Akhnoor
Encyclopedia
Akhnoor is a town in Jammu district
in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India
.
Located 28 km (17.4 mi) from Jammu, Akhnoor is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is an extremely beautiful town. The picturesque town is located on the banks of the Chenab River
.
wife had a vision problem. It was prescribed by a local Hindu priest that she wash her eyes with the holy water of the Chenab River
. Using some ayurvedic medicines, her vision was restored. In Urdu noor means "vision/glow/shine" and aankh means "eye", so the town was renamed as Aankhon(Eyes)ka Noor (Vision) and with the time changed to Akhnoor.
, Akhnoor had a population of 10,896. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Akhnoor has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The languages spoken are Dogri
followed by Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English.
temple where Parashurama Jayanti is celebrated annually, on the same day in May as Akshaya Tritiya
.
The people of this town had fled during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1965 and 1971, returning after the ceasefire. The border is around 18 km (11.2 mi) away by road, but the aerial distance is only some 8 km (5 mi). The people had also suffered problems from the time that the main bridge over Chenab River was washed away on September 10, 1992, until it was rebuilt and opened on April 13, 1994.
Now, there is a modern concrete structured bridge on the Chenab apart from the steel structured bridge which was rebuilt in April, 1994; which links Akhnoor to Jammu and other areas.
There is a beautiful park built on the bank of Chenab stretching from Jiya Pota Ghat to Parashurama Temple. It looks like a glittering necklace during the late evening and during night hours under beautiful lights on the bank.
is located close to Akhnoor while Shivkhori
is a kilometer's distance from the town limits. There are also some Indus Valley ruins to be seen close to Akhnoor, along the Chenab.
The bank of river Chenab is the most beautiful of all places in Akhnoor. There are very famous temples in Akhnoor as well including Kameshwar Mandir (which is considered to be a swaroop of lord Shiva ) and Jiya Pota Mandir on river bank which is of main attraction during summers. People gather here during summer evenings and enjoy cool breeze from the water of Chenab.
There is another similar place at the other side of town known as Namandhar Ghat. People gather here in summers and enjoy group discussions and play games and enjoy cool breeze. Akhnoor is also famous for Wrestling (Shinzh) competitions during the October or November.
Jammu District
Jammu District is a district in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu is the winter capital of the state. The majority of the population of the district practise Hinduism; people of all religions, Muslims, Sikhs live in peace and harmony. Jammu is also known as city of temples with major attraction as Maa...
in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Located 28 km (17.4 mi) from Jammu, Akhnoor is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is an extremely beautiful town. The picturesque town is located on the banks of the Chenab River
Chenab River
The Chenab River چنRiver' آب) is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab in Pakistan. It forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan...
.
Entymology
The popular story of how "Virat nagar" got its name converted to Akhnoor is that the Mughal emperor'sMughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
wife had a vision problem. It was prescribed by a local Hindu priest that she wash her eyes with the holy water of the Chenab River
Chenab River
The Chenab River چنRiver' آب) is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab in Pakistan. It forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan...
. Using some ayurvedic medicines, her vision was restored. In Urdu noor means "vision/glow/shine" and aankh means "eye", so the town was renamed as Aankhon(Eyes)ka Noor (Vision) and with the time changed to Akhnoor.
Geography
Akhnoor is located at 32.87°N 74.73°E. It has an average elevation of 301 metres (987.5 ft).Akhnoor is located at the right bank of the mighty Chenab.Chenab enters plains at Akhnoor.On the North and East,the Shiwaliks and Trikuta range surround it.Akhnoor lies on Jammu-Poonch National Highway about 28 kms away from Jammu.Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Akhnoor had a population of 10,896. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Akhnoor has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The languages spoken are Dogri
Dogri language
Dogri is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about five million people in Pakistan and India, chiefly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, but also in northern Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and elsewhere. Dogri speakers are called Dogras, and the Dogri-speaking...
followed by Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English.
History
Akhnoor has historical places to visit, such as the caves where the Pandavas stayed during their exile. Close to the town there is a ParashuramaParashurama
Parashurama , is the sixth avatar of Vishnu and belongs to the treta yuga, and is the son of a Brahmin father Jamadagni and mother Renuka. He is considered one of the seven immortal human. He received an axe after undertaking a terrible penance to please Shiva, from whom he learned the methods of...
temple where Parashurama Jayanti is celebrated annually, on the same day in May as Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej is a Hindu and Jain holy day, that falls on the third Tithi of Bright Half of the pan-Indian month of Vaishakha....
