Kupwara District, Jammu and Kashmir :

Kupwara District is the backward frontier district of Jammu and Kashmir, full of scenic beauty. Kupwara was carved out form erstwhile District Baramulla in the year 1979. Kupwara is the place of valleys. Kupwara District is situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Dark forests and rich wild life make it noteworthy from tourism and wildlife point of view. Kupwara District was carved out form erstwhile Baramulla District in the year 1979. Nature has been very kind to Kupwara.

Location : Kupwara is the district Headquarter "Kupwara". It is situated at a distance of 90 kilometres from the summer capital of state, i.e. Srinagar.

History : There is no written evidence why the district is known as Kupwara. However there are some legends about it. It is believed that there was a hut, constructed by somebody in the nearby jungle which known as Kopar, because accidents often took place there. It is also said that the famous saint, Zaiti Shah Wali called the habitation Ko-pore (people of bad reputation) because the children of this habitation used to throw stones on him when he passed through it. It is further believed that the famous Saint Syed Mohammad Gabi, whose tomb is in the heart of Kupwara, called it Kuferwari (the place of non-believers). Later on he converted the people to Islam by his preaching, thus Kupwara is the modified and changed name of Ko-por or Kuferwari.

Geography : Kupwara district is situated in the extreme north-west of Kashmir valley. Its northern and western borders form the line of control between India and Pakistan and eastern and southern borders touch Sopore, Bandipore and Baramulla Tehsils. Famous river Kishan Ganga separates Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir in Machil, Keran and Teetwal areas. Kupwara district is situated at an average altitude of 5300 feet from the sea level. The geographical area of the District is 2379 sq kms. Kupwara district is located between 34.17 degree to 34.21 degree East latitude and 73.10 degree to 73.16 degree north longitude. 

Demography : Kupwara District had a population of 14,711. The males constitute 61percent of the population and females 39 percent. Kupwara has an average literacy rate of 55percent which is lower than the national average of 59.5 percent.

Administration : Kupwara district has three tehsils which are Handwara, Karnah and Kupwara. This district consists of eleven blocks namely Sogam, Langate, Wavoora, Ramhal, Kupwara, Rajwal, Tangdar, Teetwal, Kralpora, Trehgam and Kalaroo. Each block consists of a number of panchayats.

Education : Kupwara district has a literacy rate of 50.50 percent. The district has got around 4 colleges, 22 Higher Secondary Schools and 1289 educational institutions. Government Degree College in Kupwara is the largest college in the district with total enrolment exceeding 3000.

Tourism :

Tourism in Kupwara District defines the valleys of Kashmir. The valleys which attract most of the tourists are Lolab valley, Bangus Valley, Seemab Valley, Sattbarran Kalaroos, Chandigham and many more.

Lolab Valley : Lolab valley is named after Maharaja Lolo in ancient era. It is known for its lush green forests and pastures, stretching across nearly 25 kms from north- west to south-east, varying in breadth from a few yards to 5 kilometres. It is traversed by a stream known as Lalkul (Lahwal).

Lalkul : Lalkul is the place of snow fed small streams. The water to Lalkul is contributed by numerous tributaries flowing from surrounding hills, which are clothed by dense forest of Deodar, the valley, that have an average depth of 7 to 15 feet and are unique in them. It is also known for the Sat Barran (Seven doors) and a cave in the jungles of Madmadav.

Lovnag : The famous Lovnag is located in Anderbaugh village, attracts a number of tourists who are in Lolab valley. It is located adjacent to Lolab Valley.

Seemab Valley : Seemab Valley is located about 4 kilometers from the tourist reception centre Kupwara Tourism Centre. Seemab Valley is located at the entrance of the Lolab Valley. The valley has a natural picturesque beauty and a perennial water body by the name of Daal Kul. It is surrounded by lush green forests and therefore provides ample scope for day picnics. Few adventure related activities like rock climbing and trekking can also be considered while visiting this place.

Sattbarran Kalaroos : A unique place where the past and the present of architecture of medieval era is present, Sattabarran Kalaroos is situated on the outskirts of Madmadav village in Kalaroos area. Sattabarran Kalaroos is about 19 kilometres from TRC kupwara. Sattbarran can be reached by road up to Sattabarran Kalaroos and three kilometres by foot. On the back side of Sattabarran Kalaroos there is a cave which is believed to be the way to central Asian states. While visiting Sattabarran Kalaroos the picturesque of the Lolab valley can also be visited. 

Chandigham : It is one of the best tourist spots in Lolab valley. Having the road network is also utilized as a camping cite. The lush green jungles surrounding the Chandigam provide an ample scope for the adventure loving people for tracking and mountain biking. From Chandigam there is also another beautiful tourist spot by the name of Dooruswani. On way to Dooruswani the traditional architectures such as thatched houses can also be seen.

Rangwar Lalpora : About 26 kilometers, from TRC Kupwara is known for the pastures and lush green forests, wild flowers, and a stream flowing on the outskirts of the Rangwar. On the way to Rangwar a village by the name of Krousen can also be reached where a tourist hutment is available. Rangwar is having big pastures which are used by the locals for cattle grazing.

Bangus : Bangus Valley is one of the relatively unknown areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Lying within the Trans-Himalayan area, Bangus Valley is a unique ecological combination comprising a mountain biome, which includes grassland biome with flora at lower altitudes; and Taiga or Coniferous forest.

Lokut Bangus : Lokut Bangus is the smaller valley. It lies on the north-eastern side of the main valley. Both the valleys have level green meadows  surrounded by low-lying mountains covered with dense Coniferous forests and a stream flowing through them. These meadows are divided into two types-plain meadows and plateaus. The meadows and the slopes of the side plateaus are covered with a range of flowers and medicinal plants. They support a rich diversity of grassland flora which has medicinal value too. A large part of the plain within the valley of Bangus is water locked during the rainy season. The valley is traversed by a number of small streams with nearly 14 tributaries. These include the Roshan Kul, Tillwan Kul and Douda Kul. The valley is also fed by the waters of the Qazinag and Satkulnag springs. The water of the various streams in the valley form one of the headwaters of the Kamil River which in turn joins the Lolab stream, thus forming the Pohru River. The plain meadows include open plains of Chota Bangus, Bodh Bangus or Badha Bangus, Masjid Aangan, Nichan Reyan, Kiyind Patter etc. Table-land meadows constitute about 60% of the meadows.