Banjar, India

Last updated

Banjar
India Himachal Pradesh location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Banjar
Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Banjar
Banjar (India)
Coordinates: 31°38′15″N77°20′40″E / 31.63750°N 77.34444°E / 31.63750; 77.34444
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Himachal Pradesh
District Kullu
Government
  Type Bharatiya Janata Party
Elevation
1,435 m (4,708 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  Total1,414
Languages
  Official Hindi and English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
175123
Area code 01903
Vehicle registration HP-49
Banjar Outskirts of Banjar town near new bus stop.jpg
Banjar

Banjar (pronounced Banjaar) is a town in Kullu district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Banjar is one of the five sub-divisions of Kullu district. Banjar town serves as the headquarters of Banjar sub-division and tehsil.Culturally, it is a part of the Seraj region that extends from Jalori pass to Shikari Devi in Janjehli. A dialect of Kullavi called Seraji is spoken in the region and the natives are also called Serajis. The tourist attractions of Tirthan valley and Jibhi are a part of the Banjar region with Banjar town being the main marketplace in Tirthan Valley.

Contents

River Tirthan flows through Banjar along with the tributary Pushpabhadra flowing through the tourist town of Jibhi. The town of Banjar is located at the confluence of these two rivers. 'Banjar mela ' is the prominent festival of the region which is celebrated each year in the month of May.

Tirthan River TirthanRiver.jpg
Tirthan River

The 45 villages clusters in the tehsil rely on the town of Banjar for their major needs. The town has a Government Senior Secondary School, Government Degree College, Civil Hospital, Bus Station, Police Station and a Sub Divisional Magistrate's office.

There are many tourist attractions in Banjar, these are the waterfalls of Tirthan valley, Chehni fort of deity Shringa Rishi, Balo temple of deity Balo Nag, Jibhi town, the meadows of Jalori pass , Tirthan WLS and the Great Himalayan National Park etc.

Brown Dipper In Tirthan Valley Brown Dipper Flight (Cinclus pallasii) HimachalPradesh India Apr 2018.jpg
Brown Dipper In Tirthan Valley
Rolla,Tirthan Valley The old lady cottage.jpg
Rolla,Tirthan Valley
Jalori Pass A view of the Himalayas at Jalori pass Himachal Pradesh India.jpg
Jalori Pass
Jibhi Milky Way view.jpg
Jibhi
Chehni Kothi Chehni Kothi.png
Chehni Kothi

Temperatures can go a few degrees below 0°C in the winter months of December–January and climb up to 30° in the peak summer months of June–July. The months of March, April, May, June, September, October, November are considered the best for hiking and exploring the region. The higher reaches of the valley receive heavy snowfall , however the town of Banjar along with other villages by the river Tirthan receive little snowfall once or twice each winter

The tree cover varies from pine forest in the lower reaches of the valley by Tirthan river, Deodar/Cedar forest in the middle region, Fir/Spruce/Oak/Horse Chestnut/Rhododendron in the upper parts followed by the lush meadows above the tree line.

Farming and horticulture are a major source of the local economy along with government jobs and recently booming tourism industry. Major horticulture produce in the lower reaches is centred around pomegranates, plums, pears, apricots, persimmons, walnuts while apples has been the major crop in the upper reaches. Trout fish farming has also become a part of the local economy in the region.

Geography

Banjar is located at 31°38′N77°21′E / 31.63°N 77.35°E / 31.63; 77.35 . [1] It is situated at an average height of 1,435 metres (4,708 ft) from sea level. The place lies on the alternate route to Kullu from Shimla. The main route is via Bilaspur and Mandi. The alternate route goes from Theog, Aani, Jalori Pass, Banjar and joins the main route at Aut. The Banjar Valley is in the middle Himalayan range and going towards the east, the peaks progressively get taller, finally giving way to the great Himalayan range, where peaks have heights of 4500 meters and above. Banjar is one of the tehsil of the Kullu district. C-24 is the name given to Banjar Constituency. Banjar constituency has three Zila Parishad ward names as Khadagad, Plahach, and Raila. The city is growing with rapid speed in the tourism industry. The valley is also a gateway to The Great Himalayan National Park from its north-eastern side. The town consists of a lot of pocket-friendly and less crowded tourist places and serves as a summer destination. The main source of earning in this area is through agriculture and horticulture. Now tourism and hospitality industry is attracting the locals.

Tirthan and Jibhi valley are the two main attractions in Banjar. Tirthan valley is also known for the Trout fish Valley and its divine beauty. People of Banjar celebrate many festivals like Magh-Sakranti (in January), Faguli (in March), Shairi (in September), and Diwali. People wear woolen clothes. There are many holy places.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [2] Banjar had a population of 1262. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Banjar has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 89% of the males and 78% of females literate. 8% of the population is under 6 years of age, of which 52% are male and 48% are female.

