39-975: The Pir Panjal Pass , also called Peer Ki Gali (or Peer Gali ), is a mountain pass and a tourist destination located in the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir , India. It connects the Kashmir Valley to the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu via the Mughal Road . It is the highest point on the Mughal road at 3,490 m (11,450 ft) and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir valley. The Pir Panjal Pass appears in Srivara's Rajatarangini as Panchaladeva ( IAST : Pāñcāladeva ), meaning
78-440: A lower elevation. Construction of a new 8.45 km (5.25 mi) long twin-tube Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel started in 2011 and was commissioned in 2021. The new tunnel is at a lower elevation than the existing Jawahar tunnel and has reduced the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km (9.9 mi). It is also less prone to snow avalanches as it is at a lower elevation. The Atal Tunnel has been built under
117-551: A steep cliff called Hastivanj to the south was difficult to cross. The modern " Mughal Road " constructed between 2005 and 2009 is close to the route used by the Mughals, though it is not identical to it. To the west of Peer Ki Gali, cliffs descend steeply into a valley, which carries another mountain stream that joins the Poonch River flowing from the north. A hill village called Bahramgala (original name: Bhairavgala) marks
156-629: A view of a green carpet in summer. During the summer, the camps of the Gujjar community and shepherds with their grazing sheep in the pastures present a riveting picture. Also, the fragrance of wild flowers refreshes the whole environment. According to M. A. Stein , the Tosa Maidan route starts from the habar Drang village (going out from the Kashmir valley). After crossing the Tosa Maidain meadow, it ascends gently to an elevation of 13,000 ft at
195-758: Is a tourist destination and a hill station in the Khag area of the Budgam district in the Kashmir Valley of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir . The name also marks the historic Tosa Maidan route into the Kashmir Valley from the Poonch Valley . In fact, the original name of Tosa Maidan appears to have been "Tosa Marg". Mahmud of Ghazni and the Sikh monarch Ranjit Singh attempted to invade
234-511: Is a pass north of Peer Ki Gali, overlooking Rajouri. The Banihal pass (2,832 m (9,291 ft)) lies at the head of the Jhelum River at the southern end of the Kashmir Valley. Banihal and Qazigund lie on either side of the pass. The Sinthan pass connects the Kashmir valley with Kishtwar in the Jammu region. The Saach Pass , a 4,414 metres (14,482 ft) mountain pass in
273-583: The Shakti ‐sangama Tantra , where this is indeed the case. Scholar M. A. Stein believes that the concept of deity must have been translated into that of a Pir after the region was Islamised. Deo Tibba (6,001 m (19,688 ft)) and Indrasan (6,221 m (20,410 ft)) are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range. They can be approached from both the Parvati -Beas Valley (Kulu District), Upper Belt of Chamba Himachal Pradesh and
312-580: The Beas and Neelam/Kishanganga rivers, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir , with its northwestern end extending into territory administered by Pakistan. The Himalayas show a gradual elevation towards the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. Pir Panjal is the largest and westernmost range of the Lesser Himalayas. Near the bank of
351-716: The Chamba district connecting Chamba with the Pangi valley of Himachal Pradesh , India. Rohtang La (altitude 3,978 m (13,051 ft)) is a mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range connecting Manali in the Kullu Valley to Keylong in the Lahaul Valley. The Jawahar Tunnel is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long tunnel through Pir Panjal mountain under the Banihal pass connects Banihal with Qazigund on
390-704: The Durrani -controlled Kashmir Valley in 1814, partly via the Pir Panjal Pass. He divided the forces into two parts, one attacking via the Pir Panjal Pass under the command of Dewan Ram Dayal and the other led by himself via the Tosa Maidan . Ram Dayal forced through the Pir Panjal pass, reached Baramulla and fortified himself. Ranjit Singh could not break through the Durrani defences at Tosa Madian, and
429-597: The Pir Panjal Pass , whose original name as recorded by Srivara , is Panchaladeva ( IAST : Pāñcāladeva , meaning the deity of Panchala ). Panchala is a country mentioned in the Mahabharata in the northwest Uttar Pradesh . However, there are also traditions that place the Mahabharata regions in western Punjab and southern Kashmir. Scholar Dineshchandra Sircar has analysed the geography described in
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#1732790218354468-713: The Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway . With 8.8 km (5.5 mi) length, the tunnel is the second longest road tunnel in India and has reduced the distance between Manali and Keylong by about 60 km (37 mi). The tunnel is at 3,100 metres (10,171 ft) elevation whereas the Rohtang pass is at 3,978 metres (13,051 ft) elevation. Lying on
507-675: The Sutlej River , it dissociates itself from the main Himalayan range and forms a divide between the Beas and Ravi rivers on one side and the Chenab on the other. Further west, the Pir Panjal range forms the southwestern boundary of the Kashmir Valley , separating it from the hills of Jammu region, forming a divide between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. The Pir Panjal range is named after
