Awantipora
| Awantipora | |||
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 India
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| Union Territory : | Jammu and Kashmir | ||
| District : | Pulwama | ||
| Location : | 33 ° 55 ' N , 75 ° 1' E | ||
| Height : | 1582 m | ||
| Residents : | 12,647 (2011) | ||
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Awantipora or Awantipur ( Kashmiri ونتپور) is a city with a population of around 13,000 in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir .
location
Awantipora is located at an altitude of 1582 m above sea level in the high basin of Kashmir on the east bank of the Jhelam River , which drains the entire basin. Srinagar , the capital of Kashmir, is about 30 km to the northwest. The climate is temperate; rain falls mainly in the first half of the year.
population
Approx. 36.5% of the population are Hindus and about 61% are Muslims ; the rest is made up of Sikhs , Christians , Buddhists and Jains . The male proportion of the population is more than twice as high as the female, which is mainly due to labor migration , because women and children often stay behind in their home villages.
economy
The area around Awantipora is characterized by rice cultivation . Traditional carpets , copper and silver goods, as well as leather and silk products are made in the town. The Islamic University of Science and Technology of Kashmir is based in Awantipora.
history
Awantipora was founded in the 9th century by King Awantivarman (r. 855-883), the founder of the Utpala dynasty , and equipped with two important Hindu temples . However, both temples were destroyed at the beginning of the 15th century by army units of the Muslim conqueror Sikandar Butshikan (r. 1389-1413). Both temple ruins lay hidden underground for centuries and were only uncovered by the British at the beginning of the 20th century . However, all cult images have disappeared; a few finds (mainly coins and ceramics) can be seen today in the Sri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar.
On February 14, 2019, a suicide attack on a convoy of the Indian Federal Reserve Police Force (CRPF) occurred near Awantipora when a vehicle loaded with explosives rammed a police bus. At least 44 police officers died. The Islamist group Jaish-e Mohammed, operating from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack . It was the worst attack since the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir in 1989.
Attractions
- The almost square floor plan of the Awanti Swami Temple , consecrated to the Hindu god Vishnu , and its precise stone work can still be seen. The temple stands elevated in a sunken courtyard area that is completely paved with stone slabs, the inner walls of which were provided with numerous side shrines. The ritual walk ( pradakshina ) of the temple was possible in the courtyard.
- The Avanti Shovra Temple , consecrated to Shiva , is significantly larger than its counterpart, about 1 km away. However, the overall layout and degree of destruction are similar.
See also
literature
- Michael W. Meister u. a. (Ed.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. North India - Foundations of North Indian Style. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1988, pp. 368ff ISBN 0-691-04053-2 .
Web links
- Awantipora - Photos + Info (English)
- Awantipora, Temple - Photos + Info (English)
- Awantipora, Temple - Photos + Info (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Awantipora - Census 2011
- ↑ Awantipora - climate tables
- ↑ Awantipora - Census 2011
- ↑ Pulwama attack: India wants to 'completely isolate' Pakistan. BBC News, February 15, 2019, accessed February 16, 2019 .
- ↑ Pulwama terror attack UPDATES: 44 killed as CRPF convoy is targeted in J&K; Rajnath assures 'strong reply'. timesnownews.com, February 15, 2019, accessed February 16, 2019 .