.
The people of this town had fled during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1965 and 1971, returning after the ceasefire. The border is around 18 km (11.2 mi) away by road, but the aerial distance is only some 8 km (5 mi). The people had also suffered problems from the time that the main bridge over Chenab River was washed away on September 10, 1992, until it was rebuilt and opened on April 13, 1994.
Now, there is a modern concrete structured bridge on the Chenab apart from the steel structured bridge which was rebuilt in April, 1994; which links Akhnoor to Jammu and other areas.
There is a beautiful park built on the bank of Chenab stretching from Jiya Pota Ghat to Parashurama Temple. It looks like a glittering necklace during the late evening and during night hours under beautiful lights on the bank.
Places of Interest
The Amar Mahal PalaceAmar Mahal Palace
The Amar Mahal Palace is a palace in Jammu, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, which has now been converted into a Museum. It was built in the nineteenth century for Raja Amar Singh, a Dogra king by a French architect on the lines of a French Chateau. The palace was donated to the...
is located close to Akhnoor while Shivkhori
Shivkhori
Shivkhori is a famous cave shrine of Hindus devoted to lord Shiva, situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir state in India.-Location:...
is a kilometer's distance from the town limits. There are also some Indus Valley ruins to be seen close to Akhnoor, along the Chenab.
The bank of river Chenab is the most beautiful of all places in Akhnoor. There are very famous temples in Akhnoor as well including Kameshwar Mandir (which is considered to be a swaroop of lord Shiva ) and Jiya Pota Mandir on river bank which is of main attraction during summers. People gather here during summer evenings and enjoy cool breeze from the water of Chenab.
There is another similar place at the other side of town known as Namandhar Ghat. People gather here in summers and enjoy group discussions and play games and enjoy cool breeze. Akhnoor is also famous for Wrestling (Shinzh) competitions during the October or November.
Infrastructure development
A new concrete, 180 m (590.6 ft)-long bridge is built some 500 m (1,640.4 ft) upstream from the older steel bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister of India on April 13, 2008. As of 2008, this was the longest bridge in the state, started in 2006 and completed within 20 months, by the Indian PSU, Border Roads Organization. The contract for building the bridge had been twice awarded to contractors NBCC Limited (awarded1977, aborted 1985) and Banka (India) Limited (awarded 1985,aborted 1994), while a quadricon bridge was built by Northern Railways for its needs.See also
- JammuJammuJammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
- Jammu taviJammu taviJammu tawi is a town located in Jammu and Kashmir, India.-See also:* Jammu* Nagrota* Talab Tillo* Samba, Jammu* Kathua* Jammu Cantonment* Hiranagar* Akhnoor...
- Talab TilloTalab TilloTalab Tillo is a suburban area of Jammu City in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and is situated in Jammu Province. It derived its name from a Saint 'Tilloo' and from a pond which was situated here. In Hindi "talab" means pond...
- Samba, JammuSamba, JammuSee Samba for other meaningsSamba is a town in Samba district in the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir. Before the formation of Samba district, this town was part of Jammu district...
- NagrotaNagrotaNagrota is a town located in the Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir state in India. It is located on National Highway 1A between Jammu city and Udhampur...
- KathuaKathuaKathua is the largest city of the Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the third largest city in the Jammu region and the sixth largest in the state. The word "Kathua" is derived from the word "Thuan" in Dogri which means "Scorpios". The city was the land of Scorpios before the settling of...
- Jammu CantonmentJammu CantonmentJammu Cantonment is a cantonment town in Jammu District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.-Demographics: India census, Jammu Cantonment had a population of 30,107. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Jammu Cantonment has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the...
- HiranagarHiranagarHiranagar is a town and a notified area committee in Kathua district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.It is a Tehsil HQ. Raja Hari Singh is believed to have founded Hiranagar Town after his name when he was bestowed with the Jagir of Jasrota by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab . He also...
External links
- Bhaderwah - The Heaven on Earth
- Akhnoor on Jammu's tourism portal
- Akhnoor on Kashmir-Tibet tourism portal