Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir
It is the capital and largest city of the independent state of AJK, Pakistan. The city is also known as the gateway to the world's most beautiful Neelum Valley AJK, Pakistan.
The city is located on the banks of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers, entering the area through the Himalayan mountains.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on one side and Katwa and Bara areas of Indian-occupied Kashmir on the other which are connected to Srinagar Muzaffarabad Road. To the north of Muzaffarabad is the area of heaven on earth like Valley, Neelum Valley, and historical Sharda.
History
In the seventh century AH, a Chinese Yas and another archaeologist wrote the name of this area in his travelogue. Some people call it Dabana.
History has it that the Devanagari dynasty, also known as the royal dynasty, ruled India and Kandahar province from the fall of the Kushan dynasty in the third century to the early ninth century, in fact, it used to be the capital of the same royal family.
The recent name of the city is on the name of King Muzaffar who ruled here in 1657 AD and his empire was called the Bamba empire.
According to the traditions, the genealogy of Sultan Muzaffar Khan is traced back to the third caliph of Islam, Hazrat Usman Ghani. While some people also say that they belong to the Rajput tribe.
Neelam Fort has a special place among the ancient historical buildings which is known as Red fort as well. If we talk about the historical background of Muzaffarabad, it is said that it was often clashing between the Mughal emperor Akbar the Great and the Chak Dynasty who occupied Kashmir.
To strengthen their defenses from these battles, the occupying Chuck family began building it in 1549. But after the Mughal conquest of Kashmir in 1587, its construction was abandoned because most of the Mughal attractions were connected to Afghanistan.
After the Mughals, when Sultan Muzaffar Khan occupied the area, he completed it. There are various investigations for this. It was used as a penitentiary during the reign of Dogra Raja.
The Kishan Ganga, now known as the Neelum River, is full of stairways to the north of which one can reach the river bank and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Undoubtedly, it reflects the ancient history of Muzaffarabad.
After this area was occupied by the Durrani Empire, Redford became very important in the Durrani Empire. After the Durrani Empire, the area was occupied by the Sikhs and when they were defeated by the British in 1947, they handed over the administration of the state of Kashmir to the Dogra Raja of Jammu, Maharaja Gulab Singh.
Its traces can still be felt in the streets of Kashmir. The monument of this period is also the Baradari of Raja Ranveer Singh located in river Jhelum at Domail point. The stone steps on either side of the river leading down to the Baradari are made of stone.
According to the books inscribed in the Baradari stones, its construction began in 1857 and gradually went through the stages of completion. The community is made of the strongest stone carvings.
Its strength can be gauged from the fact that even the most dangerous earthquake of 2005 did not cause any significant damage except a few damages.
Domail
The confluence of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers is known as Domail, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful landscapes for tourists. The confluence of the two rivers can be easily seen from the Sathara viewpoint.
There are also many eateries and restaurants on the Domail from where Kashmiri food can be enjoyed. At some distance from Domail, is called river Jhelum where two rivers confluence.
Rambeer Singh's Bara-Dari
There is also famous historical Bara Dari of Rambeer Singh on the same river Jhelum that we will discuss later in the history section in the blog.
Muzaffarabad Administration
Neelam valley and Muzaffarabad District used to be together but in 2004 the two were separated. Administratively divided into three districts of the Muzaffarabad division, which includes Muzaffarabad district, Hattiyan district, and the Neelam district.
While Muzaffarabad consists of three tehsils including Muzaffarabad tehsil, Naseerabad tehsil, and Garhi Dupatta tehsil.
Area and Population of Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is much smaller than Neelam in terms of area. The total area of Muzaffarabad is 2496 sq. Km. Neelum has 3,621 square kilometers.
If we discuss its population, According to the 2017 census, the population of Muzaffarabad is more than six and a half lacs. And the average life expectancy here is 63 years.
Highways and Airport
Muzaffarabad is connected to other cities of Pakistan by Muzaffarabad Kohala and Muzaffarabad Garhi Habibullah, Abbottabad-Islamabad highway. There is a small national-level airport in Muzaffarabad from where it flies nationally.
Power and Electricity
Muzaffarabad is connected to the National Grid Station of Pakistan, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Electric Store Department is responsible for power supply throughout the region.
Muzaffarabad A Tourists Hub
Being the capital, the city is not only a center of government and cultural activities, it is also a base for many tourists.
That is why it is the center of attention of tourists from all over the world besides Pakistan. From where the famous Neelum Valley, Lepa Valley, Jhelum, and Pir Chanasi a paragliding spot begin.
Weather and Climate
If we talk about the weather in Muzaffarabad, the weather in most of the city is pleasant. There is very little heat in summer, while the winters are severe. Spring is the most ideal season to visit and explore here.
Markets and Bazaar
Muzaffarabad is also known as the commercial center of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The largest market of Muzaffarabad is Madina Market.
