Rawalakot
Encyclopedia
Rawalakot is a city in Azad Kashmir
, and is the capital of Poonch Division and Poonch District
. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at an elevation of 1,615 metres (5,299 ft).
Rawalakot is situated 76 kilometres (47 mi) from Kohala, Pakistan
and about 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Rawalpindi
. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad
via Goyain Nala and Tayeen roads. It is also linked with Rawalpindi via Sudhnuti. Rawalakot is a hill station
.
, Trar Dewan
, Chaire, Chapanidahar, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Parat, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Pakgali, Paniola, Banakha, Khayt Chrian, Mohri Farman Shah, Dreak, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira
, Thorar, Rehara
, Bangoin, Jandala, Timrota, Thala Tain and Pachiot. Bagh District
lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south. The road passing through (Jalooth) Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh and Muzaffarabad
. The other road that passes through Mohri Farman Shah, Shuja Abad is the shortest path that connects Rawalakot city with Bagh. Toward the west are the Murree
, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.
Rawalakot is linked with Kotli
.
, Abbasis, Kianis, Syeds Gardezi
s, Douli Mughals and many others.
(LoC) is 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Hajira and 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Rawalakot.
After the Treaty of Amritsar
in 1846, a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir comprising Bagh, Sudhanoti (Rawalakot), Mendhar and Haveli were declared as the State of Poonch
and transferred to Raja Moti Singh as his Jagir
(landed estate). The ethnic diversity of this region offers a unique blend of different tribes and clans.
Tehsil Mendhar in the State of Poonch was the most fertile area in this region. Trade and agricultural links between the people of Rawalakot and Poonch were common. Apart from agriculture, sheep and goat farming was the major source of income for the people of Poonch region. The Poonch-Rawalakot trade route played an important role in the economy of this area. It was one of the few trade routes in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which remained open throughout the year. Traders and businessmen freely traded fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, wool, tobacco, cereals, rice, spices and many other items. A barter trade system was followed by most of the traders and businessmen.
It is on the record that rulers of the state imposed taxes on most of the belongings which one could own in his household, e.g., cattle, utensils, hearths, windows, crops, agricultural tools and even wives. There was no other choice for the people to protect their belongings than to defy the authoritarian rule. The most crushed and trodden among the masses turned into the most violent dissidents and liberated their lands and belongings. Bagh, Rawalakot and parts of Haveli were liberated and the area liberated was named as Azad ("Free") Kashmir. Poonch
town, the capital of this tiny state, stood isolated and besieged till November 1948, when Indian forces recaptured the town. As the region was divided, a large number of families were divided on both sides of the Cease Fire Line (later renamed the Line of Control), having no contact with each other. After the emergence of the LoC, not only the families were divided but their businesses were also ruined. Agricultural and grazing lands were bifurcated. Guns replaced the crops and cattle.
Transportation
Communications
Earthquake of 2005
On Saturday, October 8, 2005 a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed more than 30,000 people and left up to three million homeless in Azad Kashmir alone.
The city of Rawalakot, the capital of the Sudhan tribe, suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buildings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.
Education
In addition to the Agriculture University of Azad Kashmir
, Rawalakot has a Government College for men and women, numerous higher secondary schools/high schools, and a number of private schools.
During the earthquake of October 8, 2005, many degree colleges were badly damaged, but these have not yet been rebuilt.
Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls
The Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls has been established in Rawalakot to replace the Post-Graduate College for Girls, located at Kharick, which faced severe destruction in the October 2005 earthquake
.
Through a joint organization of IHLAS Media Holding of Germany and DITIB (Religious Affairs of Turkish Islamic Union Germany
), the Government of Turkey
took on the task for the construction of Rawalakot Post-Graduate Girls College with the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority. The reconstruction effort was later joined by the Turkish Islamic Union of Netherlands
, which participated through donations of Basic Health Unit facilities to the said school.
The design, construction, decoration and landscaping of the school have been carried out by Turcon Private Limited. A geological survey of the land led to the decision of construction limited to two floors. In a campus-wise set-up, all the buildings have been scattered in a 240000 square feet (22,296.7 m²) area.
The educational facilities include 30 classrooms, five laboratories, a gymnasium, hostel, lodging for teachers, principal’s house, BHU, mosque, multipurpose hall, and an administration block. A total of 14 buildings exceeding a covered area of 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) have been built for the school.
