Baramula
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Baramula
Town in the State of Kashmir, situated in 34 13' N. and 74 23' E. Population (1901), 5,866. Owing to its position as the river port of Kashmir, this is a place of some importance ; but in consequence of the opening of the cart-road from Baramula to Srinagar, the boat traffic, on which the inhabitants chiefly depend, may in time decrease. It is situated on the left bank of the Jhelum, which is crossed at the east end of the town by an excellent bridge. The inhabitants are for the most part traders or shopkeepers. Baramula is very liable to earthquakes, and in 1885 it was almost reduced to ruins. The name is derived from the ancient city Varahmula, which stood on the right bank of the river along which the old route down the Jhelum used to run. Opposite, on the bank where the present Baramula stands, was the town of Hushkapura, founded by king Huvishka, the Kushan ruler, who succeeded Kanishka. The site of the ancient Hushkapura is about two miles to the south-east of the modern Baramula.