Culture and Tradition
Let me tell you about its culture, heritage, food, and gifts. Traditional Kashmiri clothes, Shawls, handicrafts, hand-made carpets and mats, Ghaba, Namda made here. And embroidered cloths with different colors have their own legacy.
Food
People are very fond of food and many of the specialties here are also famous, Gushtabe, Baqerkhani, Dum Aloo, Gosht Yakhni, Dal Makhni, Methi in popular dishes as well as rice, Harisa, Palak Paneer and Kashmiri Kulcha are the famous here.
This is the specialty of Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir. When it comes to drinks, Kashmiri tea and green tea are the most popular drinks here.
It is fun to drink Kashmiri tea with Baqerkhani for breakfast. The women here make homemade ghee, ketchup, and pickles. Which is second to none in taste. Fernie, Kheer, Panjeeri are delicious sweet dishes here.
Hotels and Guest Houses
Famous guest houses include PC Hotel, Orash Lodge guest House Grand hotel, Agha G Hotel, Azeem International Hotel, Mir Continental Hotel, Muzaffarabad view motel, Nafis Hotel, Sangam Hotel, Tayba Hotel, Al Janat Hotel, and Muzaffarabad in.
Health Facilities
When it comes to health in Muzaffarabad, so many government and private hospitals are working for the recovery of patients.
Famous and big hospitals of Muzaffarabad include CMH Muzaffarabad, Aims Hospital, Minhaj Hospital, Raza Hospital, Muzaffarabad General Hospital, and Jinnah Dental Hospital.
Telecommunication
If we talk about telecommunication in Muzaffarabad and its suburbs, then call messages and the internet are used from the SCO satellite sim.Agriculture and Crops
Different crops and fruits are grown in Muzaffarabad surroundings which includes corn, wheat, rice, tomato, apple, nuts, walnuts, apricot, and damson.59% of the agricultural land is covered by forests which is also the livelihood of most of the people here. Cedar, pine, and white trees are found in these forests. Due to the lack of a canal system here, crops need rain or spring water.
Famous Places to Visit
In the popular areas of Muzaffarabad, Domail, Lower Gojra, Upper Gojra, Qichi, Lohar Gali, Miani, Pindi, Makri, Tariqabad, Jalalabad, Nangarhar Pura, Kiani Mohalla, Neelam Road, CMH Road, Airport Road, Rashidabad, Eid-gah Road, Allama Iqbal bridge Chowk, CMH Chowk, Chella Bridge, and Quaid-e-Azam Bridge include famous places.
If we mention the beautiful tourist places of Muzaffarabad, they include Pir Chanasi, Machhira National Park, Shaheed Gali, Sabri Lake, Langarpura, Dana, Garhi Dupatta, Valley Lepa, Lohar Gali, Khurshid Hassan Khurshid's Tomb, Makra Pahar, Hazrat Sain Sakhi Sahaili Sarkar's Darbar, Jhelum Valley, and Neelum Valley Includes beautiful areas. If you go to Muzaffarabad, you must visit these beautiful places.
Educatioan Institutes
If we talk about the field of education, more than 80% of the educational institutions were severely damaged in the 2005 earthquake. After which the shrines of the new educational institutions were built and repaired.The services of Azad Jammu and Kashmir University are very important for getting a very famous and higher education in Muzaffarabad. AJK University was founded in 1980, and so far it has been making steady progress in terms of administration and education.
Degrees are awarded in almost every field, but the Institute of Geology is the second largest in Pakistan. In addition, Degree college Muzaffarabad and various private institutions are working for the development and promotion of education.
Sports and Activities
If we talk about sports, football, cricket and volleyball are very popular in sports here. The most famous sports ground here is the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which hosts the Intercontinental World Cup cricket and first-class cricket matches.
Recently Muzaffarabad Took the honor to host the Kashmir Premier League which was the first league of its kind.
The stadium has a seating capacity of almost 8,000 spectators. Popular football clubs include Pilot Football Club, Youth Football Club, Kashmir National FC, and Azad Super FC are registered clubs here.
Religious and Sufism
Muzaffarabad is also called the city of Sufis and celebrities. In ancient times, many warriors and preachers from Central Asia and Afghanistan, and the subcontinent used to enter India from this city via Srinagar. That is why people of all races, families, and religions are seen in this area.
Ancient Historical Landmarks
Tourists can visit different historical buildings and cover different aspects of this area.
These include the Black Fort which was built by the Mughals, the Hindu temples, Red Fort, Baradari, and Jalalabad.
Earthquake
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the city in 2005 and destroyed more than 50 percent of the city's buildings. And more than 80,000 people died in Muzaffarabad and Neelam. It was a terrible earthquake in human history.The government launched several development projects after the earthquake, which shook the economy of Muzaffarabad with its rapid growth. These included the establishment of business centers in residential colonies, renovation of educational institutions, and public welfare projects. After that, the development of Muzaffarabad had started anew.