546-700: The Tosa Maidan pass , near the Daman Sar lake. It provides a steep descent into the Loran Valley , passing by the village of Sultanpathri. At the southwest is another pass called Pathri ki Gali, near the Pam Sar lake (which is also the source of the main stream feeding the Sukhnag river). This provides a gentler descent into another branch of the Loran Valley, which meets up with the first route near
585-601: The Chandra (Upper Chenab) Valley ( Lahaul and Spiti District) in Himachal Pradesh. The hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir lies in this range. Haji Pir Pass (altitude 2,637 m (8,652 ft)) on the western Pir Panjal range on the road between Poonch and Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir . Despite taking the pass twice in military operations (in 1948 and 1965 ), India left
624-625: The Kashmir Valley via this route following the Battle of Shopian Bounded by dense forests, the Tosa Maidan meadow is situated about 25 km (16 mi) from Khag at the foot of the Pir Panjal range . After crossing the upper mountain reaches of Habber, Drang, Sitaharan, Zakhora and other small villages, one reaches the pasture of Tosa Maidan. Tosa Maidan is the largest pasture in its surrounding areas, 3 miles in length and 1.5 miles in width. Sky-touching deodars fence this pasture presenting
663-769: The Manali-Leh axis, this is one of the two routes to Ladakh. The Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel , an 11.215 kilometres (6.969 mi) railway tunnel, passes through the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir. It connects Quazigund and Banihal and is a part of the Udhampur -Srinagar- Baramulla railway project. The tunnel was commissioned on 26 June 2013 for regular service. It is India's longest railway tunnel. 33°53′36″N 74°29′19″E / 33.89333°N 74.48861°E / 33.89333; 74.48861 Tosa Maidan Tosa Maidan (or Toshamaidan )
702-714: The Peer Ki Gali to mark the Pir's meditating place, inside which some believe is a stone with his hand print. Pir Panjal Range The Pir Panjal Range ( Urdu pronunciation: [piːɾ pənd͡ʒːɑːl] ; Kashmiri pronunciation: [piːr pãːt͡saːl] pronunciation ) is a range of mountains in the Lower Himalayan region located in the Western Himalayas of northern Indian subcontinent . It runs southeast to northwest between
741-427: The Peer Ki Gali. Written records note a Pir called Sheikh Ahmed Karim lived and meditated in the Peer Ki Gali during the time of emperor Jahangir. He converted to Islam from Hinduism, regarded the Peer Ki Gali as a place of God and insisted all the passersby treat it with reverence. The records also state that emperor Jahangir disregarded his commandments, but Shahjahan and Aurangzeb followed them. A shrine stands in
780-648: The control of the rebels. After India sent its armed forces to defend the state following the Maharaja's accession, the Poonch garrison was maintained by air dropping supplies. Towards the end of 1948, the Indian Army's Operation Easy dispatched forces from Rajouri and Uri to link up at Poonch and establish a line of defence along Uri–Poonch-Nowshera line. After this was accomplished, the State Forces from
819-550: The deity of Panchala . Panchala is a kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata in the northwest Uttar Pradesh . Other traditions place the Mahabharata regions in western Punjab and southern Kashmir. Scholar Dineshchandra Sircar has analysed the geography described in the Shakti‐sangama Tantra , where this is indeed the case. Scholar M. A. Stein states that the high mountain passes were always regarded as deities or were associated with deities. These customs continued after
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#1732790218354858-486: The end of the valley. The Sikh sources name the pass itself as Bahramgala pass , in effect marking Bahramgala as is western end. The modern Mughal Road avoids the steep descent by following the hill sides to the north. It ends at a town called Bufliaz about 10 km to the west of Bahramgala. From there the National Highway 144A connects to Poonch to the northwest and Rajouri to the south. At Peer Ki Gali,
897-400: The garrison fanned out in the area east of the line, clearing it of hostile forces. The Tosa Maidan route was thus secured by India. In 1964, the Tosa Maidan meadow was leased to the Indian Army on a 50-year lease for use as an artillery firing range. Before the lease came up for renewal on 18 April 2014, the local residents protested against an extension of the lease. Consequently, the lease
936-453: The instances, he was blocked by the Lohara fort ( Loharkot ) that guarded the route. Mahmud was unable to conquer the fort itself. In the second instance, he also suffered a disruption of communications due to a heavy snowfall. Historian Mohibbul Hasan states that this was the first serious reverse suffered by Mahmud in India. M. A. Stein states that, even before the time of Lohara dynasty,
975-478: The last two Books of Kalhana's Rajatarangini . The ruling house of the Lohara state, based in the Loran valley, took over the reins of Kashmir after the death of its king Kshemagupta, who had married a Lohara princess. Samgramaraja was the first full-fledged ruler of the dynasty. During his rule, Mahmud of Ghazni attempted to invade Kashmir via the Tosa Maidan route, once in 1003 and another time in 1021. In both
1014-579: The name Peer Ki Gali , and a historical way station called Aliabad Sarai at its eastern end. A stream referred to as Pir Panjal stream runs through the valley, flowing east, which becomes the Rambi Ara River in the Shopian district. Scholar Mohibbul Hassan states that the old route through the pass kept to the southern side of the stream, but the Moghuls switched it to the northern side because
