Surankote
Surankote (Urdu: سُورنکوٹ) is a tehsil and a municipal committee in the Poonch district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It occupies the Surankote valley, located between the Pir Panjal and ranges within the Himalayas. It receives light snowfall in winters.
Surankote Swarnkot | |
|---|---|
  Surankote Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India  Surankote Surankote (India) | |
| Coordinates: 33.04°N 74.49°E | |
| Country |  |
| Union Territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Poonch |
| Government | |
| • MLA | Akram Chowdhury Mohammad.[1] (INC) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Urdu |
| • Other | Pahari, Gujari, Kashmiri |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 185121 |
Geography
Surankote township is located some 27 kilometres to the south-east of Poonch city and 221 kilometres from winter capital Jammu. The valley comprises 43 villages. The total projected population of the valley is 127,000 which includes Paharis, Gujjars, Bakerwals and a visible Kashmiri speaking minority who locally form a part of the Pahari community. Twenty-four villages are located on the western slopes of main Pir Panchal range while 19 villages are found on the slopes of Rattan Panchal range. The climatic conditions resemble that of Kashmir.
Demography
As of 2011 census Surankot has a population of 8,892.males constitute 53% of population while females form 47% share. The average literacy is 73%.[2]
Islam is followed by almost 86% population. Gujjars are an agricultural tribe and are estimated to be the largest community living in Surankote.
Tourist Attractions
Noori Chamb
Many locals call Noori Chamb a milky waterfall, due to the white colored vapours formed during descend. This waterfall sources its water from Luksar & Kolsar lakes. It is named by the great historian emperor Jahangir as it appeared beautiful to him and he named it after the mughal queen noor jahan.[3]
Peer Ki Gali
The name Peer Ki Gali indicates: it has some auspicious relevance. As the word 'peer' means a person devoted to religion, as per Muslim faith. This holy place Peer ki Gali is situated between two villages, Poshana and Heer Pur, along Mughal road. Peer ki Gali is more likely to be called as heart of Mughal road. The history of this place dates back to the time of a holy and religiously elevated person named as Alamdar-e-Kashmir, Sheikh Noor-u-Din Noorani (RA) (1378 to 1441).[4]