Awantipora

Awantipora (Urdu pronunciation: [əʋənt̪iːpoːɾɑː]) or Avantipur^[3] or Aavantipur,^[4] known as Woontpor^[5] (Kashmiri pronunciation: [wũːtʲpoːr]) in Kashmiri, is a town, just opposite of Pulwama city, on the banks of the river Jhelum in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Awantipora Woontpor Avantipur, Awantipur, Aavantipur
Town
Awantipora
Remains of Avantiswami Temple
Awantipora Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Awantipora Awantipora (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 33.9232602°N 75.012846°E / 33.9232602; 75.012846
Country	India
Union territory	Jammu and Kashmir
District	Pulwama
Named for	Raja Avantivarman
Elevation	1,582 m (5,190 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	12,647
Languages
• Official	Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[1][2]
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	192122
Telephone code	01933
Vehicle registration	JK13
Sex ratio	♂/♀
Website	pulwama.gov.in

It is on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (now called the NH 44), south of Srinagar and north of Anantnag. Awantipora is a subdistrict of Pulwama district.^[6]

History

The town of Avantipura was founded by Avantivarman the Kashmiri Hindu ruler,^[7][8] who was the first king of the Utpala dynasty and ruled Kashmir from 855 to 883 AD.^[9] Avantivarman built a Hindu temple in Awantipora dedicated to Vishnu called "Avantisvamin" before he became king, and during his reign he built a second Hindu temple in Awantipora called "Avantisvara" dedicated to Shiva. Both temples were built in spacious rectangular paved courtyards. They were destroyed in the Middle Ages. They were excavated by the archeologist Daya Ram Sahni in the early 20th century.^[9] The Avantisvamin temple is located at 33°55′24″N 75°00′46″E and Avantisvara is at 33°55′41″N 75°00′16″E. They are protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

• 
  The Avantisvamin temple
• 
  The Avantisvara temple

Demographics

As per the 2011 census, Awantipora has an average literacy rate of 69.41%, lower than the national average of 74%. Male literacy was 80.17%, and female literacy was 43.03% 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. Awantipora has a population of 12,647 people.

Religion in Awantipora City (2011)^[10]

  Islam (61.17%)

  Hinduism (36.48%)

  Sikhism (1.45%)

  Christianity (0.69%)

  Buddhism (0.05%)

  Jainism (0.01%)

  Not Stated (0.17%)

Villages in awantipora tehsil

The villages along with their patwar halqa (revenue circle) in Awantipora tehsil are listed below.

Village[11]	Patwar Halqa
Awantipora (town)	Awantipora
Kanjinag	Awantipora
Rajpora Uller	Awantipora
Jawbrari	Barsoo
Barsoo	Barsoo
Padgampora	Padgampora
Aghanjipora	Padgampora
Larkipora	Padgampora
Goripora	Padgampora
Kanlibagh	Padgampora
Udiipora	Padgampora
Dangerpora	Padgampora
Malanghpora	Malanghpora
Rakhwatalpora	Malanghpora
Kariwa Rambirabad	Malanghpora
Awanpora	Malanghpora
Tokna	Tokna
Gulzarpora	Tokna
Beighpora	Tokna
Shalltokna	Tokna
Reshipora	Reshipora
Nowgamuller	Reshipora
Khandaypora	Reshipora
Renzipora	Reshipora
Chakhar	Reshipora
Kanipora Uller	Reshipora
Dogripora	Dogripora
Kawni	Dogripora
Noorpora	Noorpora
Chersoo	Chersoo
Sail	Chersoo
K.Koot	K.Koot
Mirzapora	K.Koot
Larmoh Awanpora	K.Koot
Poshwan	K.Koot
Hariparigam	Hariparigam
Pratabpora	Hariparigam
Midoora	Midoora
Khankah	Midoora
Gorikadal	Midoora
Shahabad (Kharpur)	Midoora
Panzgam	Panzgam

IUST Awantipora

Awantipora is home to Islamic University of Science and Technology(IUST) dating back to 2005. The university has been set up as a centre for higher learning for the people of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and its neighbouring regions.

AIIMS Awantipora

AIIMS Awantipora, sanctioned by the central government in 2019, is projected to have a budget of approximately Rs 1,828 crore. This facility will augment the healthcare infrastructure in Kashmir by providing an additional 1000 beds, including 300 beds dedicated to super-specialty services. Within the project, there will be a Medical College designed to accommodate 100 students and a Nursing College with a capacity of 60 students.^[12] The first batch of MBBS at the upcoming AIIMS at Awantipora in south Kashmir will start in August 2021.^[13] The temporary accommodation is in Srinagar.

Air force station

Awantipur Air Force Station is situated near Awantipora at Malangpora about 5 km from Pulwama town.

See also

• Tral
• Anantnag
• Martand Sun Temple
• Sun Temple

External links

• Ruins of Ancient Temples of Awantipora

References

1. "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
2. "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
3. Corlett, Dudley S. (1923), "The Gardens of Kashmir", Art and Archeology, The Archeological Society of Washington, affiliated with the Archaeological Institute of America, p. 27
4. "Annual Report 1976-77", Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Government of India, p. 223, 1976
5. Kashir Encyclopedia (in Kashmiri). Vol. 1. Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. 1986. p. 397.
6. "About District/ Administrative Setup/ Tehsil", Pulwama District, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, retrieved 22 July 2020
7. "The Ain-i-Akbari Vol II". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
8. Sarkar, Jadunath (1949). Ain-i-akbari of Abul Fazl I Allami Vol. 2 Ed. 2nd.
9. "Avantiswami Temple, Avantipur". Archeological Survey of India. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
   This web-page spells the town Avantipur, and says that it is in Anantnag district, which it was before the creation of Pulwama district in 1979.
10. "Awantipora City Population". Census India 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
11. "Property Rates 2018-2019 (Notification No: 02/DCP-SQ of 2018)" (PDF), Pulwama District, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, p. Tehsil Awantipora Form III (C9 to C12) (2018-19), 31 March 2018, retrieved 23 July 2020
12. "Health Department Clears Rs 43 Crore Compensation for AIIMS Awantipora Land Owners". 16 May 2023.
13. "Preparations begin for first MBBS batch at AIIMS Kashmir". 8 August 2021.