Know The Valley of Kashmir

 Know The Valley of Kashmir 

Agar firdous bar-roye zameen ast,

 hameen ast, hameen ast, hameen ast.

English translation: If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.

The Valley of Kashmir, comprising ten districts and nearly 3,000 villages, is a region of remarkable natural beauty, cultural depth and social diversity. Home to over 6.8 million people, it reflects a rich blend of faith, language, education and heritage. From its demographic structure and economic workforce to its schools, shrines, literary figures and world-famous tourist destinations, the valley presents a complete picture of a vibrant and evolving society in 2026.

• Districts: 10 
• Villages: ~3000 
• Towns: 42
• City: 01 (Srinagar)
• Population according to 2011 Census:
• Muslim (96.41%)[ 6,641,178]
• Hindu (2.45%) [168,767]
• Sikh (0.81%) [55,800] 
• Govt Employees: Approximately 2.8 to 3 Lakh govt employees. 
• Agriculture Workers: ~1,400,000+
• Private/Self workers: ~1,500,000
• Unemployment" is currently estimated at 6.7% (2024–25). 

• Schools in the 10 districts: 13,000
• Colleges : 70 Government Degree Colleges in the Kashmir division.
• Universities: 10 universities with their Satellite Campuses.  
• Current Sex Ratio : 954
• 2011 Sex Ratio : 893

The population is distributed across the 10 districts as follows:

1. Srinagar: 1,236,829
2. Anantnag: 1,078,692
3. Baramulla: 1,008,039
4. Kupwara: 870,354
5. Budgam: 753,745
6. Pulwama: 560,440
7. Kulgam: 424,483
8. Bandipora: 392,232
9. Ganderbal: 297,446
10. Shopian: 266,215 

According to Census data and local directories, here is how the villages are spread out:

• Baramulla: ~532 villages
• Budgam: ~489 villages
• Anantnag: ~373 villages
• Kupwara: ~372 villages
• Pulwama: ~334 villages
• Kulgam: ~239 villages
• Shopian: ~230 villages
• Bandipora: ~125 villages
• Ganderbal: ~118 villages
• Srinagar: ~16 villages (mostly urbanized) 

Total Villages in the valley : 2828 Precisely 

Famous Tourist Places in the valley? 

The 10 districts of Kashmir offer a breathtaking range of sights, starting with the iconic Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, and Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar and extending to the world-famous ski slopes and Gondola of Gulmarg in Baramulla. To the south, Anantnag houses the lush meadows of Pahalgam, Betaab Valley and the ancient Martand Sun Temple, while Ganderbal is home to the "Meadow of Gold" Sonamarg and the sacred Kheer Bhawani Temple. Budgam is cherished for the serene Doodhpathri and Yousmarg meadows, whereas Kulgam boasts the powerful Aharbal Waterfall. For those seeking offbeat beauty, Bandipora offers the high-altitude Gurez Valley, Kupwara features the pristine Bungus and Lolab Valleys, Shopian provides the scenic Peer Ki Gali pass along the historic Mughal Road and Pulwama is famous for its vibrant Pampore Saffron fields and the 9th-century Avantiswami Temple ruins. 

Known Muslim Shrines? 

The 10 districts of the Kashmir division, often referred to as Pir Waer (the Alcove of Saints), are home to a dense network of sacred shrines, starting with the Hazratbal Shrine, Khanqah-e-Moula, Makhdoom Sahib and Dastgeer Sahib in Srinagar. In Budgam, the Charar-e-Sharief stands as one of the most sacrosanct sites dedicated to the patron saint Nund Rishi, while Anantnag houses the hilltop Aishmuqam Shrine and the revered Reshi Maloo. Baramulla is famous for the intricately carved Baba Reshi Shrine near Gulmarg and Bandipora features the Ziarat of Baba Shakoor-ud-Din overlooking Wular Lake. Other significant spiritual landmarks include the Ziarat of Syed Simnani in Kulgam, the Ziarat of Syed Hassan Mantaqi in Pulwama, the various Rishi order sites in Kupwara and the historic Mughal Road shrines in Shopian, all reflecting the deep-rooted Sufi and Rishi traditions that define the valley's spiritual landscape in 2026.  

Literary Personalities?

Kashmir’s 10 districts boast a literary legacy spanning centuries, starting with Srinagar’s 14th-century mystic Lal Ded and modern English poet Agha Shahid Ali. Pulwama is the cradle of the "Nightingale of Kashmir," Habba Khatoon and the revolutionary Mahjoor. Anantnag produced Rasul Mir, the master of romantic ghazals and Mahmud Gami, while Budgam is defined by the profound Sufi verses of Nund Rishi and critic Abdul Ahad Azad. Shopian is known for the celebrated Amin Kamil and Kulgam for the ancestral lineage of Jawaharlal Nehru. Bandipora claims the scholar Mir Ghulam Rasool Nazki, while Baramulla is home to the pioneer of modern Kashmiri fiction, Akhtar Mohiuddin.  

The 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley have also nurtured a globally  recognized generation of English novelists who bridge the gap between local lived experiences and international literature. Leading this movement is Srinagar-born Mirza Waheed, famous for 'The Collaborator', and Siddhartha Gigoo, also from Srinagar, whose novel 'The Garden of Solitude' explores the Kashmiri Pandit exodus. From Pulwama, Shabir Ahmad Mir gained acclaim for 'The Plague Upon Us', while Anantnag is home to Basharat Peer, whose narrative work 'Curfewed Night' transformed the region's English prose. Other significant contributors include Srinagar-based Shahnaz Bashir, author of 'The Half Mother', and contemporary writer Mehak Jamal, collectively ensuring that districts like Srinagar, Anantnag and Pulwama remain the intellectual heart of Kashmiri storytelling in the 21st century.

These writers transformed local districts into intellectual hubs, blending Persian, Sanskrit, English and Kashmiri influences. Collectively, they have shaped the valley’s identity through poetry, history and prose, making these districts central to South Asia’s rich literary heritage in 2026. 

Languages Spoken in the 10 Districts of the Valley?

In the 10 districts of the Kashmir division, Kashmiri (Koshur) is the predominant mother tongue, spoken by the vast majority of the population as the primary language of daily life. Urdu holds a significant place as the official language of administration, media and religious discourse, while English is the medium of instruction in schools and the preferred language for business and tourism. In the border and mountainous reaches of Kupwara, Baramulla and Poonch-adjacent areas, Pahari and Gojri are widely spoken by the hill communities. Additionally, the Shina language is unique to the Gurez Valley in Bandipora, and Hindi and Punjabi are commonly understood and spoken in urban hubs like Srinagar due to trade and the presence of diverse migrant and minority communities. 

Approximately 5% of the population in the ten districts of the Valley of Kashmir is estimated to speak English fluently. Roughly 20% can read and understand basic English, largely due to its dominance in private schooling and higher education. 

Religious Schools or Madrasas? 

The 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley host a robust network of approximately 450 registered Madrassas and Darul Ulooms, serving as vital centres for Islamic theology and jurisprudence. The region is anchored by premier institutions like Darul Uloom Raheemiyyah in Bandipora, the largest in the state, and Darul Uloom Bilaliya and Darul Uloom Illahia in Srinagar, which have integrated modern digital learning tools. Other notable seminaries include Madrasa Islamia Arabia in Baramulla, Jamia Siraj-Ul-Uloom in Shopian, and specialized residential schools for girls like Jamiat-al-Banat. In recent years, many of these institutions in districts like Anantnag, Budgam and Pulwama have begun aligning with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to provide students with recognized academic certifications alongside traditional religious degrees. 

Economic Profile and Per Capita Income Distribution of the Kashmir Valley (2026)

Per capita income is a measure of the average income earned per person in a specific area, calculated by dividing the district's total wealth (Gross District Domestic Product) by its total population. In 2026, the economic landscape of the Kashmir Valley is led by Srinagar, which remains the wealthiest district with an estimated per capita income of ₹1,75,000 due to its dominance in services and trade. It is followed by Shopian (₹1,62,000) and Pulwama (₹1,58,000), where high-density apple orchards and saffron cultivation generate the highest rural wealth. Baramulla (₹1,45,000) and Anantnag (₹1,38,000) occupy the upper-middle tier, benefiting from international tourism and robust fruit markets. Budgam (₹1,25,000) and Ganderbal (₹1,18,000) maintain middle-income status through handicrafts and power projects. In contrast, Kulgam (₹1,05,000), Kupwara (₹98,000), and Bandipora (₹92,000) rank as the districts with the lowest per capita income, as their economies are more heavily reliant on subsistence agriculture and face challenges due to remote or border topographies.

The History and Evolution of the Kashmiri Language (Koshur)

The Kashmiri language or Koshur, belongs to the Dardic subgroup of the Indo-Aryan family, though it has been profoundly influenced by Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic over two millennia. Its evolution began with the ancient Sharda script (8th century), which was the primary medium for Kashmiri literature before the gradual adoption of the Perso-Arabic script following the arrival of Islam in the 14th century. A pivotal moment occurred around 1330–1400 CE with the mystical poetry of Lalleshwari (Lal Ded) and Nund Rishi, who transitioned the language from a scholarly Sanskrit-heavy form to a "people’s tongue." By the 15th century, under the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (1420–1470), Kashmiri literature flourished through royal patronage, blending indigenous folk traditions with Persian aesthetics. In modern history, the 1950s saw a significant cultural revival through the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, and in 2011, the Census recorded approximately 6.8 million Kashmiri speakers. A major legal milestone was reached on September 22, 2020, when the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act officially recognized Kashmiri as one of the five official languages of the Union Territory. Today, in 2026, the language is undergoing a digital renaissance, with its inclusion in global translation tools and its mandatory teaching in schools up to the primary level to preserve its rich linguistic heritage. 

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