Basic amenities such as computers, television sets, music system, sofa sets, beds, mattresses and blankets for teachers and students have been arranged for with the help of donors. Thousands of trees and flowers have also been planted for landscaping.
Construction was done using conventional methods. Both ends of the buildings have been strengthened through shear walls, providing an earthquake-proof structure to ensure safety of the children. The materials used in construction are the same as in the developed countries.
Lightweight insulated shingle roof material has been imported and used for the first time in Pakistan
for added comfort. Well-insulated U-PVC type windows have also been used.
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Publications and literary activities
A local newspaper by the name of daily DhartiRawalakot (edited by Abid Siddique) is published daily.
Many authors have been produced in the valley of Rawalakot.
The internationally recognized magazine Mearaj International is circulated in Rawalakot, published from Kashmir, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Daily newspapers from Pakistan
are available in English as well as Urdu
. The most read newspaper is the Urdu
-language Daily Jang
; radio stations include BBC London
and Voice of http://www.ajklive.com/Listen-Online-Radio-FM-105-voice-of-kashmir-Rawalakot Kashmir FM 105 Rawalakot.
Parhari writers include Muhammad Sagheer Khan, Liaqet Laiq and Hameed Kamran.
Tourism
Lodges, government-owned and private guest houses, and hotels are available in different parts of Rawalakot. Attractions include: mountain-based adventure tourism, rock climbing
, mountaineering
, trekking, summer camping and hiking
, water-based adventure tourism, and paragliding
.
Hotels and rest houses
Small hotels with living accommodations are available in and around the city. Many guest houses and Government-owned cabins are also available in Rawalakot and Banjosa
. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accommodations are used by government officials on their tours.
Shopping
Non-governmental organizations
There are very few active non-governmental organization
s working in Rawalakot. Press for Peace is a Kashmir-based NGO established by Khawaja Zafar Iqbal
, a journalist and peace activist from Trar village of Rawalakot. PFP's headquarters are based in Muzaffarabad, but it has extended its network across Kashmir and abroad. Its international office has moved to the UK.
Naya Ouffaq (War Against Drugs) is a Jammu and Kashmir-based non-profit organization that was founded by the sociologist Dr. Nighat Younas (PhD) from the village of Pothi Bala, Tehsil Rawalakot. Naya Ouffaq is the leading national organisation working with and for families affected by drugs. The purpose of the organization is to create awareness against drug use, and to combat drugs through sports—to get young people involved in sports and activities in an effort to keep them from negative thinking. Naya Ouffaq plays a key role as a community voice providing drug information and promoting effective responses to drug abuse.
Notable people
Gallery
External links
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
, and is the capital of Poonch Division and Poonch District
. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at an elevation of 1,615 metres (5,299 ft).
Rawalakot is situated 76 kilometres (47 mi) from Kohala, Pakistan
Kohala, Pakistan
Kohala is a town in Pakistan on the River Jhelum, north of Murree, south of Muzaffarabad, and east of Circle Bakote. -Location:...
and about 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
via Goyain Nala and Tayeen roads. It is also linked with Rawalpindi via Sudhnuti. Rawalakot is a hill station
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
.
Location
Surrounding villages include: Singola Awanabad, Thorar, Mong, Androte, Rehara, Hurna Maira, Kottera, Barian Pothi, Khayi Gala, Kharick, Rairbun, Topa Soon (Soon Topa 8 km from Rawalakot), Kaimon, Titrot, MotialmaraMotialmara
Motialmara is a village in Azad Kashmir, approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Rawalakot. It is a valley surrounded by snow capped mountains.-Population:...
, Trar Dewan
Trar Dewan
Trar Dewan is a village in the Kashmir region of Pakistan. It is 78 kilometres from Islamabad and 1.5 kilometres south of Rawalakot city in Azad Kashmir.-Demography:The population of the town is about 10,000...
, Chaire, Chapanidahar, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Parat, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Pakgali, Paniola, Banakha, Khayt Chrian, Mohri Farman Shah, Dreak, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira
Hurnamaira
Hurnamaira is a village in the Sudhan tribal belt of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located five miles east of the Capital city of Poonch District, Rawalakot.-Notable people:...
, Thorar, Rehara
Rehara
Rehara is a village in Poonch District of Azad Kashmir. It is located about 20 miles northeast of Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir.Rehara has a population of less than 2,000. Every household in Rehara has had a member in the Pakistan Army. Most families have members who have emigrated in search of...
