Bhimber
Encyclopedia
Bhimber is the chief town of Bhimber District
Bhimber District
Bhimber is the southernmost of the eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir it borders Indian-administered Kashmir to the east. The district is located between Latitude: 32-48 to 33-34 and Longitude: 73.55 to 74-45, and has an area of 1516 km². The chief town is Bhimber.-History:The area is...

, Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...

. The town is situated on the border between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

 at a distance of about 50 km from Mirpur, about 48 km from Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...

 and about 166 km from Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...

.

History

Bhimber has been important strategically. It lies on the route that was followed by the Mughal Emperors for their frequent visits to the Kashmir Valley. It is also known as "Baab-e-Kashmir" (Door to Kashmir) because of its importance and geographical location which was ideal for Mughal Emperors to enter Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...

. Mughal Emperor Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...

 discussed Bhimber in his book Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.

Culture

Most of the population of the town migrated from Samahni
Samahni
Samahni is a scenic and pollution-free valley in Azad Kashmir surrounded by mountains covered in pine trees. Most of the inhabitants speak Pahari, with some Punjabi influence...

 region. Therefore, a large number of people speak Pahari
Pahari
The Dogri-Kangri languages, traditionally known as Western Pahari, are a range of languages and dialects spoken across the Himalayan range, from Pakistan to Nepal.- Languages :...

. Bhimber is situated at the border of Azad Kahmir and Punjab, so the main language is Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...

.

Geography and climate

The Bhimber region is only region in Azad Kashmir which consists of plains. Its hot, dry climate and other geographical conditions closely resemble with those of Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...

, the adjoining district of Pakistan.

Ethnic groups in Bhimber

  • Arain
    Arain
    The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...

     - A minority group, mostly engaged in commercial businesses.
  • Jatt - Represent biggest of the three majority ethnic groups of Bhimber. They play an active role in politics and bureaucracy. They are a tribe with a very strong history and are noble barons and landlords (Jagirdars).
  • Kashmiri
    Kashmiri people
    The Kashmiri people are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language...

     - Minority clans in Bhimber are Butt
    Butt (name)
    Butt is an English surname whose origins lie in the South West Peninsula region of England.- Etymology :The surname Butt or Butts is said to be derived from the Old French word "but" which is a verb meaning "aim" or "target". The English name is derived from the Middle English word "but", a noun...

    , Lone, Dar
    DAR
    Dar may refer to:* Dar, Azerbaijan, a village* Dar es Salaam * Dar , a Kashmiri tribe in India and Pakistan* Dar, Russian title of Vladimir Nabokov's book The Gift...

     and Khawaja
    Khawaja
    Khawaja or Khwaja is a title used in Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia. It means Lord or Master.Khwajagan is a word often used to refer to a chains of Central Asian Naqshbandi Sufi Masters from the 10th to the 16th century A.D. In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh the word is used many times for some...

    . They are the descendants of Kashmiri pundits, who belonged to the priestly caste of Brahmins and migrated from Kashmir Valley.
  • Mughals
    Mughal (tribe)
    The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...

     - The second of three major ethnic groups. Although they are not involved in active political activities, they are highly active in the education sector.
  • Rajput
    Rajput
    A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...

    s - Third of the three major ethnic groups in number, they play an active role in politics and bureaucracy. They comprise of many clans mainly chibs.
  • Sheikh
    Sheikh
    Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...

     - Most people who classify themselves as Sheikhs in Bhimber are descendants of Brahmin
    Brahmin
    Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...

    , Khatri
    Khatri
    Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...

     or Rajput
    Rajput
    A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...

     Hindus who converted to Islam.
  • Sayyid
    Sayyid
    Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...

    s - Though a minority group they are a very active people and occupy important positions in all sectors.

Tourism

Bhimber and its surrounding area is very rich in archaeological remains. There is a forest rest house in Bhimber. Famous historical and scenic sites in the town and surrounding area include:
  • Famous Haathi Gate - Jahangir's elephant used to enter the town through it.
  • Baghsar Fort
    Baghsar Fort
    Baghsar Fort is an ancient fort built in Samahni Valley near Bhimber close to a place known as Baghsar. Baghsar means land of water and gardens. There is a beautiful lake called Baghsar Lake. This beautiful place is 12 km in the east of Samahni town and at the same distance from Jandi Chontra...

     - This ancient fort is built in Samahni Valley close to a place known as Baghsar.
  • Baghsar Lake - This lake is situated near Baghsar Fort.
  • Tomb of Baba Shadi Shaheed
    Baba Shadi Shaheed
    Hazrat Sheikh Baba Shadi Shaheed Rehmat Ullah Alae was a Sufi Saint. He is thought to be the first Chib Rajput convert to Islam from the hand of Hazrat Pir Sufi Jaffar also known as Meera Pak from Bharot Sharif. During the reign of Ibrahim Lodi. He was a famed wise man who was requested to...

    .
  • Jandi Chontra
    Jandi Chontra
    Jandi Chontra is a town in Bhimber District, Azad Kashmir. It is a local tourist spot and is located 17 km from Bhimber city and 67 km from Mirpur. The area is known for its panoramic views. The Shrine of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Sheikh Baba Shadi Shaheed is also located here....

     - This is the place from where Srinagar
    Srinagar
    Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...

     and Lahore
    Lahore
    Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

     are at the same distance.

Buses

Common public transport is Hiace. Daily routes includes Mirpur
Mirpur
Mirpur is one of the seventh districts of Pakistani administered Azad Kashmir and was formerly part of the Kashmir and Jammu . Since Mirpur adjoins the northern plains of the Punjab, the climate is quite hot during the summer times. The city itself has gone through a process of modernization while...

, Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...

, Dina
Dina
Dina may refer to:*Sanskrit word meaning "day"*Dina , game by Bit Corp*Hebrew word meaning "judged"*Dina , Russian futsal club based in Moscow-Places:*The Massina Empire...

, Jhelum
Jhelum
Jhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...

, Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...

 and Kharian
Kharian
Kharian is a city of Gujrat District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The chief city of Kharian Tehsil, it lies almost midway between Lahore and Islamabad on the Grand Trunk Road . This is the road which connects the city all the way to Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan and was used during...

. The coaches and Toyota Coaster
Toyota Coaster
The Toyota Coaster is a minibus produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 1969, with the second generation introduced in 1982, followed by the third generation in 1993...

s travel to larger cities of Pakistan including Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

, Faisalabad
Faisalabad
Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...

, Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...

 and Sargodha
Sargodha
Sargodha is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.Sargodha is located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the eleventh largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries...

.

Air

The nearest commercial airport is the Islamabad International Airport, which is approximately 166 km by road from Bhimber. There is a small military air strip in the town. Recently, Sialkot International Airport
Sialkot International Airport
Sialkot International Airport is situated 14 km west of Sialkot in the Sialkot District of Pakistan...

has become operational which is about 150 km from town. So, this is most suitable for the people.

Educational institutes

  • Army Public School & College
  • Insight Model College
  • Crescent Model College
  • Institute of Education
  • Government Post Graduate College for Boys
  • Government Degree College for Girls
  • READ Foundation College
  • F.G. Ashiq Husain Public School
  • Bhimber Public School
  • Government City High School
  • Government Pilot High School for Boys
  • Government Girls High School
  • The Learners
  • Little Angels Public School
  • Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST) has a campus in Bhimber.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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