Srigufwara combines two roots: sri and gufwara. The first root, sri, means 'sacred', and the second root, gufwara, means 'place with a cave or secret'. This comes from the Kashmiri words gof (lit.'cave') and wara (lit.'place').
According to legend, a famous reshi meditated there in a cave in the 11th century when there was sparse human habitation. His secret communion with God resulted in his salvation. The place's name is believed to come from the saint's presence.
During Islamic rule, the town was called gofabal, again meaning 'place with a cave', from the words gof (lit.'cave') and bal (lit.'place').
Location
Srigufwara is located on the banks of one of the only tributaries of the Lidder River, near several villages such as Khairbug, Poshkreedi, Darigund, and Hugam. It is 19 kilometres (12mi) from the main city of Anantnag. An alternate route to the Pahalgam health resort en route to Amarnath Temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to the god Shiva, passes through the town. It serves as a shortcut to travel to the resort. The drive is via apple valleys, vast landscapes and lush green fields.[6] The seventh-century Martand Sun Temple on Martand plateau (Karewa), built by King Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir, is 10km from the town.[7]
New administrative unit
Local people and prominent political leaders had occasionally demanded tehsil status for the area. The decision to form new units was pending with the state government.[8] On 1 February 2014, Srigufwara was given tehsil status in Anantnag District after the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah agreed to a proposal to create new administrative units in the state. Srigufwara is one of 135 newly created tehsils after the state cabinet accepted the report submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) headed by Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. The number of new administrative units recommended by the CSC was three times more than the 57 recommended by the Mushtaq Ganai Committee constituted by the Abdullah government.
Srigufwara acts as a center for more than 100 revenue villages, which cover its catchment area and benefit largely.[how?] Srigufwara is one of the few fast-evolving towns of south Kashmir with an important role in rural economic distribution, development & activity.[5][9][10][11]
Geography
Srigufwara is located at an elevation of 1,684 metres (5,525ft) above sea level. The Lidder river passes through the town, flowing in a swift narrow stream from Sheshnag Lake to the east of Pahalgam and passing through many villages.[12] The area has many small canals of different lengths. The Mahind and Dadi canals serve irrigation purposes in the area. The Dadi Canal initially covered less area, but after remodeling the tail-end irrigation was extended to 3,500 acres.[13]
The Dadi Canal takes water from the Lidder river at Kathsu near Chatapura. It is 19km long and irrigates about 8000acres of land in Sakhras, Loiseer, Viddy, Darigund, Khiram, Bichhanpura, and Sirhama. The Mahind Canal, constructed in 1956, also takes water from the Lidder near Sakhras. It is 16km long and irrigates about 2500acres of land.[14]
The soils are loamy with little clay or lime content but with a high amount of magnesia. Chemical fertilization, green manure, and legumes are used before cultivation. The alluvium has sufficient organic matter and nitrogen content because of plant residue, crop stubble, natural vegetation, and animal excretion. Soil types include gurti (clay), bahil (loam), and sekil (sandy). Fruit cultivation is predominant on the slopes, while paddy cultivation is common in the plains.
The area has a temperate climate as the Pir Panjal Range of the minor Himalayas surrounds it. In winter snowfall is heavier and the temperature is relatively low. Due to the presence of mountains, monsoons have a negligible effect on the area. The rainfall is often excessive in spring, moderate in summer, low in autumn and moderate in winter.[15] In winters, the temperature may fall to −5°C (23°F) and in summers, the peak temperature is 37°C (99°F). Heavy rains and snowfall in winter threaten the residential buildings in the area, which sometimes results in their collapse.[16]
Flora and fauna
Flora
Apple and walnut are the prominent fruits grown in the area. Apple season starts mid from-September and people sell the produce across various fruit markets in India, especially the Jammu fruit market in the state itself. Apple pulp and juice are extracted for the production of jams and jellies.
There are different varieties of apples grown, such as the ambri Kashmir (amri), American trail (American apirogue), delicious (Red Delicious), maharaji (white dotted red), hazaratbali (benoni), and kesri (Cox's Orange Pippin). Other fruits like pears, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, and almonds are also grown. The fruits are mostly cultivated for economic purposes and little for local consumption. The supply of machinery, equipment and technical advice to the fruit growers by the state government has greatly helped fruit cultivation. The training of gardeners has also made the fruit industry more efficient. The central shrubs include Indigofera heterantha, Viburnum, and Sorbaria tomentosa. Ground cover is very rich and dicotyledonous herbs dominate, such as Rumex patientia, Primula, and Anemone.
Agriculture and business are the main industries. The area is one of the major fruit producers in Kashmir.
During earlier times,[when?] people used to obtain silk from silk worms, which feed on mulberry trees. Pure silk was obtained from silk cocoons by rough means without any technical expertise. The practice of silk production is nonexistent now, and people are more engaged with apples and other business activities. Srigufwara is one of the towns in south Kashmir which is developing at a fast pace in all aspects.[citation needed]
Transport
The town has well-formed two lane road connectivity with National Highway 1A which is 10km away from the town. During summers the number of tourist vehicles increases considerably, boosting the local economy. Major portions of pilgrims to Amarnath Temple also pass through the area.