Administrative Setup [3] of Banjar Sub Division

1Year of creation of Sub Division1963
2Total Area (Hectares)122900
3Total Assembly Constituency24-Banjar
4Administrative Units
4.1Tehsils1

Banjar

4.2Sub-Tehsils1

Sainj

4.3Blocks1
4.4Towns1
4.5Total Villages45
4.6Total Police Stations/Posts2
5Families
5.1Total Families10,940
5.2Rural Families10,597
5.3Urban Families343
6Literacy
6.1Total70.88
6.2Male83.28
6.3Female57.99
7Panchyati Raj
7.1Total Panchayats41
7.2Backward Panchayats7
7.3Zila Parishad Members2
7.4Panchayat Samiti Members15
7.5Gram Panchayat Members198
7.6Total Panchayat Secretaries12
7.7Total Panchayat Sahyaks22
7.8Total Technical Assistants10
8Agriculture
8.1Total Agricultural Land (Hect.)10,858
8.2Net Shown Area (Hect.)6,935
8.3Anganwaris45
8.4Primary Schools153
8.5Middle Schools20
8.6High Schools14
8.7Senior Secondary Schools3
8.8Colleges1
9Health
9.1P.H.C.3
9.2Sub-Centres18
9.3Hospitals1
9.4Ayurvadic Health Centres12
10Banks
10.1Co-operative Banks3
10.2Commercial Banks4
10.3Land Dev. Banks1
11No. of Micro Watershed Schemes6
11.1Area Covered (Hect.)3,701

Nearest airport

Though Bhuntar is technically the closest airport, flights tend to be erratic due to the weather. Your best bet is to take the Himachal Tourism (HTPDC) bus to Manali. The state-run bus service is reliable and comfortable compared to private operators, and quite safe for travelers.

An alternate and more relaxed route is via Shimla. Descend down the breathtaking Jalori pass to enter the valleys via charming villages like Shoja and drive through beautiful cedar forests. You can also take a train (or flight) to Chandigarh and take a taxi to the valleys. Alternatively, take the toy train from Kalka to Shimla and drive down from there.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Himachal Pradesh</span> State in northern India

Himachal Pradesh is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterised by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks and extensive river systems. Himachal Pradesh is the northernmost state of India and shares borders with the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, and the states of Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest, Uttarakhand to the southeast and a very narrow border with Uttar Pradesh to the south. The state also shares an international border to the east with the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Himachal Pradesh is also known as Dev Bhoomi or Dev Bhumi, meaning 'Land of Gods' and Veer Bhoomi which means 'Land of the Brave'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shimla</span> Capital of Himachal Pradesh, India

Shimla is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city became the capital of East Punjab and was later made the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is the principal commercial, cultural and educational centre of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solan</span> A city in Himachal Pradesh, India

Solan is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of Solan district. It is located 45.5 kilometres (28 mi) south of the state capital, Shimla. Solan has an average elevation of 1,550 metres (5,090 ft). The city is situated between Chandigarh and Shimla on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway-5. The narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla railway passes through Solan. Located on the Punjab-Himachal Border, Solan is nestled in the Shivalik hills of the Himalayas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kullu district</span> District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Kullu is a district in Himachal Pradesh, India. It borders Shimla district to the south, Mandi and Kangra districts to the west, Kinnaur to the east and the Lahaul and Spiti district to the north and east. The largest valley in this mountainous district is the Kullu Valley. The Kullu valley follows the course of the Beas River, and ranges from an elevation of 833 m above sea level at Aut to 3330 m above sea level at the Atal Tunnel South Portal, below the Rohtang Pass. The town of Kullu, located on the right side of the Beas River, serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district. The Kullu district also incorporates several riverine tributary valleys of the Beas, including those of the Parvati, Sainj, and Tirthan rivers, and thus some regions somewhat distant from the Kullu valley. The economy of the district relies mainly on horticulture, agriculture, tourism, and traditional handicrafts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandi district</span> A district in Himachal Pradesh, India

Mandi district is one of the central districts of Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Mandi is the headquarters of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manali, Himachal Pradesh</span> Town in India

Manali is a town, near Kullu town in Kullu district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in the northern end of the Kullu Valley, formed by the Beas River. The town is located in the Kullu district, approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) north of the state capital of Shimla and 544 kilometres (338 mi) northeast of the national capital of New Delhi. With a population of 8,096 people recorded in the 2011 Indian census Manali is the beginning of an ancient trade route through Lahaul (H.P.) and Ladakh, over the Karakoram Pass and onto Yarkand and Hotan in the Tarim Basin of China. Manali is a popular tourist destination in India and serves as the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti district as well as the city of Leh in Ladakh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reckong Peo</span> Place in Himachal Pradesh, India