1053-401: The night temperatures often drop below -15°C in winters. It is the highest point on Mughal Road. Peer Ki Gali is 40 km away from Shopian, 80 km from Poonch. Historian Mohibbul Hasan states that the Pir Panjal Pass was one of the main passes into the Kashmir Valley and exercised a great influence on its history. A route linking Hirapur (modern Hirpora) in the Kashmir Valley with Rajauri via
1092-485: The other side of the mountain. The Jawahar Tunnel was named after the first Prime Minister of India was constructed in the early 1950s and commissioned in December 1956 to ensure snow-free passage throughout the year. It is at elevation of about 2,100 m (6,900 ft). It was designed for 150 vehicles per day but now used by more than 7,000 vehicles per day. Therefore, a new wider and longer tunnel has been planned at
1131-420: The pass is known to have been used from ancient times. During the period of the sultans it seems to have been extended up to Bhimber . After conquering the Kashmir Valley, the emperor Akbar strengthened the route into an 'Imperial Road' stretching from Lahore to Kashmir. In modern times, the route has been referred to as the 'Mughal Road'. The Sikh emperor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh , launched an invasion of
1170-476: The pass under Pakistani control. The Pir Panjal Pass (also called Peer Ki Gali ) connects the Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch via the Mughal Road. It is the highest point of the Mughal Road at 3,490 m (11,450 ft) and lies to the southwest of the Kashmir Valley. The nearest town to the pass in the Kashmir valley is Shopian . The Munawar Pass (altitude 3,600 m (11,800 ft))
1209-516: The region was Islamised by substituting the concept of Pir , Muslim saint, for deity. The Pir Panjal Pass name is tied to the entire mountain range ( Pir Panjal Range ). In recent times, the term "Panjal" has become restricted to the mountain range, and the pass came to be called simply Peer Ki Gali (the Pir's pass). It is associated with the saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani as well as another saint Sheikh Ahmed Karim. The Pir Panjal Pass can be taken to travel between its western entrance, which goes by
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1248-570: The route must have been quite important. It provided the shortest route between Srinagar and Poonch as well as access to the western Punjab areas between the Jhelum and Indus rivers, which were under the control of Kashmir until medieval times. The route was also the "easiest and safest route in that direction", since it provided easy ascent from the Kashir Valley and was well-guarded by the Loharkot fort. Al Beruni stated that brisk trade
1287-553: The top of Pir Panjal range . "The ascent is so gradual and easy that... the construction of cart-roud would so far meet with little difficulty." There are several streams originating at the top of the range at this locale, all of which join to form the Sukhnag river . At the top of the Pir Panjal range, there are a number of passes leading to the Poonch Valley. The most often used pass is called Chinamarg Gali, once known as
1326-572: The village of Loran. Both the branches of Loran streams feed the Mandi River . To the north of Chinamrag Gali is another pass Jamianwali Gali, which descends into the Gagri Valley. This pass provides a longer route to Poonch. The Tosa Maidan route into the Kashmir Valley was of high importance during the Lohara dynasty of Srinagar (1003–1320 CE), as is evident from its repeated mention in
1365-599: The western tehsils of Poonch (especially the Bagh and Sudhnoti tehsils) rebelled against the Hindu Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir . On 22 October 1947, raiders from Pakistan joined the rebels, leading to the First Kashmir War . The State Forces garrison at Poonch is said to have been besieged. The majority of the Tosa Maidan route up to the Pir Panjal range is likely to have come under
1404-649: Was carried out along this route. The importance of the route declined after the Mughal rule , during which the Pir Panjal Pass was developed as an Imperial Road, and the Afghan Durrani rule , during which the Jhelum Valley cart-road was developed. Even so, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire attempted two invasion Kashmir via the Tosa Maidan route in 1814 and 1819. The first time, his army
1443-515: Was divided into two forces, one attacking the Pir Panjal Pass and the other the Tosa Maidan meadow. At the meadow, Ranjit Singh was blocked by the Durrani defences. He also suffered difficulty of maintaining supplies and was forced to retreat. Later in 1819, all the Sikh forces were concentrated on Tosa Maidan and conquered the Durrani forces. Soon after the Partition of India , the Muslims of
1482-556: Was forced to retreat. In a second invasion in 1819, all the forces were sent via the Tosa Maidan, and conquered the Durrani forces. The Aliabad Sarai is a rest house in the Pir Panjal Pass, said to have been constructed by the Emperor Jahangir towards the end of the 16th century. It was one of the 14 halting stations constructed between Lahore and Srinagar along the Moghal Road. An Iranian engineer called Ali Mardan Khan
1521-487: Was in charge of the construction, aided by the local chieftains. The safe keeping of the heritage building has been neglected by the government, and it has been used in recent times by local shepherds as a shed for cattle. The original Moghal Road passed in front of the Aliabad Sarai rest house. The current one runs behind it, at a higher elevation. The local tradition associates Saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani with
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