Handwara

Handwara is a sub-district and a town in Kupwara district of Kashmir. It was known as Uttar Machipora until the division of Baramulla district in the 1980s resulting in the formation of two new districts: Kupwara and Bandipora. It is located on Baramulla-Handwara National Highway NH-701 and is governed by a municipal committee.

Handwara
Town
Handwara is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Handwara
Handwara
Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Handwara is located in India
Handwara
Handwara
Handwara (India)
Coordinates: 34°23′59″N 74°16′54″E[1]
CountryIndia
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
DistrictKupwara
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Committee
 • BodyGovernment of Jammu and Kashmir
Area
 • Total291.47 km2 (112.54 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total13,600[2]
Demographics
 • Literacy[3]64.39%
 • Sex ratio[3]843 ♀/ 1000 ♂
Languages
 • OfficialKashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[4][5]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
193221
Vehicle registrationJK-09
Websitekupwara.nic.in

Geography

Handwara is located at 34.40°N 74.28°E / 34.40; 74.28 at an average elevation of 1,582 metres (5,190 feet) above sea level.

Demographics

Religion in Handwara Town (2011)[6]

  Islam (90.29%)
  Hinduism (8.25%)
  Sikhism (0.54%)
  Christianity (0.51%)
  Buddhism (0.02%)
  Jainism (0.01%)
  Others (0.04%)
  Not stated (0.34%)

According to the 2011 Indian census, Handwara has a population of 13,600.[6] Males constitute 54.26% of the population and females 45.74%.[6] Handwara has an average literacy rate of 64.39%.[2] The dominant religion in the town is Islam.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1911 792—    
1971 5,025+3.13%
1981 6,616+2.79%
2001 10,638+2.40%
2011 13,600+2.49%
Source: [7]

Literacy

The Census of 2011 showed the literacy rate of Handwara at 64.39%, lower than the national average of 67.16%.[2] There is a gender difference in literacy, with a male literacy rate of 75.62% and a much lower female literacy rate of 51.88%.

Educational Institutions

Politics

Handwara is in a politically volatile area of Handwara. It was the home constituency of the late separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone and of Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzaan. The former MLA for Handwara was Sajjad Gani Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference, who defeated Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzaan of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference by more than 5000 votes in the 2014 assembly elections.[8] The current MLA seat of Handwara is vacant due to the dissolving of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in 2018.[9]

Municipal Committee Handwara is an Urban Local Body with 13 elected members, which administers the town.[10]

# Name Municipal Ward Reservation Status Party
1 Iram Amin Banday Banday Mohalla Women Open Independent
2 Farooq Ahmad Bhat Herpora Open Independent
3 Masroor Ah. Banday Jamia Jadeed Open Independent
4 Dilshada Jan Jamia Qadeem Women Open Independent
5 Gh. Mohd. Ganie Khunabal Maqboolabad Open Independent
6 Bashir Ah. Khan Khunabal Umerabad Open Independent
7 Zoona Behum Durishpora Women Open Independent
8 Mumtaza Begum Baghatpora Open Independent
9 Ateeqa Begum Kachiwari Open Independent
10 Zamrooda Begum Chotipora Women Open Independent
11 Mushtaq Ahmad Hanji Tootigund Open Independent
12 Nazir Ahmed Bhat Zalipora Open Independent
13 Ab. Majid Pandith Wani Mohalla Open Independent

Transportation

Air

The nearest airport is Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar located 78.8 kilometres from Handwara. There are plans to construct an airport in Panzgam near Kupwara.[11]

Rail

Handwara is not yet connected to railways. The nearest railway station is Baramulla railway station located 30 kilometres from Handwara.

Road

Handwara is well-connected with roads and highways. The NH 701 passes through Handwara alongside other intra-town roads.

Notable people

References
  1. "Handwara (Google Maps)". Google Maps. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. "Handwara Town population". Census India. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. "Kupwara district Census 2011" (PDF). Govt of India Census. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  4. "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. "Handwara Town Population". Census India. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. A-4 Towns And Urban Agglomerations Classified By Population Size Class In 2011 With Variation Since 1901. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (Report).
    Class - II Population of 50,000 and 99,999 (Report).
  8. "Election Results: Sajjad Lone, Former Separatist with Pakistani Wife, Wins in Kashmir". m.ndtv.com. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  9. Rashid, Hakeem Irfan (22 November 2018). "Jammu and Kashmir Assembly dissolved". Economic Times. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  10. http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/pdf/municipal%20Election/Result_Notifi_Corp.pdf
  11. "Centre plans to build 11 new airports in J&K, 2 in Ladakh". Kashmir Life. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
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