Pallandri

Pallandri
Town in Sudhanoti, Azad Kashmir

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Pallandri
Coordinates: 33°42′55″N 73°41′10″E / 33.71534°N 73.6861°E / 33.71534; 73.6861Coordinates: 33°42′55″N 73°41′10″E / 33.71534°N 73.6861°E / 33.71534; 73.6861
Country  Pakistan
Territory  Azad Kashmir
Elevation 1,400 m (4,500 ft)
Languages
 • Official Urdu
Time zone PST

Pallandri (also spelled Palandri) (Urdu: پلندری ‬‎) is a township in Sudhanoti district of Azad Kashmir. It is located at latitude 33° 42′ 54″ N, longitude 73° 41′ 9″ E, 90 km (56 mi) from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. It is connected with Rawalpindi and Islamabad through Azad Pattan road. The main tribe of Pallandri is the Sudhan tribe.

Administration

Rest House PWD Pallandri

Pallandri is divided into two tehsils, Pallandri[1] and Mong, and serves as the headquarters of Sudhanoti jinjahell was the first capital of Azad Kashmir and is about 20 Kilometers away from pallandri, It is at an elevation of 1372 meters and is 97 km (60 mi) from Rawalpindi via Azad Pattan. The district is connected to Rawalakot by a 64-kilometre (40 mi) metaled road.

Historic places and tourist attractions

The valley consists of numerous evergreen pine and cedar trees, transparent spring, waterfalls and high mountains. Weather in this region of the country is pleasant throughout the year.

DC House

One of the most historic buildings in Pallandri is the DC House[1] It was built in 1915 by Maraja Poonch, the then ruler of the Poonch State in Pallandri. It was known as Rani ka bangla/dak bangla. The Maraja and his wife/Rani used to stay here while on their way from Poonch to Rawalpindi. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Pakistan sent tribal heads into this area of J&K to take control of the area. Renamed the DC House, Amjad Pervaiz Ali Khan who was DC added to the stone structure. Another historic place at Pallandri is a waterpoint called Rani ki bavlee.

Pallandri Bawli

The Pallandri Bawli is known as rani ki bawli. Bawli, on the outskirts of Pallandri, is a fountain which was constructed as an inn by the Dogra Raj about a century ago for travellers to refresh themselves and their animals and stay on the route from Poonch/Hajira to Rawalpindi.

Dhar Dharach (Dhar Tower)

About 7 km (4.3 mi) from Pallandri. From this place you can see Rawalpindi, Kotli, and Pallandri cities.

Historic temple

About 6 km (3.7 mi) from Pallandri is the village of Islampura. In this village there is a temple (Mandir) constructed by Hindus many centuries ago.

Baral Fort

Baral Fort

A fort was established around the beginning of the 19th century by the Dogra Raj of Kashmir. It was used as a school after partition of India and Pakistan. It is situated around 3000 feet from sea level and is located at a vantage point. This fort is the site of many atrocities committed by the rulers (Dogra Raj) and also the brutal killing of the Dogra by the locals. This fort is around 150 kilometers from the Federal Capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. It is just 30 kilometers away from the south of Pallandri city. The fort overlooks neighbouring areas: Goth and Panthal on the South East, Oara and Chankiara in East and North East, Baral in the North, Bhorla in the West and South West. Other historic sites in this area include TUPP, Baral Jamia Mosque, Freedom Monument.

Yaadgar-e-Shuhadah

Yaadgar-e-Shuhadah (Mong)

Located in Mong, the Yaadgar-e-Shuhadah monument is a reminder of the heinous events of 1832 when the local people of Mong rebelled against the Sikh rule of Ranjeet Singh. At the time, Ghulab Singh was an army general responsible for suppressing any dissent. In 1832 there was a rebellion in and around Mong by the local people and Ghulab Singh was sent to deal with it. M L Kapur, in his book ‘The History of Jammu & Kashmir’ mentions, "to quell the rebellion in Poonch and Chibbhal territory Ghulab Singh returning from Peshawar and after some desultory warfare, the rebels were completely routed. Many of them were captured, and treated with vengeance; their hands and feet were severed by axes, while skins of Sardar Mali Khan and Sardar Sabaz Ali Khan, two of the close accomplices of Shams-ud-Din, were peeled off their bodies, and their heads were hung on gallows in a crossing as a warning to others. Hands were ultimately laid on the chief rebel as well, and his head was cut off." The rebels were hung on the very tree featured here and skinned alive. The practice of skinning rebels alive continued for some time.

