Barnala, Azad Kashmir


Barnala is a small city in the state of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
The word Barnala means, "A city which is located on the edge of a river.".
It serves as a tehsil of the district Bhimber, AJK.

Geography

Barnala is located on the banks of the Chenab River and is 43.9 km northeast of Gujrat District of the Punjab Province in Pakistan. Chamb Jaurian, site of the Battle of Chamb which took place in the year 1965, is located in the city of Barnala.
The boundaries of Barnala are connected with Bhimber, Kotla Arab Ali Khan, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Jammu. It is 200 km southeast of Rawalpindi, 180 km southeast of Islamabad, 60 km northwest of Sialkot, and 100 km northwest of Jammu.

Topography

Topographically, Barnala is divided into four regions:
As per the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the total population of the sub-division Barnala is approximately 120,000. The growth rate is nearly 2.6% with an average household size of 6.7.

Education

The literacy rate is about 70% with several colleges located in and around the sub-division.

Economy

The area is known for its mango trees, pine trees along with the cultivation and production of jujube, mulberries, rice, sugar cane, bananas, mustard, millet and wheat.
Fine and coarse aggregate materials are also produced for use in the construction industry. Stone dust, also known as Khaka, is used in place of sand for construction of temporary units and back-filling. Timber is also one among the several materials produced by this city.

Tourism

Pattni vale is a beautiful viewpoint for tourists and is situated near the LoC. Panjj Peer Darbar of village Amgah is a place that is mostly visited by Zaireen during Eid. The Mango Gardens of Watala, a historical site in Barnala, also attracts a wide range of tourists. Peer Monga Darbar is a place visited by Zaireen on a daily basis.

Landmarks

The central mosque of the city is the Bilal Masjid, while Muhammadi Masjid lies in the southeastern parts of the city. The Barkat Plaza is the central shopping mall and is located on one of the main roads of the city. The Inter College for Boys Library and Girls Degree College are located in southwest Barnala. A small park called the Barnala Qabaristan is in the northwest regions whereas Kot Jamel road leads across a bridge over the Chenab tributary to the eastern parts of the city. The eastern side of the city is also home to the Government Boys Degree College, Masjid Ahl-e-Hadis mosque, and the Tawaqal Sanitary.

Union Councils

Tehsil Barnala consists of the following 7 union councils: