Pahalgam

Pahalgam is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a popular tourist destination and hill station. Its lush green meadows and pristine waters attract thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. [1] It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Anantnag on the banks of Lidder River at an altitude of 7,200 feet (2,200 m). Pahalgam is the headquarters of one of the five tehsils of Anantnag district. Pahalgam is associated with the annual Amarnath Yatra. Chandanwari, located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Pahalgam is the starting point of the yatra that takes place every year in the months of July–August.

Pahalgam
Hill station
View of valley near Pahalgam town
Pahalgam
Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Pahalgam
Pahalgam (India)
Coordinates: 34.01°N 75.19°E / 34.01; 75.19
Country India
Union territoryJammu and Kashmir
DistrictAnantnag
Elevation
2,740 m (8,990 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total5,922
Languages
 • OfficialUrdu
 • LocalKashmiri
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
192126

Etymology

Pahalgam was originally called Bail Gaon (बैल गाँव) meaning (bull village) where Hindu God Shiva left his bull before entering Amarnath Cave[2]

History

Pahalgam is a holy site for Hindus. Hindu god Shiva recited Amrit Wachan in Pahalgam. Before entering Amarnath Cave Lord Shiva left Nandi, the bull, at Pahalgam (Bail Gaon). At Chandanwari, he released the Moon from his hair (Jata). On the banks of Sheshnag Lake, he released his snakes. At Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Mountain), he left his son Lord Ganesha. At Panjtarni, Lord Shiva left behind the five elements – Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky. As a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Dance. Then, finally, Lord Shiva entered the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Mata Parvati.[3]

Geography

Pahalgam is located at 34.01°N 75.19°E / 34.01; 75.19.[4] Pahalgam holds a central position in the Lidder Valley. It has an average elevation of 2,740 metres (8,990 ft).

Climate

Pahalgam has temperate climate with long and cold winter and short and mild summer.

Climate data for Pahalgam (1981–2010, extremes 1978–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.2
(55.8)		 17.0
(62.6)		 23.5
(74.3)		 27.4
(81.3)		 30.8
(87.4)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.5
(88.7)		 32.2
(90.0)		 30.0
(86.0)		 27.7
(81.9)		 23.0
(73.4)		 15.6
(60.1)		 32.2
(90.0)
Average high °C (°F) 4.4
(39.9)		 6.6
(43.9)		 11.7
(53.1)		 17.4
(63.3)		 21.0
(69.8)		 24.4
(75.9)		 25.3
(77.5)		 25.5
(77.9)		 23.8
(74.8)		 19.4
(66.9)		 12.9
(55.2)		 7.2
(45.0)		 16.6
(61.9)
Average low °C (°F) −6.9
(19.6)		 −4.8
(23.4)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 3.1
(37.6)		 5.6
(42.1)		 8.5
(47.3)		 12.4
(54.3)		 12.6
(54.7)		 8.3
(46.9)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 2.9
(37.2)
Record low °C (°F) −18.6
(−1.5)		 −17.3
(0.9)		 −11.6
(11.1)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 1.5
(34.7)		 5.0
(41.0)		 4.0
(39.2)		 0.6
(33.1)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 −10.6
(12.9)		 −15.7
(3.7)		 −18.6
(−1.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 120.3
(4.74)		 139.2
(5.48)		 198.0
(7.80)		 141.6
(5.57)		 129.9
(5.11)		 88.0
(3.46)		 109.1
(4.30)		 109.8
(4.32)		 81.4
(3.20)		 46.2
(1.82)		 42.9
(1.69)		 75.1
(2.96)		 1,281.5
(50.45)
Average rainy days 7.9 8.9 10.9 9.9 9.9 8.5 9.0 9.0 6.5 3.7 2.9 4.9 91.9
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 82 77 68 60 57 57 65 67 62 59 67 75 66
Source: India Meteorological Department[5][6]

Demographics

Religion in Pahalgam (2011)[7]

  Islam (80.09%)
  Hinduism (17.64%)
  Sikhism (1.38%)
  Christianity (0.41%)
  Other (0.48%)

As of 2011 India census,[8] Pahalgam had a population of 5922. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. The average literacy rate is 35%, lower than the Indian national average of 59.5% with male literacy at 49% and female literacy at 17%. About 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Administration

Pahalgam is administered by the Pahalgam Development Authority, headed by a Chief Executive Officer who functions as the administrator of local town area committee.

Places of interest

Amarnath Temple
Main article: Amarnath Temple

Amarnath cave is a Hindu shrine located in Pahalgam. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft)[9]

Kolhoi Glacier

Kolohoi Glacier, situated up the Lidder Valley, just below Kolhoi Peak is currently a hanging glacier. It is accessible from Pahalgam via Aru and is known to have extended for at least 35 kilometres (22 mi).[10] According to the mountaineers from Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, in 2008, the glacier receded by half since 1985 and it is not safe to study because it is hollow and has 200-foot-deep (61 m) crevices.

Betaab Valley
Main article: Betaab Valley

Betaab Valley is a valley located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Pahalgam. The valley got its name from a Bollywood movie Betaab that was shot here.

  • Pahalgam Gallery
  • Pine trees in the snow in Pahalgam
  • Meadows in Pahalgam
  • Lidder River
  • Route to Amarnath Temple
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See also

References
  1. "Pahalgam: Valley of paradise". Bangalore Mirror. 24 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
  2. Hazra, Rajendra Chandra (2003). Rise of Epic and Purāṇic Rudra-Śiva Or Śiva Maheśvara. Sri Balaram Prakashani. p. 71.
  3. Hazra, Rajendra Chandra (2003). Rise of Epic and Purāṇic Rudra-Śiva Or Śiva Maheśvara. Sri Balaram Prakashani. p. 71.
  4. "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Pahalgam". fallingrain.com. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  5. "Station: Pahalgam Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 605–606. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M78. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. "Anantnag Religion Census 2011". Government of India. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  8. "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.
  9. "Archive News". Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  10. N. Ahmed and N. H. Hashimi (1974). "Glacial History of Kolahoi Glacier, Kashmir, India" (PDF). Journal of Glaciology. 13 (68). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
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