Handwara
Town in Jammu and Kashmir, India
title: "Handwara" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-kupwara-district", "kupwara-district", "tehsils-of-jammu-and-kashmir-(union-territory)"] description: "Town in Jammu and Kashmir, India" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handwara" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Town in Jammu and Kashmir, India ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Handwara |
| other_name | |
| settlement_type | Town |
| pushpin_map | India Jammu and Kashmir#India |
| pushpin_label_position | right |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | Union Territory |
| subdivision_name1 | Jammu and Kashmir |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Kupwara |
| established_title | |
| government_type | Municipal Committee |
| governing_body | Government of Jammu and Kashmir |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| area_total_km2 | 291.47 |
| population_total | 13600 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Demographics |
| demographics1_title1 | Literacy |
| demographics1_info1 | 64.39% |
| demographics1_title2 | Sex ratio |
| demographics1_info2 | 843 ♀/ 1000 ♂ |
| demographics_type2 | Languages |
| demographics2_title1 | Official |
| demographics2_info1 | Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | PIN |
| postal_code | 193221 |
| registration_plate | JK-09 |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Handwara | native_name = | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = India Jammu and Kashmir#India | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = Union Territory | subdivision_name1 = Jammu and Kashmir | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Kupwara | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = Municipal Committee | governing_body = Government of Jammu and Kashmir | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = 291.47 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 13600 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Demographics | demographics1_title1 = Literacy | demographics1_info1 = 64.39% | demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio | demographics1_info2 = 843 ♀/ 1000 ♂ | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics_type2 = Languages | demographics2_title1 = Official | demographics2_info1 = Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 193221 | registration_plate = JK-09 | website = | footnotes = Handwara ( ; ) is a town in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is located on Baramulla-Handwara National Highway NH-701 and is governed by a municipal committee.
History
Sikh rule
During Sikh rule, Raja Zabardast Khan, chieftain of the Bomba tribe, led guerrilla warfare against the forces of the Sikh Empire, targeting their garrisons and posts in Handwara.
Geography
Handwara is located at at an average elevation of 1,582 metres (5,190 feet) above sea level. The region boasts breathtaking natural beauty, with the Pohru River (locally called 'Talri river')—a tributary of the Jhelum—flowing through the town.
Famous volcanic peak, 'Soyamji' (1860 metres), locally known as 'Paput' is situated in North Machhipura (Handwara). It is known for its unique conical shape. It continued eruption of lava for about 13 months during 1934 and has been dormant since then.
Demographics
|thumb = right |caption = Religion in Handwara Town (2011) |label1 = Islam |value1 = 90.29 |color1 = Green |label2 = Hinduism |value2 = 8.25 |color2 = DarkOrange |label3 = Sikhism |value3 = 0.54 |color3 = Yellow |label4 = Christianity |value4 = 0.51 |color4 = Blue |label5 = Buddhism |value5 = 0.02 |color5 = Gold |label6 = Jainism |value6 = 0.01 |color6 = Maroon |label7 = Others |value7 = 0.04 |color7 = Grey |label8 = Not stated |value8 = 0.34 |color8 = Black
According to the 2011 Indian census, Handwara has a population of 13,600. Males constitute 54.26% of the population and females 45.74%. Handwara has an average literacy rate of 64.39%. The dominant religion in the town is Islam.
Literacy
The Census of 2011 showed the literacy rate of Handwara at 64.39%, lower than the national average of 67.16%. There is a gender difference in literacy, with a male literacy rate of 75.62% and a much lower female literacy rate of 51.88%.
Educational Institutions
- Government Medical College, Handwara
- Government Degree College, Handwara
- Shaheen Public Secondary School, Handwara
- Industrial Training Institute
Politics
Handwara is a region of considerable strategic significance, primarily due to its proximity to the Line of Control (LoC). This geographical positioning renders it a critical and sensitive zone in military and security discussions. Handwara was the home constituency of the late separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone. The current MLA of Handwara is Sajjad Gani Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference, who defeated Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzaan of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference by over 600 votes in the 2024 assembly elections.
Municipal Committee Handwara is an Urban Local Body with 13 elected members, which administers the town.
::data[format=table]
| # | Name | Municipal Ward | Reservation Status | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iram Amin Banday | Banday Mohalla | Women Open | Independent |
| 2 | Farooq Ahmad Bhat | Herpora | Open | Independent |
| 3 | Masroor Ah. Banday | Jamia Jadeed | Open | Independent |
| 4 | Dilshada Jan | Jamia Qadeem | Women Open | Independent |
| 5 | Gh. Mohd. Ganie | Khunabal Maqboolabad | Open | Independent |
| 6 | Bashir Ah. Khan | Khunabal Umerabad | Open | Independent |
| 7 | Zoona Behum | Durishpora | Women Open | Independent |
| 8 | Mumtaza Begum | Baghatpora | Open | Independent |
| 9 | Ateeqa Begum | Kachiwari | Open | Independent |
| 10 | Zamrooda Begum | Chotipora | Women Open | Independent |
| 11 | Mushtaq Ahmad Hanji | Tootigund | Open | Independent |
| 12 | Nazir Ahmed Bhat | Zalipora | Open | Independent |
| 13 | Ab. Majid Pandith | Wani Mohalla | Open | Independent |
| :: |
Notable people
- Ali Mohammad Shahbaz (Poet)
- Abdul Gani Lone (Politician)
- Sajad Lone (Politician)
- Engineer Rashid (Politician)
- Noor Mohammad (Singer)
References
References
- "Handwara (Google Maps)". Google Maps.
- (August 2025). "Handwara Town population". Census India.
- "Kupwara district Census 2011". Govt of India Census.
- (27 September 2020). "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020". The Gazette of India.
- (23 September 2020). "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir.
- Khan, Raja Sajjad Latif. (2020). "Historical Documents on Jammu and Kashmir". Policy and Research Forum Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir.
- Griffin, Lepel Henry. (1890). "The Panjab Chiefs: Historical and Biographical Notices of the Volume 330". Government Printing, Punjab.
- "Issues and Analysis on Mountain Ranges in Jammu and Kashmir for State General Knowledge (GK) Preparation".
- "Handwara Town Population". Census India.
- "A-4 Towns And Urban Agglomerations Classified By Population Size Class In 2011 With Variation Since 1901". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India}}
{{cite report. - "Sajad Lone of JKPC wins Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara constituency".
- "Notification of the list of duly elected members to the Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Municipal Committees".
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