WHY BANDIPORA IS CALLED SCENIC BEAUTY?

Bandipore district (also spelt as Bandipora or Bandipur) is one of the 20 districts in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Bandipore town is the administrative headquarters of the district. Bandipore, a township with peculiar scenic beauty is located in the foothills of the snow-clad peaks of Harmukh overlooking the shores of Wular Lake has produced hundreds of scholars and intellectuals. Before 1947, this town was a big trade and literary centre of Kashmir. Bandipore, the birthplace of the great historian, Hassan Khoehami. This district was carved out from the erstwhile Baramulla district in 2007. The district is bounded by Kupwara district in the west, Baramulla district in the south and Kargil district in Ladakh, Srinagar and Ganderbal districts in the east. This district occupies an area of 398 km².The district has a population of 392,232 as per 2011 census.

The district comprises seven tehsils: Ajas, Aloosa, Bandipore, Sumbal, Hajin, Gurez and Tulail. The district has three Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Gurez, Bandipore and Sonawari. All of these are part of Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. The district comprises twelve community development blocks: Aloosa, Arin, Baktoor, Bandipore, Bonkoot, Ganastan, Gurez, Hajin, Naidkhai, Nowgam, Sumbal and Tulail.According to the 2011 census Bandipore district has a population of 392,232,[5] roughly equal to the nation of Maldives.[6] This gives it a ranking of 561st in India (out of a total of 640).[5] The district has a population density of 1,117 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,890/sq mi) .[5] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 26.31%.[5] Bandipore has a sex ratio of 899 females for every 1000 males[5] (this varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 57.82%.

The pyramid shaped Habba Khatoon peak in Gurez valley,Kashmir named after the legendary Habba Khatoon. It is believed that Habba Khatoon used to wander near this peak, while her husband and ruler Yousuf Shah Chuk was imprisoned by Emperor Akbar. . Countryside Kashmir - Picture of Bandipora District, Kashmir

A Kashmiri Muslim woman and her son watc

Ashtengu Bandipora, INDIA: A Kashmiri Muslim woman and her son watch the funeral of student, Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh at his residence in Ashtengu Bandipora, some 70 kms north of Srinagar, 10 August 2006. The Indian Central Reserve Police force shot dead Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, a student of the Muslim Students Union (MSU) on 09 August whilst he was carrying grenades to launch an attack, a police spokesman said. AFP PHOTO/ Sajjad HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)