Poonch River
River in India and Pakistan
title: "Poonch River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-azad-kashmir", "rivers-of-jammu-and-kashmir", "poonch-district", "rivers-of-pakistan"] description: "River in India and Pakistan" topic_path: "geography/pakistan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poonch_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary River in India and Pakistan ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Poonch River |
| image | RiverPoonchTN.jpg |
| image_size | 260px |
| image_caption | Poonch River |
| pushpin_map | Kashmir |
| source1_location | Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| source1_coordinates | |
| mouth_location | Mangla Reservoir, Kotli District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan |
| mouth_coordinates | |
| subdivision_type1 | Countries |
| subdivision_name1 | India, Pakistan |
| subdivision_type2 | Provinces |
| subdivision_name2 | Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Kashmir |
| :: |
| name = Poonch River | image = RiverPoonchTN.jpg | image_size = 260px | image_caption = Poonch River | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Kashmir | pushpin_map_caption= | pushpin_map_relief= | source1 = | source1_location = Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, India | source1_elevation = | source1_coordinates= | mouth_location = Mangla Reservoir, Kotli District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterbodies = | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = India, Pakistan | subdivision_type2 = Provinces | subdivision_name2 = Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Kashmir | length = | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = | basin_landmarks = The Poonch River (also known as Punch River, Punch Tohi, Pulast, and Tohi of Punch) is a tributary of the Jhelum River that flows through Jammu and Kashmir in India, and Azad Kashmir in Pakistan.
Name
According to Georg Bühler, the ancient form of the word Tohi is Taushi mentioned in the Rājataraṅgiṇī and the Nīlamata Purāṇa. In the latter work, Āpagā (Aik Nala of Sialkot), Tauśī and Candrabhāgā are named together. Probably, the word is connected with the Sanskrit tuṣāra, 'cold', i.e. 'snow'.
Course
The river originates in the south-facing foothills of Pir Panjal range, in the areas of Neel-Kanth Gali and Jamian Gali. It is called 'Siran' (Suran) in this area. It flows south and then west until it reaches the town of Poonch, after which it bends southwest, finally draining into the Mangla Reservoir near Chomukh. The towns of Poonch, Sehra, Tatta Pani, Kotli and Mirpur are situated on the banks of this river.
Tributaries
Frederic Drew wrote of the Poonch river in 1875:
The prominent tributaries of the river are:
- Mandi (),
- Nimbal Katha (),
- Darungli (),
- Betaar (),
- Ranguri (),
- Rangar (),
- Menthar (),
- Nail (),
- Baan (),
- Mahuli (), and
- Khad ().
The Betaar Nala, which originates in the Azad Kashmir's Haveli District and flows southwest to join the Poonch river near the Poonch town, is sometimes called the 'Punch River'. (The upstream part of Poonch river is then called the Suran river.)
Environment
The Mughal Road from Shopian circles around the origin of the Poonch River and runs along its banks.
The Parnai hydropower project, under construction near Bafliaz in India's Poonch district, is expected to generate 37.5 Mega Watt power and also irrigate vast tracts of agricultural land in the district. The project was set for completion in 2017–18 but is delayed.
The 100 MW Gulpur Hydropower Project is located on this river in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Notes
References
References
- Hasan, Mohibbul. (1959). "Kashmir under the Sultans". Aakar Books.
- Negi, Sharad Singh. (1991). "Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers". Indus Publishing.
- Drew, Frederic. (1875). "The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories: A Geographical Account". E. Stanford.
- [https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/parnai-hep-project-set-for-completion-by-2017-jk-govt-115081701033_1.html Parnai HEP project set for completion by 2017: JK govt], ''Business Standard'', 17 August 2015.
- [https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/fate-of-power-projects/ Fate of power projects], ''Daily Excelsior'', 10 April 2018.
- "PDD for Parnai hydropower project".
- Georg Bühler. (1877). "Detailed Report of a Tour in Search of Sanskrit Mss. made in Kasmir, Rajputana, and Central India". Bombay: Society's Library, Town Hall. London: Trübner & Co..
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