Demographics
The population of Srigufwara mostly consists of Muslims belonging to the Kashmiri ethnic group, who are believed to have migrated from Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The Gurjar (or Gujjar) and Bakarwal (or Bakerwal) groups are also present in the upper area. These groups of people come from Rajouri and other areas of Jammu during the summer. Often, they have nomadic lifestyles and keep flocks and cattle for their livelihoods. Most of the Gujjar are permanent settlers, while many Bakarwals stay in and around the area prior to their journeys to the southern slopes of the Siwaliks and to the margs, alpine pastures of the central Himalayas.[18]
Shrine of Zain-ud-Din Wali
The shrine of Sheikh Zain-ud-Din Wali who lived in the 15th century is in the town. Zain-ud-Din was the disciple of Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali, the leading Reshi of Kashmir. Various shrines are attributed to Zain-ud-Din, including a shrine on a hillock in Athmakam about 20km from Pahalgam. However, the shrine in Srigufwara is important in the local belief that Zain-ud-Din achieved spiritual perfection here.
It is commonly known in Kashmir that Zain-ud-Din, who was known as Zia Singh before his conversion to Islam, was a prince and belonged to the ruling Rajas of Kishtwar. His father Yesh Singh, the Kishtwar ruler, is said to have been assassinated when Zia was only 13 years old. Zia is believed to have been suffering from some disease. When Noor-ud-din passed through Kishtwar, Zia's mother, knowing him to be a spiritual healer, urged him to cure her son. Sheikh agreed and said that Zia must promise to meet him in Kashmir. However, after Zia's cure he forgot the promise and again was bedridden. Remembering the promise, mother and son journeyed to meet Noor-ud-din at Bumzuva. There, Zia and his mother embraced Islam under the names Zain-ud-Din and Zoon Ded, respectively.
The exact date of Zain-ud-Din's death is unknown, but his urs (death anniversary) is celebrated on the 13th day of Basakhi corresponding to 25 April. A torchlight procession, locally known as Zool (illumination), is held in the evenings during the festival. Pieces of forest wood, especially deodar, are tied to long wooden sticks and burnt. People of all ages participate in such processions. There is no restriction to entry into the shrine.[19]
Government and politics
Srigufwara is a major area of political interest in Anantnag. Political leaders organize rallies in the area on different occasions. Addressing a rally on 28 April 2013 on the premises of Higher Secondary School Srigufwara, People's Democratic Party's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that Jammu and Kashmir will become the most developed state in the region if it gets a visionary political road map and efficient governance.[20] Senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Shabir Ahmed Shah and his companions Zahoor Ahmed Shairkh and Nazir Ahmed were arrested by Indian police on 7 July 2007 and detained in Srigufwara.[21] On 5 September 2010 Deputy Inspector General of Police for South Kashmir Range S.A.Watali presided over the public police meeting in which grievances related to PHE, Food and Supplies, and other similar departments were addressed.[22]
Human rights
Srigufwara has occasionally witnessed protests against human rights violations in the area and across the valley. In the earlier days of militancy in Kashmir, an Indian Border Security Force camp was located in the town, which was later replaced by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) forces. A Central Reserve Police Force camp is still functional in the area. An eidgah, under military occupation, was also opened to the public after 20 years of military occupation.[23] In another incident, school headmaster Sanaullah Ganai of Bijbehara was taken by nine RR para-commandos of the camp and his relatives were not given access to him.[24] In 1996, during the heyday of militancy in Kashmir, people who were reluctant to vote were forced to vote in elections by Indian forces.[citation needed]
Education
The main area of Srigufwara has a total of ten schools, of which six are government and four are private. Among the government schools, there are three primary, two middle, and one higher secondary, while among private schools, one is middle and three are high schools.[25][verification needed] Schools in the area include:
Government Model Higher Secondary School Srigufwara
Iqra English Medium High School Viddy
Al-Aman Secondary School Srigufwara
National Institute of Creative Education (NICE)
Qurat-ul-Ain English Medium School Srigufwara
Related Research Articles
Anantnag district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. It is one of ten districts which make up the Kashmir Valley. The district headquarters is Anantnag city. As of 2011, it was the third most populous district of Jammu and Kashmir, after Jammu and Srinagar.
Bijbehara (Urdu pronunciation:[biːd͡ʒbɪɦɑːɽɑː], known as Vejibror in Kashmiri, is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district of the Indian administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located on NH 44, and jehlum bank. Bijbehara town is also known as "Town of Chinars" because of a number of Chinars there especially two Chinar gardens. Bijbehara is the home to oldest chinar tree in the region. The town is situated about 45 km from the summer capital of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar.
