Poonch

Poonch is the smallest district of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir. The district is bound on northern end by the districts of Pulwama and Baramulla. The Rajouri district binds Poonch on the south. The Pakistan occupied land of Kashmir lies to the north west of the district of Poonch. The district of Poonch is rich in culture and has a distinctive history.

The Poonch district lies in the geographical coordinates of 73 degrees 58 minutes to 74 degrees 35 minutes east longitude and 33 degrees 25 minutes to 34 degrees 1 minute north latitude. The total area of the district of Poonch is 1,674 square kilometers. The district is subdivided into three administrative units known as the tehsils. Mendhar, Haveli and Surankote are the three tehsils of the district. The district comprises of a total number of 178 villages. 10 of these villages are uninhabited while 168 villages are inhabited by the rural folk. The district has a single town and 51 panchayats. The villages are located in the low vale region of the district while the rest of the district is occupied by the hilly mountains. The people of the district speak Gojari and Punchi languages. The chief occupation of the people of the district is agriculture. 23 percent of the total land area is devoted in the cultivation of maize, wheat and paddy. The orchards occupy 285 hectares of land in the district of Poonch.

Poonch is situated along the Mughal road which was the route traversed by the Mughal rulers in the 17th century.