Ganderbal is a city and the headquarters of Ganderbal district in the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in disputed Kashmir region. It is in Central Kashmir; and has an average elevation of 1,619 metres (5,312 feet). Ganderbal is bordered by district Srinagar District in the south, Bandipora District to the north, Kargil District (union territory of Ladakh) in the northeast, Anantnag District to the southeast, and Baramulla District in the southwest. The current District Magistrate of Ganderbal is Mr. Shyambir Singh (IAS) and the current Superintendent of police is Mr. Waseem Qadri (JKPS).Ganderbal is renowned for its beauty, boasting numerous picturesque places and captivating landscapes. Sonamarg is the most famous place in Ganderbal; Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is also traversed through Ganderbal district. Manasbal Lake famous for natural and purity of water as compared to other water lakes of the Kashmir Valley.

Ganderbal
Town
View of Ganderbal town in Jammu and Kashmir, India
View of Ganderbal town in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ganderbal is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Ganderbal
Ganderbal
Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ganderbal is located in India
Ganderbal
Ganderbal
Ganderbal (India)
Coordinates: 34°14′N 74°47′E / 34.23°N 74.78°E / 34.23; 74.78
Country India
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
DistrictGanderbal
Named forBeauty
Area
 • Total1,049 km2 (405 sq mi)
Elevation
1,619 m (5,312 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total297,446
 • Density1,148/km2 (2,970/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Ganderbali, Ganderbalian, Ganderbaluk, Ganderbalia
Languages
 • OfficialKashmiri, Urdu, English[1][2]
 • SpokenKashmiri, Pahari, Gujari, Shina, Balti, Pashto
Time zoneUTC 5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationJK16
Websiteganderbal.nic.in
Ganderbal (constituency of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly)

Geography

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Ganderbal is located at 34°14′N 74°47′E / 34.23°N 74.78°E / 34.23; 74.78.[3] It has an average elevation of 1,619 metres (5,312 feet) above sea level. It is bordered by the Srinagar district in the south, Bandipore to the north, Kargil in the northeast, Anantnag to the southeast and Baramulla to the southwest. It is divided into six Tehsils viz, Ganderbal, Kangan, Lar, Tulmulla, Gund and Wakura. Ganderbal is the smallest district in Jammu and Kashmir by area, covering 259 square kilometers.

Power project

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The Sind River, a major tributary to the Jhelum River flows through this district. The water of the river is mainly used for irrigation, and generation of hydroelectricity. There are three hydroelectric power stations, Lower Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project Ganderbal, Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project 1st Kangan and Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project 2nd Sumbal generating electricity on the Sind River. Besides, the water of the river is used for drinking by Srinagar city through Rangil Water Treatment Plant.[4]

Tourism

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Water rafting tournaments are being organised at the tourist destination of Sonamarg every year, to boost the tourism industry of Kashmir valley. Besides Manasbal lake, Gangabal Lake[5] at the foot of Mount Haramukh is one of the destinations of foreign tourists visiting the valley. Vaishnosar Lake and Gadsar Lake are situated north of Sonamarg.

Development

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Despite the fact that in the past Ganderbal has remained CM's[6] constituency,[7] it has remained quite behind in development as compared to other districts. Ganderbal constituency was represented by Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar who defeated Qazi Mohammad Afzal by a little margin of 461 votes in recently held state assembly elections 2014. The Central University of Kashmir[8] is being constructed in district Ganderbal. Three Faculties, the Faculty of Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir are also located within the jurisdiction of Ganderbal, serving to boost the economy and education of the district. Besides, there is a stadium which holds a record of playing a day-night matches Physical Education College, the only one in the state, is situated at Gadoora village, some 3.5 km away from district headquarters.

Demographics

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Religion in Ganderbal Town (2011)[9]

  Islam (98.21%)
  Hinduism (1.37%)
  Sikhism (0.13%)
  Christianity (0.15%)
  Buddhism (0.01%)
  Not Stated (0.13%)

As of 2011 India census,[10] Ganderbal had a population of 297446.[11] Males constitute 53.36% of the population and females 46.64%. Ganderbal has an average literacy rate of 58.04%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 68.85%, and female literacy is 45.71%. In Ganderbal, 17.01% of the population is under 6 years of age.[12]

Politics

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The Municipal Committee Ganderbal is an Urban Local Body with 17 elected members. Its last elections took place on 16 October 2018.[13]

Keys:   BJP (2)   INC (2)   Independent (13)

# Name Municipal Ward Reservation Status Party
1 Samia Ahad Beehama Nagripora Women Open Independent
2 Abdul Rashid Rather Beehama Wahid Sahib Open Independent
3 Jeelani Ahmed Mir Ganderbal A Open BJP
4 Haleema Ganderbal B Women Open Independent
5 Showkat Ahmad Mir Arampora A Open Independent
6 Altaf Ahmad Lone Arampora B Open Independent
7 Mehak Shah Duderhama Gousia Women Open INC
8 Hilal Ahmad Tantray Duderhama Open Independent
9 Nazir Ahmad Ganaie Fathipora A Open Independent
10 Rashida Bano Fatehpora B Women Open Independent
11 Ghulam Hassan Dar Gangerhama A Open Independent
12 Bashir Ahmad Koul Gangerhama B Open Independent
13 Nabla Wanipora Women Open Independent
14 Sajjad Ahmad Bamloora Open INC
15 Lateef Ahmad Saloora A Open BJP
16 Sara Saloora B Women Open Independent
17 Abdul Majid Saloora C Open Independent

Education

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The following educational institutes are located within Ganderbal:[14]


These institutions play a significant role in shaping the educational landscape of Ganderbal and contribute to the academic development of the region.

Transport

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Road

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Ganderbal is well-connected by road to other places in Jammu and Kashmir and India by the NH 1.

Rail

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Ganderbal is not connected with railways. The nearest railway station is Srinagar railway station located at a distance of 31 kilometres.

The nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport located at a distance of 30 kilometres.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  3. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Ganderbal. Fallingrain.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-14.
  4. ^ Rangil Water Treatment Plant finds hard to feed tail-end areas Lastupdate:- Fri, 4 Sep 2009 18:30:00 GMT. Greaterkashmir.com (4 September 2009). Retrieved on 2011-12-14.
  5. ^ Gangabal Lake in India. India9.com (7 June 2005). Retrieved on 2011-12-14.
  6. ^ Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
  7. ^ Electoral constituency
  8. ^ Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal | CareerPages Archived 23 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Careerpages.in. Retrieved on 2011-12-14.
  9. ^ "Ganderbal Town Population". Census India. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  11. ^ census of India official website, www.census2011.co.in
  12. ^ this is census of India 2011, www.census2011.co.in
  13. ^ http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/pdf/municipal Election/Result_Notifi_Corp.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ "Colleges/Universities | District Ganderbal, Government of Jammu and Kashmir | India".
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