Nagaishwar

Located at an elevation of 2006 meters ASL, Nagaishwar lies about seven kilometers from Pallandri near Goraah Village on Pallandri Trarkhal road—a road branches off towards Ziarat, Danna and Nagaishwar. The Tourism Department is developing the resort for tourist accommodation as well as a recreational park.

Azad Pattan

The Azad Pattan old and new bridges lie side by side. In 1992 there was a great flood in River Jhelum. The bridge which was inaugurated a few months before, was washed away in the floods. A missing span can be seen on the pier on the left of the new bridge. The main link between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir collapsed. The Pakistan Army went ahead and spanned the missing span by a Bailey Bridge which was not removed till 2009. Even after the completion of the new bridge which is not only higher but larger than the old one, Pakistan Army delayed removing its bridge as there could have another calamity

Educational institutes

Cadet College Pallandri

A view of Cadet College Pallandri

Cadet College Palandri is situated about 100 km from Islamabad. Its climatic conditions resemble those of Abbottabad. From Islamabad/Rawalpindi, the road passes through Sihala, Kahuta and Azad Pattan. After crossing the bridge on the River Jehlum, the road climbs to a height of about 5000 feet. The College Complex is situated on the south eastern flank of Pallandri town.

A view of Khan Muhammad Khan Boys Post Graduate College, Pallandri

Notable people

  • Baba-e-Poonch Khansahib Col Khan Muhammad Khan, member of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly (Praja Sabha) from 1934 to 1946. Chairman War Council of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and then member of Defence Council. Founder of Sudhan Educational Conference.
  • Sheikh Ul Hadees Molana Yousef Khan (R.A) Dar Ul Uloom Al-Islamia Pallandri Azad Kashmir
  • Colonel Sardar Sher Ahmed Khan (Late), Fourth President of AJK (22 June 1952 – 31 May 1956)
  • Lt Col Hussain Khan (late) of Gorah, Ex-President Sudhan Education Conference, Ex-Pallandri Camp Commander during 1947 war, Ex- Commander Mujahideen Camp Pallandri during 1965 war with India, Ex-Chairman Union Council Gorah, Ex-war council member, effective participant in the formation and working of first government of AJ&K. Pioneer in getting services for the people of Sudhnoti in general and especially for the Gorah. Fought 2nd World War in African front. Great spiritual leader and philanthropist.
  • Lt Col Muhammad Naqi Khan (late), Ex-MLA & Minister for Health and Food
  • Brigadier M. Sadiq Khan (late) - Asst Chief of Staff CENTO, Ankara – Turkey (1970–73) - Chairman Governor’s /Chief Minister’s Inspection, Enquiries & Anti-Corruption Department & Secretary of Govt of the Punjab (1978–87) Member Punjab Public Service Commission (1988–90) - Minister Communications & Works, Housing & Physical Planning & Transport Departments Govt of the Punjab (1993) - Yagana-e-Kashmir Book (writer)
  • General Aziz Khan, Ex Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
  • Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Khan, SI - Former Pro Rector, GIK Institute Topi, Former Rector, Foundation University, Islamabad. Former Vice Chancellor University of AJ&K, Former Vice Chancellor The University of Poonch, Rawalakot
  • Dr. Muhammad Rafique (late) Ph.D In Mathematics from Russia, Director Education Colleges Govt. Azad Kashmir, Died in earthquake 2005
  • Col. Dr. Muhammad Aamir Khan – MBBS, FCPS(SURGERY) FCPS (Cardiac Surgery) (Gold Medalist) Fellowship Cardiac Surgery (UK) Consultant cardiac surgeon (Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology AFIC)
  • Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan MLA (Minister for Health, Finance & P&D)
  • Sardar Muhammad Hussain Khan (Advocate): Member, Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly – (1990–1991) served as Minister for AJ&K PPP government led by Mumtaz Hussain Rathore - Member, Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly – (2001–2006) served as Minister for AJ&K PPP government led by Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry
  • Moulana Saeed Yousuf Khan, politician and Islamic Scholar
  • Sardar Nazir Ahmad Khan of Gorah, he was among the first three persons of Sudhnoti graduating from Engineering University Lahore (1970–1974/75), he received two Gold Medals from the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore (UET), he represented faculty of Architecture and Town Planning in students union of the university for four years continuously and also served as Vice President of the union. He did his masters from the Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok Thailand. He served as Director Town Planning Multan Development Authority Multan and as Director General Bahawalpur Development Authority, Bahawalpur.
  • Justice (R) Sardar Abdul Hameed Khan High Court AJ&K
  • Sardar Amjad Aslam Khan Chief Prosecutor General of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Azad Kashmir

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Pallandri - Dost Pakistan". www.dostpakistan.pk. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
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