Akhnoor
Akhnoor | |
|---|---|
UTC+5:30 (IST) | |
| PIN | 181201 |
| Telephone code | 91 1924 |
| Website | www |
Akhnoor is a
History
The place is believed to be the ancient city of Virat Nagar mentioned in the
Excavations at Ambaran-Pamberwan sites have proved that the place was a prominent abode of Buddhism during the Kushan period and
.Among other find of historical importance that indicates the place inhabited by people pre-dominantly belonging to Hinduism is the green coloured Trimurti idol made up of a single stone at Ambarran Village.[citation needed]
Etymology
The town is believed to have been named Akhnoor by Mughal Emperor Jahangir who once visited the area and the fort on the advice of a saint when his eyes got infected while returning from Kashmir. Amazingly, Jahangir's eyes were fully cured by the fresh air of the town blowing over the Chenab. He called the town Aankho-ka-Noor (light of the eyes) and since then the place has come to be known as Akhnoor.[9] Some believed another etymology which is published in the official site of Akhnoor goes like this:
... it came to be known as Akhnoor during the Mughal reign. The reason behind this is that the Mughal emperor's wife had vision problem in her eyes and she was prescribed to wash her eyes with the holy water of Chenab using some ayurvedic medicines by a local Hindu priest. The queen strictly followed the prescription and her vision was restored. Hence the city was named Akhnoor as in Urdu the word 'noor' means vision/glow/shine and the word 'aankh' means the eye.
— Akhnoor Sub-Division Administration[10]
Geography
Akhnoor is located at 32°52′N 74°44′E / 32.87°N 74.73°E.
Demographics
As of 2011[update] India census,[14] Akhnoor had a population of 11,225. Akhnoor is governed by Municipal Committee of Akhnoor having 13 wards. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Akhnoor has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 74%; with 56% of the males and 47% of females literate.
The languages spoken are Dogri followed by Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English.
Religion
Hinduism is the largest religion in Akhnoor with 92.37% followers. Sikhism, Islam and Christianity are followed by 1.91%, 2.70% and 2.38% people respectively.
References
- ^ "Official Web Site of Akhnoor Sub-Division (J&K)". Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ Akhnoor: Caught in a time warp - The Hindu
- ^ A Tryst with History at Viratnagar
- ^ Kapasan Mata
- ^ Dalai Lama to visit Kushan period monastry [sic] excavated in Kashmir | Hill Post
- ^ "Dalai Lama to visit Ambaran next month – News Oneindia". Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "Dalai Lama Visits Ancient Buddhist Sites in Jammu : Himsatta". Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ The Tribune...Saturday Plus Head
- ^ Akhnoor Tourism
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Akhnoor
- ^ Jamwal, Nagendra Singh (12 May 2013). "A vale behind the veil". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "Akhnoor City Population". Census India. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "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.