, Bangoin, Jandala, Timrota, Thala Tain and Pachiot. Bagh District
Bagh District
Bagh District is one of the eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The district, which had been part of Poonch District, was created in 1988...
lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south. The road passing through (Jalooth) Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh and Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...
. The other road that passes through Mohri Farman Shah, Shuja Abad is the shortest path that connects Rawalakot city with Bagh. Toward the west are the Murree
Murree
Murree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.
Rawalakot is linked with Kotli
Kotli
Kotli is the chief town of Kotli District, in the Pakistani-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Kotli is linked with Mirpur by two metalled roads, one via Rajdhani, and the other via Charhoi...
.
Climate
Average temperature during the summer varies from 60 to 75 °F (15.6 to 23.9 °C). During the winter, snowfall starts during the month of December and lasts through January. The rainy season lasts from April through June.Demographics
Rawalakot has an estimated population of 50,000. Its population includes Sudhans, AwansAwan (Pakistan)
Awan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...
, Abbasis, Kianis, Syeds Gardezi
Gardezi
- Origin :The name denotes people from Gardez, the capital of the Paktia province in Afghanistan.The name denotes people from Gardez, one of the 34 provincial capitals in Afghanistan. As such, the surname is widespread among the people in Afghanistan. One of the most famous Gardezis is Abu Saʿīd...
s, Douli Mughals and many others.
Rawalakot-Poonch trade route
Before the partition of the subcontinent, the Rawalakot trade route was the only road link between Poonch and Sudhnati, now called Rawalakot. The Line of ControlLine of Control
The term Line of Control refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which, to this day, does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary but is the de facto border...
(LoC) is 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Hajira and 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Rawalakot.
After the Treaty of Amritsar
Treaty of Amritsar
The Treaty of Amritsar was signed on March 16, 1846, to settle a dispute over territory in Kashmir after the First Sikh War with the United Kingdom, ceding some land to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra...
in 1846, a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir comprising Bagh, Sudhanoti (Rawalakot), Mendhar and Haveli were declared as the State of Poonch
Poonch
Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...
and transferred to Raja Moti Singh as his Jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
(landed estate). The ethnic diversity of this region offers a unique blend of different tribes and clans.
Tehsil Mendhar in the State of Poonch was the most fertile area in this region. Trade and agricultural links between the people of Rawalakot and Poonch were common. Apart from agriculture, sheep and goat farming was the major source of income for the people of Poonch region. The Poonch-Rawalakot trade route played an important role in the economy of this area. It was one of the few trade routes in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir which remained open throughout the year. Traders and businessmen freely traded fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, wool, tobacco, cereals, rice, spices and many other items. A barter trade system was followed by most of the traders and businessmen.
It is on the record that rulers of the state imposed taxes on most of the belongings which one could own in his household, e.g., cattle, utensils, hearths, windows, crops, agricultural tools and even wives. There was no other choice for the people to protect their belongings than to defy the authoritarian rule. The most crushed and trodden among the masses turned into the most violent dissidents and liberated their lands and belongings. Bagh, Rawalakot and parts of Haveli were liberated and the area liberated was named as Azad ("Free") Kashmir. Poonch
Poonch
Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...
town, the capital of this tiny state, stood isolated and besieged till November 1948, when Indian forces recaptured the town. As the region was divided, a large number of families were divided on both sides of the Cease Fire Line (later renamed the Line of Control), having no contact with each other. After the emergence of the LoC, not only the families were divided but their businesses were also ruined. Agricultural and grazing lands were bifurcated. Guns replaced the crops and cattle.
Transportation
- Construction of the Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad Pattan has considerably reduced travel times.
- Rawalakot AirportRawalakot AirportRawalakot Airport is located at Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan....
is non-operational, as there is no demand for the air service provided by Pakistan International Airlines. The airport has been closed since 1998.
Communications
- Two privately owned cable television systems are available in Rawalakot, which transmit Pakistani and international television programs.
- A local FM radio station named Voice of Kashmir FM 105 is part of a network of three radio channels, including VOK FM 105.6 Bagh and VOK FM 105.4 Muzaffarabad.