Pahalgam, known as Pahalgom is a town and a notified area committee, near Anantnag city in the Anantnag district of the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a popular tourist destination and hill station. Its lush green meadows and pristine waters attract thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Anantnag on the banks of Lidder River at an altitude of 7,200 feet (2,200 m). Pahalgam is the headquarters of one of the eleven tehsils of Anantnag district.
Jammu and Kashmir is home to several valleys such as the Kashmir Valley, Chenab Valley, Sindh Valley and Lidder Valley. Some major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir are Srinagar, with its renowned Dal Lake and Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Bhaderwah, Patnitop and Jammu. Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath which has had a significant impact on the state's economy.
Kulgam district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. It is in the Kashmir division and is located at a distance of 18 kilometres (11 mi) towards south-west of Anantnag. The district comprises block, tehsil and town of Kulgam.
Kishtwar district is an administrative district of the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the Jammu Division. As of 2011, it is the largest and the least populous district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Khiram is a village in Anantnag District of the Jammu and Kashmir union territory of India. Khiram village is the largest in the area with a population of 9160 people, among them 4742 (52%) are male and 4418 (48%) are female. The literacy rate is 52%. It is approximately twenty five kilometers (25 km) away from district headquarters of Anantnag and eighteen kilometers (18 km) away from the Bijbehara.
Daksum Is a natural scenic spot located in the Larnoo tehsil of Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, at Anantnag-Semthan-Kishtwar road (NH-244).
Aru known as Adav in Kashmiri, is a village, tourist spot in the Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies 53km from Anantnag city, the district headquarter. It is located around 12 km from Pahalgam, 11 km upstream from the Lidder River. Noted for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains, it is a base camp for trekking to the Kolhoi Glacier, Tarsar Lake, Marsar and Herbaghwan Lake. The village lies on the left bank of the Aru river, which is a tributary of the Lidder river. Jammu & Kashmir’s biggest Fodder Seed Product Station is also located in the Aru village.
The Lidder Valley or Liddar Valley is a Himalayan sub-valley that forms the southeastern corner of Anantnag district in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Lidder River flows down the valley. The entrance to the valley lies 7 km northeast from Anantnag town and 62 km southeast from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a 40-km-long gorge valley with an average width of 3 km.
Thathri is a town and a notified area committee in Doda district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Thathri valley is located in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, about 85 km from Batote. Apart from having ample forests, the town contains many small streams flowing through its various parts. It is located on the banks of the Chenab River and the town area is spread over 1.50 sq. Km².
Nund Rishi, also known as Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, Sheikh-Ul-Alam and by the title Alamdar-e-Kashmir, was a Kashmiri Sufi saint, mystic, poet and Islamic preacher. Nund Rishi was among the founders of the Rishi order, a Sufi tradition of the region. He influenced many spiritual teachers and saints, including Hamza Makhdoom, Resh Mir Sàeb, and Shamas Faqir.
Seer Hamdan is a town in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It has a population of 20,233 people.
Aishmuqam is a municipal committee city in district of Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the most prominent tourist spots in Anantnag and is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the town of Anantnag and 77 kilometres (48 mi) from Srinagar on the route to Pahalgam. The Aishmuqam shrine is located in Aishmuqam.
Narbal is a tehsil, block and a town in central Kashmir's Beerwah sub-district. It is also a block in Budgam district in the Indian administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is 18 km (11 mi) away from sub-district headquarter Beerwah and 13 km (8.1 mi) away from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah Mohammed Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi, also known by the honorary title Shah Sahib, sometimes spelled as Fareed-ud-Din, was the seventeenth century's Iraqi Sufi saint. He is believed to have propagated Islam in the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir. He left for Hejaz and offered the Hajj at Mecca, and subsequently travelled through Egypt and Sindh. Prior to his propagation of Islam in the valley, he travelled through Agra and then reached Kishtwar where he spread Islam around 1075 Hijri, corresponding to 1664 AD. He was 75 at that time.
The Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Aru Valley, Pahalgam near Anantnag city in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies 46 km from Anantnag city, the district headquarter. It is on the periphery of the two villages of Overa and Aru. The sanctuary spreads over 511 square kilometres (197 sq mi), lies 76 kilometres (47 mi) east of Srinagar. It was declared a game reserve in 1945 under the Dogra Rule and later upgraded to a sanctuary in 1981.
Baba Haneef Ud Din Reshi popularly known as "Babii Seab", was a Sufi of Rishi order, who lived in the area of the Kohi Darwa usually known as Daresh or Darej in Rathsun-Manchama, Budgam Jammu and Kashmir His shrine is located at the Top of Kohi Darwa or Darej. He was the disciple of Zain Ud Din Wali of Aishmuquam. Zain Ud Din Wali ordered him to go on the hillock of Rathsun-Manchama village, where he gets busy in the Religious practices to gain Spirituality.
Bhandarkoot is a village in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The village is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Kishtwar town on Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road. Bhandarkoot is known for Bhandarkoot Ziyarat, a holy shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Zain-ud-din Rishi. At Bhandarkoot is the junction of the Marusudar, a river tributary which joins the Chenab river at this place.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
India 
