RAWALAKOT
Coordinates: 33°51′12″N 73°45′05″E
Country: Pakistan
Administrative Territory: Kashmir
District: Poonch District
Area Total: 1,010 km2 (390 sq. mi)
Elevation: 1,638 m (5,374 ft.)
Population Total: 371,00 (1998), Estimate: 624,53 (2015), Density: 375/km2 (970/sq. mi)
Time zone: PST (UTC+5)
Calling code: 05824
Number of towns: 3
Number of Union councils: 21
Rawalakot (Urdu: راولا کوٹ ), (Pahari: راولا کوٹ) is a township in Dist. Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in, the Pir Panjal Range. Its other name is Pearl Valley because the excess of almond blossoms in the valley gives an impression of scattered pearls when seen from a mountain in summers. Rawalakot has one of the highest literacy and graduation rates in South Asia.
o LOCATION
Rawalakot is located at Latitude 33°51'32.18” N, Longitude 73° 45'34.93”E and an Elevation of 5374 feet. Rawalakot, is approximately 76 kilometers (47 mi) from Kahuta and about 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via Goyain Nala and Tain roads. Via Kotli Satiyan and Kahuta. It is also linked with Rawalpindi via Sudhnuti.
o TRANSPORT
• Travel Routes
Construction of the Ghazi-e-Millat road, also known as Goyain Nala road, between Rawalakot and Azad Pattan has considerably reduced travel time, it is main road which is connecting Islamabad/Rawalpindi to Rawalakot city. A bus across the LOC, the Poonch-Rawalakot bus has helped to re-establish ties across the conflict torn region.
• Road Links
The road passing through Jalooth-Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh and Muzaffarabad. The other road that passes through Mohri Farman Shah, Shuja Abad is the shortest possible road link that connects Rawalakot city with Bagh. Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi are in a southward direction from Rawalakot. The town has another road link with Kotli.
Rawalakot Airport is non-operational, as there is no demand for the air service provided by Pakistan International Airlines. The airport has been closed since 1998. However, plans are to restart it soon.
o CLIMATE
Rawalakot features a subtropical highland climate under the Köppen climate classification due to high altitude. The site is at an elevation of 1638 m above mean sea level. Rawalakot is one of the most beautiful valleys of Jammu & Kashmir which is located 80KM away from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. By road, it takes two and a half hours to Rawalakot. Rawalakot’s weather is quite erratic. However, the climate of Rawalakot can be divided into four seasons, namely spring, summer, autumn and winter. Rawalakot has mild to warm temperatures during the spring and autumn, humid temperatures during summer and cold to snowy during the winter. The temperature can rise as high as 38 °C (100 °F) during the mid-summer months and drop below −1 °C (30 °F) during the winter months. Snowfall occurs in December and January, while most rainfall occurs during the monsoon season stretching from July to September.
o COMMUNICATIONS
Two privately owned cable television systems are available in Rawalakot, which carry Pakistani and international television programs. In addition, A local FM radio station named Voice of Kashmir FM 105 is also functioning in the area. This radio station is part of a network of three radio channels. The other two channels are VOK FM 105.6 (Bagh) and VOK FM 105.4 (Muzaffarabad). Cell phone services are also available in this region. They include major cell phone operators: Zong, Mobilink, Ufone, Warid Pakistan, Telenor and SCOM. PTCL Wireless telephone service is also available here. SCO-the local phone company is operated by. This telecom provider is responsible to provide landline telephone network with minority shares of other operators. All major mobile phone companies operating in Pakistan provide their services in Rawalakot. Broadband internet access is available from DSL. Wi-Fi hotspots are also available to very limited areas, that include some parts of Rawalakot city, Dehra & Kharick.
o CULTURE
People of Rawalakot are considered as hard-working and physically strong as in villages people live upon farming so their body complexion which is fair and physical strength is generally adopted to tough climatic and geographical area.
In surrounding areas and villages of Rawalakot people mainly rely on their own production of vegetables, or they bring up and hunt down animals for food. Their famous or favorite food are (Saag with makai, Gushtabey - kind of meatballs) etc.
They generally speak Hindko and Kashmiri and in village’s people live on basis of joint family system but in city people are maintaining standard of living by acquiring all necessities of life.
Clothing in Rawalakot depends upon seasonal and climate changes. During summers people generally wear cotton clothes but when there are rain showers light woolens are used as this area is not much hot during summers which will be told below in detail.
While during winter heavy woolens, shawls and woolen caps are used due to heavy snow falls and chilling cold. People in villages does not have heaters, so they generally use burn woods to in houses or use (Angheeti) to keep their rooms warm.
o MEDIA
Daily Dharti Rawalakot is an Urdu language newspaper published from Rawalakot. Monthly Join Hands is also published from Rawalakot. Daily newspapers from Pakistan are available in English as well as Urdu. Voice of Kashmir FM 105 Rawalakot. Icon Network Cable Television and Satellite Television Service is widely available. Pahari writers include Muhammad Sagheer Khan, Liaqet Laiq and Hameed Kamran. Pakistani TV drama director, Nadeem Siddique and Author-Journalist Sheeraz Kashmiri also belongs to Rawalakot
Daily Pearl News is also a good name of Rawalakot press media.
o TOURISM
Banjosa and Toli-Pir are very two popular tourism destinations in this area. Lodges, government-owned and private guest houses, and hotels are available in different parts of Rawalakot. Attractions include: mountain-based adventure tourism, rock climbing, mountaineering, trekking, summer camping and hiking, water-based adventure tourism, and paragliding. A Temple is located about two kilometers away from city Rawalakot near the upper block Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, The University of Poonch. Standing near the temple presents a charming sight of Rawalakot city also the beautiful view of The University of Poonch.
o SHOPPING
Rawalakot has a downtown area, which consists of shops selling everything from groceries to electronic goods.
o REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING FOREIGNERS
• Azad Kashmir is quite safe region as compared to rest of the county where every province has become the target of some terrorism activities.
• Crime-wise Azad Kashmir is considered, to be relatively safe, but there are some criminals who prey on tourists during high season, so it is always best to keep a low profile.
• Some parts of Azad Kashmir are off-limits to tourists, particularly the 15-mile-wide buffer zone or 16 kilometers along the Line of Control that separates the state from the neighboring Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Domestic tourists can visit Azad Kashmir without any restriction, but are advised to keep their identity papers with them. Foreign tourists are allowed, to visit the following places only with a permit: Dheerkot, Rawalakot, Chotta Gala, Chikkar, Daokhan, Muzaffarabad, Mangia and Sehnsa. Permits are issued by the AJK Home Department at Muzaffarabad.
• Don't take photographs of military installations or you'll be in very serious trouble.