Kulgam


Kulgam is a town, administrative division, and capital of the Kulgam district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located at a distance of 67 kilometres from the summer state capital of Srinagar. The city is divided into 16 electoral wards that has population of 23,584, of which 12,605 are males while 10,979 are females.

Geography

Kulgam is located at 33°38'24" N 75°01'12" E. It has an average elevation of 1739 metres. Now it has become a separate district of Jammu and Kashmir. Kulgam is known for a religious saint, who gave it the name "Kulgam" as the area has a lot of streams. Syed Simnan came from a place called Simnan in Iran. Travelling in the Kashmir valley, he came to Kulgam and liked the spot on a cliff overlooking the river Veshaw. He made Kulgam his permanent abode and was buried at the very spot which he had found fascinating. His 'aastan' is a draw from the population in and around Kulgam. The family of Syed Simnan is buried in a nearby village called Amun. Both the shrines have a masonry plinth and a wooden superstructure of deodars. He was known for his mystical powers and had devotees amongst Muslims as well as Hindus.
Shaikh Nur-ud-din also known as Nund Rishi, was a Kashmiri saint who belonged to the Rishi order and is also called Alamdar-e-Kashmir. Sheikh-ul-Alam as the patron saint of Kashmiris, revered by both Muslims and Hindus, was also born in a village called Kaimuh of the Kulgam distinct in 779 A.H.. The family of Shaikh Nur-ud-din is buried in Quimoh. The Kulgam area is the birthplace of the ancestors of Allama Iqbal. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's ancestors also are from Nadi Marag, a village in Kulgam. Aharbal is a tourist spot in the district of Kulgam. It is a high waterfall, which is a source of the river Veshaw. Kulgam is known as the rice bowl of the valley and is known for its variety of fruit, especially apples.
This town is on the bank of river Veshaw across the spread of which are the foothills of the Pir Panchal mountains. Ahrabal has meadows and a waterfall. It has its origin from a spring called Kounsarnag located in the mountain range of Pir Panjal Range.
The partial excavation of an archaeological site in a nearby village called Kutbal has yielded material culture from the period of Kushan rule in the region. Stamped tiles, which were excavated from the site, indicated the taste and living standard of the population. These excavations speak of high culture, civic sense, social norms and art of the people living in first century AD.
The Kutbal site and its findings, which belong to the Kushana period, are more significant in view of several religious and artistic practices that had flourished then and had travelled to far off places in the subcontinent. Further excavation has been stopped due to prevailing political unrest in valley.
The old Kulgam is situated on the banks of "Kaval". The topography of Kulgam is. The lower portion is situated on the banks of Kaval, offshoot of river Vashiv. Almost all offices are functioning in this area. A scenic nullaha Vashiv irrigates the fertile lands of Kulgam area. Kulgam is called the granary of Kashmir Valley, but unfortunately this area is almost converted into agriculture to horticulture. Kulgam is famous being the first seat of missionaries of Islam as before Sayeed Ali Hamdani, he sent Sayeed Mohmmad Hussain SImnani to Kashmir to preach for Islam. Sayeed Simnani chose Kulgam as a permanent seat. It is the place where Salar Sanz father of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din wali embraced Islam and was renamed Salar ud-din, Salar resides at Khee Jogipora Mohmad pora from Kulgam and was married to Sadder, a daughter of Kota rajas of Daderkot. It was due to the efforts of sayeed simnani this marriage took place. Kulgam is an important place in south Kashmir. Kulgam connects, and its boundaries touch, all the three districts Shopian, Pulwama, and Anantnag of south Kashmir. The topography of Kulgam is scenic, and it is surrounded on all sides by small streams 'orchards; paddy farms and a scenic Kerwaha with a big portion of plan area and fields.
Kulgam is also known for its production of Rice as well as Apples. It is also called as the "Rice Bowl Of Kashmir".

Habitation & Environment

Town Kulgam is situated at a distance of about 68 km from Srinagar and about 17 km from Anantnag. It has road connectivity with its neighboring districts like Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Ramban etc. and Town besides being linked with far flung areas of the District by a dependable road network. Besides places of spiritual interest the district has tourist spots like "Ahrabal water fall" on Veshev Nallah, Amnoo Eid Gah which is a place of sight-seeing in the extreme south-west of district Kulgam., Kongwattan and Gurwattan ahead of Ahrabal, Charenbal and Nandimarg high land pastures are also places of tourist attraction apart from virgin meadows in the area from Kund to Ladigasan. The District also has super abundance of natural water resources in the shape of various famous springs such as, Kounsernag, Waseknag, Khee Nag, etc.

Political Status

Kulgam district has 4 assembly constituencies: Noorabad, Kulgam, Homshailibugh, and Devsar. The parties of the current members of the legislative assembly are: Indian National Congress for Devsar, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference for Homshailibugh, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party for Noorabad, and the Communist Party of India for Kulgam..
Nazir Ahmad Laway who is presently Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha representing the state of Jammu & Kashmir also belongs to Kulgam.
Homshallibugh j&K 39th assembly segment has three municipal towns – Frisal, Yaripora, and Qaimoh – which are also tehsil headquarters. Yaripora is an education and health block, while Qaimoh is agriculture as well as education and health blocks. Frisal is a community development block.

Road facility

Kulgam has following roads connecting it to various assembly segments and with NH1A
Khudwani-Frisal-Zainpora Road
Frisal-Damidallah-Buchroo Road
Frisal-Kralchek-Nagharad road
Frisal- Nawbal-Shamsipora-Batingoo Road

Health facilities

Schools

Govt. Model Higher Secondary School Frisal
Hanfiya High School Frisal
Islamic Public High School frisal
Candid Public High School Frisal
Govt Girls High School Frisal
Govt Middle school Peerbal Frisal
Sunbeam School Frisal
Iqra Public school Frisal
Primary Schools at Nagbal, Palpora Frisal

Colleges

Govt Degree College D.H Pora Kulgam