Reckong Peo, also spelled Rekong Peo or simply known as Peo by the local inhabitants, is headquarters of Kinnaur district, one of the twelve administrative districts of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kullu</span> Town in Himachel Pradesh, India

Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the airport at Bhuntar, Kullu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Himalayan National Park</span> National park in Himachal Pradesh, India

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is a national park in India, located in Banjar sub-division of Kullu in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 1171 km2; elevations within the park range between 1500 and 6000 m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. They are protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972; hence any sort of hunting is not permitted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naggar, Himachal Pradesh</span> Town in Himachal Pradesh

Situated on the left bank of river Beas at an altitude of 1,800 meters, Naggar is an ancient town in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It was once capital of the Kullu kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Himachal Pradesh</span>

The state of Himachal Pradesh is spread over an area 55,673 km2 (21,495 sq mi) and is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on the north, Punjab on the southwest, Haryana on the south, Uttarakhand on the southeast, a small border with Uttar Pradesh in the south, and Tibet on the east. Entire Himachal Pradesh lies in the mountainous Himalaya region, rich in natural resources

Ghumarwin is a town and a municipal council, near the town of Bilaspur in Bilaspur district in the North Indian State of Himachal Pradesh and is the second largest town of the entire district. The town is an anchor point for commuters between Bilaspur and Hamirpur and other parts of the state. Situated primarily between the Hills of Lower Central Himalayas, Ghumarwin is situated at an average elevation of 700 metres or about 2300 ft. above sea level. It is one of the biggest commercial centres of Bilaspur District and one can find all kinds of shops, stores, services etc. here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jogindernagar</span> Municipality and Hill Station in Himachal Pradesh, India

Jogindernagar, or Jogindar Nagar, is a municipality, and a sub district in Mandi district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Named after Raja Joginder Sen, the hill station is the terminus of the 163-kilometre-long (101 mi) Kangra Valley narrow-gauge railway. Jogindernagar is the third-largest city in the Mandi district. The only city in Asia with three hydro-electric power stations, its nickname is "The City of Powerhouses".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiti</span> River valley in Himachal Pradesh, India

Spiti is a high-altitude region of the Himalayas, located in the north-eastern part of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The middle land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India. Spiti incorporates mainly the valley of the Spiti River, and the valleys of several rivers that feed into the Spiti River. Some of the prominent side-valleys in Spiti are the Pin valley and the Lingti valley. Spiti is bordered on the east by Tibet, on the north by Ladakh, on the west and southwest by Lahaul, on the south by Kullu, and on the southeast by Kinnaur. Spiti has a cold desert environment. The valley and its surrounding regions are among the least populated regions of India. The Bhoti-speaking local population follows Tibetan Buddhism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandi, Himachal Pradesh</span> A city in Himachal Pradesh, India

Mandi is a major city and a municipal corporation in Mandi District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated 145 kilometres (90 mi) north of state capital, Shimla in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of 880 m (2,890 ft) Mandi is connected to the Pathankot through National Highway 20 and to Manali and Chandigarh through National Highway 21. Mandi is approximately 184.6 km (114.7 mi) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 440.9 km (274.0 mi) from New Delhi, the national capital. In the 2011 Indian census, Mandi city had a population of 26,422. Mandi district is currently the 4th largest economy in the state. Mandi has the second highest sex ratio of 1013 females per thousand males, in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karsog</span> Town/village in Himachal Pradesh, India

Karsog is a town and municipal area in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Himalayas</span> Western section of the Himalayas

The Western Himalayas refers to the western half of the Himalayas, in northwestern India and northern Pakistan. Four of the five tributaries of the Indus River in Punjab rise in the Western Himalayas; while the fifth, the Sutlej cuts through the range after rising in Tibet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Himachal Pradesh</span> Tourism in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh

Tourism in Himachal Pradesh relates to tourism in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This is popularly renowned for its Himalayan landscapes and popular hill-stations. Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, ice-skating, trekking, rafting, and heli-skiing are popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mud (village)</span> Village in Himachal Pradesh, India

Mud is a small village in the cold desert region of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, India. Located at an altitude of 3,810 m (12,500 ft) on the left bank of the Pin River, a right bank tributary of the Spiti River, the village is nestled at the base of the Parbati range that towers almost vertically 1,600 m (5,200 ft) above. Mud is near the boundary of the Pin Valley National Park and is a convenient base for treks in the park, and to the neighbouring districts of Kullu and Kinnaur. It is the last village on the Spiti side of the Pin Parbati trek to Kullu and the Pin Bhaba trek to Kinnaur.

Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated near the banks of the Tirthan river. The sanctuary has densely forested areas and various varieties of fauna living there. Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary was ranked as the Best Managed Protected Areas of India as per the Management Effectiveness Evaluation.

References

  1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Banjar
  2. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  3. "Administrative Setup Banjar Sub-Division". Archived from the original on 18 August 2019.