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Rawalkot
Poonch District (Urdu: ضلع پونچھ ) is a district of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. It is one of the 10 districts of this Pakistan-administered territory. It is bounded on the north by Bagh District, on the north-east by Haveli District, on the south-east by the Poonch District of Indian-administered Kashmir, on the south by Azad Kashmir’s Sudhanoti and Kotli districts, and on the west by Rawalpindi District of Pakistan’s Punjab Province. The Poonch District is part of the greater Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. The district headquarters is the city of Rawalakot. It is the third most populous district of Azad Kashmir.
The main language is Pahari (“Punchi”), native to an estimated 95% of the population, but there are also speakers of Gujari, while Urdu has official status.
The district is administratively subdivided into four tehsils:
- Rawalakot Tehsil Rawalakot (Urdu: راولا کوٹ ) is the capital of Poonch district in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in the Pir Panjal Range . Rawalakot is located at Latitude 33°51’32.18″N, Longitude 73° 45’34.93″E and an Elevation of 5374 feet. Rawalakot is approximately 76 kilometres (47 mi) from Kahuta and about 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via Goyain Nala and Tain roads. Via Kotli Satiyan and Kahuta. It is also linked with Rawalpindi via Sudhnuti.
Banjosa Lake (Urdu: بنجوسہ جھیل ) is an artificial lake and a tourist resort 18 kilometers (11 mi) from the city of Rawalakot in Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located at an altitude of 1,981 meters (6,499 ft).This lake is 160 kilometers away from Rawalpindi.
Banjosa lake rebulit by Shoukat hussain who was well-known contractor of Poonch District.
The lake is surrounded by dense pine forest and mountains. The Lake is accessible by a metalled road from Rawalakot.The lake is frozen in winter people walk on it and also skitt on ice.
Tolipir (Urdu: تولی پیر) is a hilltop area situated in Rawalakot Tehsil in the Poonch District of Azad Kashmir. Its approximate elevation is about 9,000 ft above sea level. It is about 30 km, or a 120-minute drive, from Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir. Abbaspur, Bagh, and Poonch River can be viewed from Toli Pir. It is a popular tourist destination in the region, attracting thousands in the summer months.
Tolipir is the highest mountainous location in the north-eastern area of Rawalakot; it is the point of origin of three different mountain ridges. The tourist rest house on the way to Toli Pir is also situated in a scenic location. There are some remains of an old mazar on the highest hilltop.
Tolipir is most accessible during the summer months; the weather generally becomes colder from October through March, with snowfall usually expected.
- Thorar Tehsil Thorar is a town in Poonch District in Azad Kashmir. There are some villages around it like Azizabad , Sardi,cheran , Androt, Naka-Bazar , Nar e.t.c. It is located about 20 miles from Rawalakot city, the capital of Poonch district.
- Hajira Tehsil Hajira (Urdu: ہجیرہ) is a small town in Poonch District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Tehsil Hajira also known as ‘Cheara’ in local accents. Hajira is a transport hub, being the center point of different districts. Hajira Ponch is correctly interpreted as ‘Hajira Reach’. In front (South) of Hajira there is district Sudhnoti. On the left side (South East) of Hajira there is district Kotli. On the back side (North) of Hajira there is district ‘Haveli. District Bagh is in the right side (West) of Hajira. Khai Gala and Rawalakot are the other nearest cities of Hajira and located in the right side (West) of Hajira. While summers can be very hot (exceeding 35C) the winters are mild in Hajira, with snowfall very rare due to the low altitude. The language spoken in Hajira is Urdu similar to the right west side of Hajira as Rawlakot, as you go north to Tata pani towards Kotli and Mirpur the language emerges in to “Pahari” and “Potwari”. Hajira is close to Indian borders hence the main language becoming Urdu. The Indian borders and line of control LOC is near Hajira.
- Abbaspur Tehsil Abbaspur commanly known as Bandi or Bandi Abbaspur is a Tehsil located near line of control which divides Pakistan administered Kashmir and Indian administered Kashmir. It used to be called Gaopalpur before its name was changed. The tensil is made up of different areas, every thing above the abbaspur city. the mountain facing toward the city in front of it and up to mehmood gali is called Tangyran. the mountain side facing toward the Poonch river or Rangard between Abbaspur and Potha is called Choyi , It is the sub-divisional headquarters of district, Rawalakot, Poonch, Azad Kashmir.