Chikkar Explained

Official Name:Chikar Valley
Settlement Type:(Sub Division)
Pushpin Map:Pakistan
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Pakistan
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Azad Kashmir
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Jehlum Valley District
Subdivision Type3:Tehsil
Established Title:Established
Established Title2:Incorporated
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:150
Elevation M:1607
Population Total:5196
Population As Of:2021
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:+5
Postal Code Type:Postal code span
Postal Code:51800
Area Code:13170

Chikar Valley (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|چکارویلی ) is a small town and hill station in Jhelum valley District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located 46km (29miles) from Muzaffarabad at the altitude of 1607m (5,272feet).[1] It is the headquarters of Tehsil Chikar.

The town is accessible from Muzaffarabad by Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road branches off at Sarran Bypass road link(named Ramsir Chikar Bypass) & Dhanni Bakaalan. It is also accessible from Sudhan Gali.

Before partition of Indian subcontinent Chikkar was very important town and was the biggest local trade center. People from adjoining areas like Prem Kot used to trade over here. Government School in Chikar was famous before 1947 which was established way before 1900, many students used to study over here. Chikar can be considered as the most historically place of the Jhelum valley region. It was the main trading centres of Hindus and Sikhs of Kashmir. Many villages in Chikar have the names which show Hindu roots like Ramsar, Indrasari and Sudhan Gali etc. Census record of 1941 showed that considerable amount of non-Muslim were present in Chikar and its adjoining areas.[2]

The earth quake of 2005 Created a natural fresh water lake near to Chikar which is known as Zalzaal lake.[3]

Rest houses of AJK Tourism & Archeology Department have been built for tourists . Some private hotels with all facilities are available here for tourists to stay and enjoy nature.

Notable caste families in Chikar are the indigenous/earliest inhabitants of Muzaffarabad division, descendents of Raja Khakha Khan,a Janjua Chieftain, mainly decedents of his two sons, namely Raja Sangi and Raja Mangi; f(P)irouziyaal, Tezyaal, Bakaal, Hatmaal and other respective Rajpoot clans[4] lives here in majority[5] .[6] and other notable casts are Sheikhs, Shal, Thakiyals, Gujjars, Chohan, Dar, Khawajas,Bhats, Syeds(Gillani, Bukhari and others), Awaan, Chaudhary, Kayani, Siyaal,etc.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hattian. AJK Tourism & Archeology Department. 9 July 2013. 18 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131118184452/http://www.ajktourism.gov.pk/en/index.php/ajk/hattian. dead.
  2. Web site: Wreford . 1943 . Census of India, 1941. Vol. XXII: Jammu and Kashmir. Part I and II: Essay and Tables .
  3. Web site: Book a tour to Zalzal Lake Chakkar through AJKTOURS . 27 February 2011 .
  4. Al-Nasaib Al-Qabail Akbaria Kashmir and Pakistan (published 1st,October,1994) written by Capt.(rtd) Muhammad Ashraf Khan(District Bagh, Jammu Kashmir).
  5. Aiina Muzaffarabad By Sabir Shah Afaqi.
  6. History of Muzaffarabad by Dr Iftikhar Mughal(late), Former Head of History Department UAJK.