Explore the scenic valleys, trekking trails and cultural heritage of this charming town, located on the northwest side of the Kashmir Valley

With a geographical area of 2379 sq km, the frontier district of Kupwara is situated between 34.17 to 34.21 North Latitude and 73.10 to 73.16 East Longitude. The famous river Kishan Ganga separates Pakistani-held Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir in Machil, Keran, and Teetwal areas. It is situated on the northwest side of the Kashmir valley with borders lying on the Line of Control that divides India and Pakistan. On the eastern and southern borders of Kupwara lie Sopore, Bandipore, and Baramulla. Kupwara District is situated at an average altitude of 5300 feet above sea level. The whole Kupwara district is known for its natural scenic beauty, snow-clad mountains, local culture, and beautiful meadows. Besides many other tourist activities, it has a huge potential for adventure activities like trekking, camping, and skiing.
Kupwara Town provides a gateway for visitors to explore the various beautiful places across the district of Kupwara. At a distance of almost 100 km from Srinagar, the beautiful town of Kupwara is a delightful picnic spot. It is the premier town and municipal council in the Kupwara district. Municipal Council Kupwara is an Urban Local Body with 13 elected members as of now which administers the town. The main town not only provides a convenient platform to explore and visit the different tourist destinations in the district but also has some notable attractions for visitors in and around the town as well.
Masjid Ul Murshideen
The mosque is one of the beautifully shaped and iconic architectural designs in the district. It is a hub of many religious activities. People from across Kashmir come here and stay for the night as it is the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat where they teach religion, humanity, and brotherhood. A huge number of people throng this mosque every day for worship and preaching.
Amrit Sarovar Riverfronts
Although nature has bestowed Kupwara town with natural ambience, water resources, and scenic beauty, the concerted efforts of the district administration to create two riverfronts under the Amritsarovar scheme have boosted the tourism potential in the town. One of these riverfronts is at Goose on the banks of Lolab Nallah and the other one is near the Block Development Office Kupwara just around the entrance of the main town. The local tourists and many from other parts of J&K UT have started visiting these sites. These riverfronts give different looks at sunrise and sunset, inviting and attracting the attention of nature lovers.
Nagriwar Ecotourism Park
With an objective to promote eco-tourism, maintain ecological balance, and boost local employment, the Forest Department in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir has adopted Nagriwari village just three kilometres away from the district headquarters under the foothills of thick green conifers. An eco-tourism park has been built in the village on seven hectares of land. A seven-kilometre-long trekking route from Nagriwari to Oagbal (a tribal village) is also being developed which is going to be a trekkers’ paradise.
Zangli Park
The lone public cum Children’s Park within the radius of the main town in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district is located near the famous gate of Lolab Valley holding the importance of having the utmost natural beauty with lush green forests around the place. It can host more people in times to come than it used to in the initial days since the spot is seen as an important point by all those heading to the world-famous Lolab Valley.
Mata Kheer Bhawani Tikkar
It is situated just at a walking distance of one and a half kilometres from the main market Kupwara in the Tikker Village. It was used as a base camp by Sharda pilgrims who used to visit Sharda Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple (now in Muzaffarabad in POK). It falls on the right side of Kupwara Chowkibal Road. The temple dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani (Ragnya Bagwati) is constructed over a sacred spring. Every year on Zestha Asthami Mela, thousands of pilgrims from all walks of life come and offer their prayers with devotion to get their wishes fulfilled by Mata Ragnya Bhagwati. The term Kheer refers to rice pudding that is offered to the spring to propitiate the Goddess which becomes part of the name of the temple.
Temple and Gurdwara in the main market
There is one more temple on the hospital road which has been there since ancient times and many Hindus visit it on a daily basis. There is also a Sikh Gurudwara around the same location where Sikhs from different areas come and visit this place. Incidentally, there are many shops owned by Sikhs and Hindus in the same area on the Kupwara hospital road.
Markazi Jamia Masjid Kupwara
It is one of the biggest mosques in North Kashmir. It is situated in proximity to the Syed Mohammad Gabi Shrine. The site was built by the Chek emperor and can accommodate 9000 worshippers at a time.
Besides its own scenic beauty and ambience, Kupwara town as earlier mentioned acts as a gateway to various other tourist destinations in the district. The route towards the world-famous Lolab Valley goes from Kupwara town while places like Muqam Shahwali, Kalaroos caves, Kumkadi, Jumugand, and Drangyari can also be reached from the main town. Machil, Keran, and Karnah sectors are also accessible through Kupwara town and there is a good transport facility to reach these areas.
Education
Kupwara town has some premier educational institutions including Boys Degree College located at Bohipora, Women’s College, and Girls Higher Secondary at Salkoot and Chief Minister’s Model Higher Secondary in the main town.
Food, Cuisine and Restaurants
The whole Kupwara district is also known for its delicious local cuisine. Rice is the staple food along with chapattis in tribal areas. The cuisine is also heavily influenced by Kashmiri cuisine and is known for its rich flavours and unique spices. Some of the must-try dishes in the town include Rogan Josh, Gushtaba, and Fish. Visitors can also try the local bread and chapatis. The leading restaurants in the main market include the Raj Palace Hotel and Restaurant, The City Park, Papa Please, Mountain View, and Northern Cafe and Restaurant.
Transport
Transport in and around Kupwara town is quite good and the roads are often busy. There is a general bus stand in the main market and a Sumo stand at Regipora. There is Sumo service available to all areas including the border areas while bus service is also available except the border areas of Machil, Jumugand, Budnamabal, and Keran sectors.
Kupwara Market
Visitors to Kupwara can also witness the district’s traditional arts and crafts, including wood carving and embroidery. The local market offers a range of traditional products like shawls, carpets, handicrafts, and a wide range of fabrics which make for unique and authentic souvenirs.
The best time to visit Kupwara is from March to October when the weather is pleasant and ideal for travel and outdoor activities. The summers in Kupwara are generally mild, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. The winter months from November to February are very cold, with temperatures dropping to as low as -5 degrees Celsius.
The writer is a columnist and academician. He can be reached at [email protected]

Rayees Masroor