Bagh District

Bagh

Area	1,368 km²
Population (2000) • Density	434,000 • 317.3/km²
Time zone	PST (UTC +4:30)
Established • District Nazim • District Naib Nazim • District Council • Number of Tehsils	1988 • • • •
Main language(s)	Kashmiri
Website	{{{ApnaBagh.Com}}}

Bagh District is a district in Pakistan that was carved out of Poonch District in 1988. The district shares its borders with Muzaffarabad District in the north, with Poonch district in the south, with Baramulla District of the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the east and is bounded to Punjab (Pakistan) in the west. The total area of the district is 1368 square kilometres. Total population of the district according to the 1998 census stands at 395000, which is estimated to be 404,000 according to 1999 projections. The district is divided into 3 tehsils. Bagh district is linked to Muzaffarabad by two roads, one via Sudhan Gali (80Km) and the other through Kohala (97Km). It is situated 46Km from Rawalakot. The district is well known for its confectionery and bakery products.

The city of Bagh was heavily damaged in the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. 60 percent of the buildings collapsed. For more details visit http://www.kashmirearthquake.com

The word Bagh (باغ) comes from Persian and means garden. It is used in many toponyms such as the Kara-bagh (Black Garden), Chaharbagh (Four Garden) etc.

Ganga Choti is a scenic place in this district.

Major Places of Bagh

Birpani

From Bagh City towards westheast 20 Km ahead, this spot is situated at an altitude of 2000 metres. Besides its scenic beauty, this place is well-known for its historic background The fascinating and charming place of District Bagh is 250 kilometres from Kohalla, and 500 kilometres from Islamabad This town is situated on the confluence of two mini nallahs- Birpani Nallah and Dhaki Nallah , which flow all the year round The word Birpani comes from Phari word Beer and means Veer (Brother/Bahi). The people of Birpani are brave, courageous and skilled. The population of Birpani is 8000 which includes many families. The most popular family in this village is Maldial (Mughal). Literacy rate is about more then 70%. There are many schools, colleges, hospitals etc, a develop village throughout the District. There is one girls inter college and one boys higher secondary school in Birpani and many private schools. Birpani is a union council which includes different villages e.g Surrol,Dhal Qazian, Ratnoi, Bani Minhasan, and Khawaja. The Bazar of Birpani includes more than 150 shops.

Bagh

Bagh, the district headquarters of district Bagh is 100 Kilometres from Muzaffarabad via Kohallah & 80 Kilometres via Suddhen Gali, 205 Kilometres from Islamabad and 48 kilometres from Rawalakot. This town is situated on the confluence of two mini nallahs- Mahlwani & Mahl, which flow all the year round. The people of Bagh are brave, courageous and skilled, especially the artificers in the field of bakery & confectionery. The well recognized " Haji Peer Pass " is about 32 kilometres from Bagh City linked with metalled road. Middle standard hotels, PWD and Forest rest houses are available for visitors, whereas, all the basic necessities of life are available in the Bagh bazars.

Dhirkot

The fascinating and charming place of District Bagh is 25 kilometres from Kohalla, the gateway of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and 132 kilometers from Islamabad . Located at an altitude of 1676 meters, Dhirkot possesses an extremely pleasant and healthy climate. This place is very popular among the visitors as a tourist resort mainly due to easy access, suitable altitude and beautiful landscape. In the heart of the calm & quite Deodar and Kail mixed forest, there is a posh Forest rest house, three Tourist Huts and a Log Hut, which are greatly sought after by tourists in summer. Dhirkot is linked with all parts of Azad Kashmir by black top roads and direct transport services are also available.

Neela Butt

From Dheerkot towards southeast 6 Km ahead, this spot is situated at an altitude of 2000 meters. Besides its scenic beauty, this place is well-known for its historic background. On August 23, 1947 the Mujahideen-e-Azadi assembled at this place and started armed struggle for accession to Pakistan . Sufficient accommodation facilities are available here for visitors. Neela Butt is the place from where a young aged person belonging to Dhond Abbasi tribe took up his arms against the Dogra Raj, titled as Mujahid e Awwal Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Abbasi. His heroic effort was a shot in arm for the whole of the Poonch District. His son named as Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan Abbasi now heads the AJK government.

Las Danna

From Bagh, a 15 kilometres long metalled road leads to Las Danna which is a place of captivating scenes and natural beauty. From Lasdanna, three roads branch off the main road i.e. Mahmood gali-Palangi, Haji pir- Aliabad and Abbasspur- Hajira respectively. A tourist rest house is available here for accommodation.

Sudhan Galli

Sudhan Galli, located at a height of 2134 meters, links Chikkar with Bagh, a town in the Bagh district. This scenic spot also serves as a base camp for those interested in hiking/ trekking to the nearby 3045 meters high mountain "Ganga Choti". It is also linked with Chikkar. Buses and vans ply daily from Bagh, Chikkar & Muzaffarabad to this place. A tourist rest house and PWD rest house provide reasonable accommodation facilities here.

Mallot

Location

Mallot is located in District Bagh about 17 Kilometers North West from Bagh city and in the east of Dhirkot. A major venue for future tourism. Mallot is situated at an approximate altitude of 2000 meters. Besides its scenic beauty, this place is well known for its historic background. People living surrounding the Mallot are belonging to different tribes. Such as Sudhun, Mughal, Khaka Rajpooth, Narma Rajpooth, Taziyal Rajpooth, Qarashi, Hashmi, Abbasi etc... Mallot is the one of unique place in Azad Kashmir where can find all major tribes living in Kashmir.

Another reason of it’s uniqueness is, it is the center point for four union council, union council Thob, union council Mallot, union council Jaglari & union council Rangla.

Roads

Mallot is linked with major roads around. From south east It’s connected with Main Rawalpindi Bagh road through Jaglari Namanpora, from south west it’s connected through Harigal, from the west it’s connected through Challa , from north west it’s connected through Bisbagla Dhirkot, from north east it’s connected through Thob, Panili road.

Schools

There is one girls inter college and one boys inter science college and some private schools. in addition many primary and middle schools for both boys and girls are also available in the surrounding villages.

Communication

There is one Special Communication Organization's digital exchange which is providing the communication facilities to surrounding villages through landlines and also some major private companis boosters are functioning in the area such as Telenor, Ufone and Mobilink.

Occupation

There are very few jobs available within Mallot, a reasonable nos. of people are occupying the services in Government of Azad Kashmir and, Pakistan, some join Pakistan Army and reasonable personnel are doing their own business such as Hotel and Bakeries all over the Pakistan.

Sports

People of this region play volley ball and cricket.

Earthquake of 2005

Mallot and it’s surrounding towns were totally destroyed from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake; hundreds of people were died are hurt by this quake. 100% population was left homeless. Most of the houses have been reconstructed though with the help of the Governments of Pakistan / Azad Kashmir and local / International NGOs.

Cuba, along with other countries provided medical assistance to the population. People are very generous and helpful in this area. During the earthquake rehabilitation phase Mallot was major place for the Pak Army and other NGO’s for their rescue and other operations due to its unique location. A President award was given to a Mallot resident Mr. Sayad Ahmed, Principle of SAHRA Public School on his outstanding performance despite that he himself suffer with earthquake. The Literacy rate in area is about 80%.

A monument was constructed near Boys College Mallot in the remembrance of earthquake victims, with the help of Pak Army. The names of all those personnel who were died with earthquake in the area are displayed on the monument.

by obaid A. chughtai