-excavated-in-kashmir/34832/ Dalai Lama to visit Kushan period {{sic. mona. stry. Hill Post]
6. "Dalai Lama to visit Ambaran next month – News Oneindia".
7. "Dalai Lama Visits Ancient Buddhist Sites in Jammu : Himsatta".
8. "Archived copy".
9. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99sep04/saturday/head13.htm The Tribune...Saturday Plus Head]
10. [http://akhnoor.nic.in/AkhnoorDetails/tourism.htm Akhnoor Tourism]
11. [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/12/Akhnur.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Akhnoor]
12. Jamwal, Nagendra Singh. (12 May 2013). "A vale behind the veil". Daily Excelsior.
13. "Akhnoor City Population". Census India.
14. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India.