- Cell phone service is available through five private cell phone operators: ZongZONGZONG is the first international brand of China Mobile, launched in Pakistan in 2008. The company is often cited as China Mobile .In October 2011, ZONG signed a three-year partnership deal with the English football club Manchester United F.C....
, MobilinkMobilinkPakistan Mobile Communications Limited, better known as Mobilink GSM, is a telecommunication service provider in Pakistan. The company is Pakistan's leading cellular operator with a subscriber base of 31.5m and market share of 31% in October 2010....
, UfoneUfoneUfone GSM is a Pakistani GSM cellular service provider, It's one of five GSM Mobile companies in Pakistan, and is a subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company. After the privatization of PTCL, Ufone is now owned by Etisalat. Ufone has a subscriber base of 20.23 million as of September 2010.-...
, Warid, TelenorTelenorTelenor Group is the incumbent telecommunications company in Norway, with headquarters located at Fornebu, close to Oslo. Today, Telenor Group is mostly an international wireless carrier with operations in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, working predominantly under the Telenor brand...
and SCOM. PTCL Wireless is also available.
- The local phone company is operated by the Pakistan ArmyPakistan ArmyThe Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
.
- The SCO provides the main landline telephone network with minority shares of other operators. All major mobile phone companies operating in Pakistan provide service in Rawalakot. Broadband internet access is available from DSL, and WiFi hotspots, available in Rawalakot Dehra Khrike.
Earthquake of 2005
On Saturday, October 8, 2005 a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed more than 30,000 people and left up to three million homeless in Azad Kashmir alone.
The city of Rawalakot, the capital of the Sudhan tribe, suffered significant damage from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
; although most of the buildings were left standing, many of them were rendered uninhabitable, and some of the population was left homeless. Most of the buildings have been reconstructed, though without the help of the governments of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.
Education
In addition to the Agriculture University of Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
, Rawalakot has a Government College for men and women, numerous higher secondary schools/high schools, and a number of private schools.
During the earthquake of October 8, 2005, many degree colleges were badly damaged, but these have not yet been rebuilt.
Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls
The Rawalakot Turkey College for Girls has been established in Rawalakot to replace the Post-Graduate College for Girls, located at Kharick, which faced severe destruction in the October 2005 earthquake
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
.
Through a joint organization of IHLAS Media Holding of Germany and DITIB (Religious Affairs of Turkish Islamic Union Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), the Government of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
took on the task for the construction of Rawalakot Post-Graduate Girls College with the Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority. The reconstruction effort was later joined by the Turkish Islamic Union of Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, which participated through donations of Basic Health Unit facilities to the said school.
The design, construction, decoration and landscaping of the school have been carried out by Turcon Private Limited. A geological survey of the land led to the decision of construction limited to two floors. In a campus-wise set-up, all the buildings have been scattered in a 240000 square feet (22,296.7 m²) area.
The educational facilities include 30 classrooms, five laboratories, a gymnasium, hostel, lodging for teachers, principal’s house, BHU, mosque, multipurpose hall, and an administration block. A total of 14 buildings exceeding a covered area of 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) have been built for the school.
Basic amenities such as computers, television sets, music system, sofa sets, beds, mattresses and blankets for teachers and students have been arranged for with the help of donors. Thousands of trees and flowers have also been planted for landscaping.
Construction was done using conventional methods. Both ends of the buildings have been strengthened through shear walls, providing an earthquake-proof structure to ensure safety of the children. The materials used in construction are the same as in the developed countries.
Lightweight insulated shingle roof material has been imported and used for the first time in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for added comfort. Well-insulated U-PVC type windows have also been used.
A local newspaper by the name of daily DhartiRawalakot (edited by Abid Siddique) is published daily.
Many authors have been produced in the valley of Rawalakot.
The internationally recognized magazine Mearaj International is circulated in Rawalakot, published from Kashmir, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Daily newspapers from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
are available in English as well as Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. The most read newspaper is the Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
-language Daily Jang
Daily Jang
The Daily Jang is an Urdu newspaper based in Pakistan. It is the oldest newspaper of Pakistan in continuous publication since its foundation in 1939. Its current Group Chief Executive & Editor-in-Chief is Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman....
; radio stations include BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
and Voice of http://www.ajklive.com/Listen-Online-Radio-FM-105-voice-of-kashmir-Rawalakot Kashmir FM 105 Rawalakot.
Parhari writers include Muhammad Sagheer Khan, Liaqet Laiq and Hameed Kamran.
