Downtown Srinagar

Downtown (Srinagar)
View of Downtown from Zaina Kadal Bridge
Downtown (Srinagar) Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates:
District	Srinagar district
Settled	Ancient
Elevation	1,585 m (5,200 ft)
Languages
• Official	Kashmiri
• Official	Urdu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Distance from Delhi	837.4 kilometres (520.3 mi)
Distance from Mumbai	2,192.6 kilometres (1,362.4 mi)

Downtown is notified area in the municipal committee of Srinagar. It is the largest and the most densely populated area in the city of Srinagar. The area is mostly located on the banks of Jhelum river about 5 km from city center. The area is considered as the core point in the city as the first inhabitants of the Srinagar lived here. The area reflects the images of old city of Srinagar. The historical buildings and monuments in the area reflect the design of old times. The residential homes are depicted to be constructed from late-19th century to early-20th century. Many key monuments like Jamia Masjid, Maharaj Gangh and shrines have been built famous rulers of Kashmir.

History

The area was settled more than 2000 years ago in 3rd century BC by Raja Pranavsarena. The area is the hub of the historical monuments made by the famous rulers of Kashmir. The historical monuments include Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, Aali Masjid in Eidgah, Maharaj Ganj tomb in Maharaj Ganj, Pathar (stone) Masjid in Nawabazar, Khankah shrine in Khankah and Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani's shrine in Khanyar. Moreover, the Roza Bal shrine which is believed by the Ahmadaya community to be tomb of Jesus Christ is also situated in the area, nevertheless the view point is disagreed by the caretakers of this shrine and the local Muslim population who believe Jesus ascended to the heaven alive by quoting the verse of the Quran.

“ That they (Jews) said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. ” — Quran 4:157 ^{(Yusuf Ali)}

Geography

The area is located at at an elevation of 1585 meters above mean sea level in Srinagar.

Demographics

Kashmiri is the main language of the area. People also use Urdu and English as secondary languages. It is estimated that the downtown has the population of half a million which is about 47% of the total population of Srinagar district.

Flood

In September 2014 the state of Jammu and Kashmir was hit by floods caused by torrential rainfall. The area of Downtown was mostly influenced by these floods in Srinagar district as the whole area resides on the banks of Jhelum. Commercial buildings and residential homes and Government offices were shattered to nothing. People lost their lives and properties and the whole area was set on the economic back-foot. Schools, hospitals and other places of significant importance were damaged by the floods. University of Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education has postponed all its scheduled exams which were to be held in October will now be held in March 2015 due large scale damage to the educational institutes in the area and across the valley.

Education

There are number of premier school and colleges in downtown. The area consists of following schools

• Green land Educational Society,Hawal
• Islamia Higher Secondary School ,Rajouri Kadal
• City Central Educational Institute, Khanyar
• Sultan-Ul-Arifeen Public School,Botraj Colony

The Colleges are following:

• Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar
• Sadiq Memorial college of Education
• Women's College, NawaKadal
• Gandhi Memorial College ,Shamaswari

Features

Hospitals

• SMHS, Multi-speciality hospital
• Jawahar Lal Nehru MemoriallJLMN Hospital Rainawari
• Govt Gousia Hospital Khanyar

Restaurants

• 7 Days, Nowhatta

Social Organization

• Idarah Falah Aam Alamgari bazar, Srinagar
• Educational Trust of Kashmir, Srinagar

Sub divisions

The areas which comprising Downtown Srinagar include:-

S.No	Name	Popularity
1	Zaina Kadal	High
2	Rajori Kadal	High
3	Saraf Kadal	Medium
4	Buhri Kadal	High
5	Fateh Kadal	High
6	Nowhatta	High
7	Dalal Mohalla	Low
8	Haba Kadal	Medium
9	Nawid Kadal	Medium
10	Hawal	Medium
11	Nawabazar	High
12	Aali Kadal	Medium
13	Jamalut	Medium
14	Sadipur	Low
15	Khanyar	High
16	Rathipur	Low
17	Chamar dauri	Low
18	Kawdara	Medium
19	Kakasabun	Medium
20	Urdu Bazar	Medium
21	Dab tal	High
22	Khankha	High
23	Kadi Kadal	Medium
24	Bearipur	Low
25	Tarabal	Low
26	Batiyaar	Low
27	Gorgadi Mohalla	Low
28	Narparistan	Medium
29	Khoji Bazar	Medium
30	Seehyaar	Medium
31	Tengapora Tarab	Low
32	Namchibal	Low
33	Gratibal	Medium
34	Now Kadal	High
35	Watal Kadal	Low
36	Shurgar Mohalla	Low
37	Kawangerpur	Low
38	Ganpantyaar	Medium
39	Kharwail Mohalla	Medium
40	Saadmansurun	Low
41	Karliyaar	High
42	Malarut	High
43	Kalashpur	Low
44	Narawur	Medium
45	Ganderpur	Low
46	Anderwur	Low
47	Chirgar Mohalla	Low
48	Kanil Mohalla	Low
49	Suni Masjid	Low
50	Bulbulanker	Medium
51	Dumbe Kadal	Medium
52	Zendar Mohalla	Low
53	Sakidafar	High
54	Safakadal	High
55	Wazapur	High
54	Suri teng	Low
55	Mughal Mohalla	Low

See also

• Soura
• Buchpora