Baramulla

Baramulla town, the headquarters of Baramulla district, is situated on the banks of the Jhelum River in the northern part of the Kashmir Valley. Owing to its strategic location on the historic route connecting the Valley with Muzaffarabad and Rawalpindi, Baramulla has long been known as the “Gateway of Kashmir.” The town finds mention in historical accounts and travel records of various visitors, including the 7th-century Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) and later European travelers such as William Moorcroft. During the Mughal period, Baramulla served as an important transit and halting station for emperors visiting Kashmir. Historical sources note that Emperor Akbar entered Kashmir in 1586, and Emperor Jahangir visited in 1620, with Baramulla featuring prominently in their journeys.

Baramulla has also been an important centre of spiritual and cultural heritage. In the 15th century, the revered saint Syed Janbaz Wali made the town a centre of his mission, and his shrine remains a place of reverence. The visit of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, in the 17th century further adds to the town’s historical and religious significance. Over the centuries, Baramulla evolved as a centre of composite culture where different communities coexisted and contributed to its social fabric.

Historically part of the former princely State of Jammu and Kashmir, Baramulla played a significant role during the events of 1947. Following the signing of the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh on 26 October 1947, the region acceded to the Union of India.

In recent decades, Baramulla has witnessed steady development in infrastructure and public services. The road network has expanded, educational institutions have increased, and bridges across the Jhelum River have improved connectivity between different parts of the town. The extension of railway connectivity linking Baramulla with Srinagar, Anantnag, Qazigund, Banihal, and Jammu has further strengthened transportation and regional integration.