Tourism
Lodges, government-owned and private guest houses, and hotels are available in different parts of Rawalakot. Attractions include: mountain-based adventure tourism, rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, trekking, summer camping and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, water-based adventure tourism, and paragliding
Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
.
Hotels and rest houses
Small hotels with living accommodations are available in and around the city. Many guest houses and Government-owned cabins are also available in Rawalakot and Banjosa
Banjosa
Banjosa is a small tourist attraction point about from Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir. It has the popular Banjosa Lake....
. Advance reservations are recommended as most of these accommodations are used by government officials on their tours.
Shopping
Rawalakot has a downtown area, which consists of shops selling everything from groceries to electronic goods.
Non-governmental organizations There are very few active non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s working in Rawalakot. Press for Peace is a Kashmir-based NGO established by Khawaja Zafar Iqbal
Khawaja Zafar Iqbal
Khawaja Zafar Iqbal is a journalist, peace activist and researcher in Pakistan Administered Kashmir . He focused on Kashmiri Diaspora, conflict resolution and human rights with special reference to Northern Pakistan...
, a journalist and peace activist from Trar village of Rawalakot. PFP's headquarters are based in Muzaffarabad, but it has extended its network across Kashmir and abroad. Its international office has moved to the UK.
Naya Ouffaq (War Against Drugs) is a Jammu and Kashmir-based non-profit organization that was founded by the sociologist Dr. Nighat Younas (PhD) from the village of Pothi Bala, Tehsil Rawalakot. Naya Ouffaq is the leading national organisation working with and for families affected by drugs. The purpose of the organization is to create awareness against drug use, and to combat drugs through sports—to get young people involved in sports and activities in an effort to keep them from negative thinking. Naya Ouffaq plays a key role as a community voice providing drug information and promoting effective responses to drug abuse.
Notable people
- Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, former Prime Minister and current President of Azad Kashmir
- Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim KhanSardar Muhammad Ibrahim KhanSardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan also known as Bani-e-Kashmir "Father of Kashmir" and Ghazi-e-Millat, is the founder of Azad Kashmir. Born in Horna Mirah, a village of District Poonch of Kashmir, Sardar Ibrahim obtained his LLB from the University of London in 1943, and began his practice as a...
, the first President of Azad Kashmir. - Muhammad Hayyat KhanMuhammad Hayyat Khan-References:...
, former President of Azad Kashmir. - Saira KhanSaira KhanSaira Khan is a British television personality and was the runner-up on the first UK series of reality TV show The Apprentice in 2005.-Television career:...
, international (BBC) TV presenter, entrepreneur. - Sardar Muhammad Anwar KhanSardar Muhammad Anwar KhanMajor General Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan, is a career soldier and politician who served as the President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir 25 August 2001 to 23 August 2006...
, former President of Azad Kashmir. - Sardar Khalid Ibrahim KhanSardar Khalid Ibrahim KhanSardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan is a Kashmiri Politician and President of Azad Kashmir's Political Party Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party. He is son of the Founder of Azad Kashmir, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan...
, former member Legislative Assembly of Azad KashmirAzad KashmirAzad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
and President of Jammu Kashmir People Party - Aziz KhanAziz KhanAziz Khan is a former professional squash player. He was a top-ten ranked played on the North American hardball squash circuit in the late-1970s and early-1980s...
, former chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Pakistan
Gallery
 |
 |
External links
- Beauty of Azad Kashmir - Pictures
- Ajklive Rawalakot Page
- AJKTours
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir Tourism
- Apna Rawalakot
- Sudhun
- Rawalakot Hotels and Guest Houses
- Rawalkot.org
- Official Website of Azad Kashmir
- Awan of Singola
- Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- Rawalakot Tourist Resort
- Britannica - Azad Kashmir
- Eurojournals page about dwellings in Azad Kashmir
- Site for overseas Kashmiris and about ajkcouncil
- About tourism in Azad Kashmir
- Tourist guide to Azad Kashmir with brief facts
- Another tourist guide to Azad Kashmir with brief facts
- World atlas page about Azad Kashmir status
- About Azad Kashmir
- Introduction to Azad Kashmir
- Hydropower Potential in AJK UK-based report
- Analysis of Kashmir earthquake response
- Azad Kashmir community development programme
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir : Planning and development department
- District Profile – Rawalakot/Poonch Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority