Chakswari

Chakswari
Chakswari
Coordinates: 33°09′N 73°28′E / 33.15°N 73.46°E / 33.15; 73.46Coordinates: 33°09′N 73°28′E / 33.15°N 73.46°E / 33.15; 73.46
Country	Pakistan
Province	Azad Kashmir
Population
- Estimate ()	20,000
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Number of Union councils	25

Chakswari (چكسواڑي) is a Tehsil (town) in the Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. It is composed of approximately 25 Union councils including the New Town of Islamgarh. Approximately 42 km from Mirpur, it is rapidly becoming an economic hub and commercial area of the district.

Society & Culture

Main Article Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir

The majority of the population speak the Mirpuri dialect of Pothwari, the second most spoken language of Kashmir after Kashmiri. A large number of inhabitants emigrated to the United Kingdom between the 1950s and 1980s. The people of this area are agriculturalists belonging to the Jatt, Rajput & other castes, with strong cultural links to the Pothwar region of Pakistan.

Georgraphy

Chakswari comprises partly plain and partly hilly areas. Chakswari has pleasant scenery and the climate is generally arid, characterized by hot summers and cool winters. There is little rainfall.

Chakswari is divided into two parts, the historic old town where the majority of the wholesale shops, for which the Town is known , are located and the newer part – Chakswari Colony which was built for the families who lost their homes following the construction of Mangla Dam. The town is modern and a shoppers paradise. The current population of Chakswari is around twenty thousand. Chakswari boasts the biggest house-building boom after Mirpur. Chakswari is known for its excellent shopping areas and its large shopping plazas for which most of the wholesale shops are located. There are many stores, plazas, shopping malls & markets in these thoroughfares, selling everything from hand made pottery to international brands.

History

Chakswari is well known for the existence of The Holy Pir's. Who are also known as Noshahi's as they are descendants of Hazrat Haji syed Muhammad Nosha Ganj Baksh who him self was part of Muhammad's family tree. Haji Syed Muhammad Nosha Ganj Baksh's tomb is located in Ranmal Sharif in Mandi Bahauddin Panjab Pakistan. There are two darbars(shrines)of noshahi family in Ban Dhamali (village near chakswari) In the 90's, they were known for helping the people of Chakswari with things like poverty and religious issues. Till today the Noshahi Pir's enter the villages to meet Their followers.

The area is well populated with British Kashmiris who come throughout the year, as they have homes and relatives living there. A major source of income for the local businesses there.

Notable People: Rani Taj (First Kashmiri-British Female Dhol Player)

Outlying Villages

Within the Chakswari area are the villages of Rachyal,Susral, Kalyal}, Thothal, Palaak, Panyam, Lidder Marri, Dhangri Bahadur, Dhangri Bala (with a famous local mosque), Thangdev, Barootian (on the main road to Mirpur), Ban Dhamali, Pinda Colony, Pukka Dularh, Issar, and Khannabad. Just over the bridge to the south of Barootian are the villages of Kaneli and Rarah with Islamgarh (Akalgarh) and Chak Haryam further south. The most famous village in the history of Azad Kashmir is located in the epicentre of Chakswari widely known as 'Teekhriyan.'

Gallery

Susral

• 

  Kalyal Mosque, Chakswari

• 

  Chakswari New Mosque

• 

  Houses of Kalyal

See also

• Mirpur District
• Azad Kashmir
• British Pakistanis
• Potwari language

References

Ch.Zahid Noor

• [1][www.chakswari.com]