Khuiratta/Bannah Valley
Khuiratta, or Khoi Ratta also known as Wadi e Bannah, is a city of Kotli District, Azad Kashmir. The city is located 160 kilometers north east of Islamabad and nearly 26 kilometers (by road) from Kotli. Khuiratta is the heart and itself located on the Western edge of ''BANNAH VALLEY''. The valley is about 7 Kilometers wide and 10 kilometers in Length. Khuiratta is very clos
e to the Line of Control (LOC), being only 7 km away from the temporary border line between Indian held Kashmir and Pakistani held Kashmir (Azad Kashmir). The Indian army occasionally shells the area from the LOC. Before the cease-fire agreement between Pakistan and India, there were military and civilian casualties. Khuiratta is connected to Kotli on one side, Nakyal on West, LOC on East and on South is charroi. Niddi Sohana is the union council of Khuiratta and the highest point of the Kotli . It has other small towns. Khore Rachalla, Khore Bhera, Gheyaien,Serri, Brottgala, Katehra, phalni, Bandli, Karjai, Saidpur,Bainthala, Dehari Baagh,Dhok, Dheri Sahibzadian, Manjwal, Bindian, Bhiyal, Hill Mughalan, Banni Bannah, Sehore, Phehan, Domandah and Katesery, Chirri, Samror are some of the familiar ones. Population of khuiratta is over 100,000 which are mostly educated. The Gujjar, Rajput, Jaat, and Mughal tribes form the majority. Others include Butt, Janjua, Jarral, Sheikh, Malik, Qureshi, Sayyed and some others. List of registered voters was estimated 89000 in 2004 with Gujjars being the Majority in number, then Rajpoot and then Jutts, and some 330000 voters among other tribes,. Khuiratta is in the Azad Kashmir Assembly constituency, LA 12 Kotli 5. Name of constituency main areas are following Patwar Circles of Kotli Tehsil/ Tehsil Khuiratta: 1. Khor .2.Sarhotta.3 .Dheri Sahibzadian. 4. Khui- Ratta. 6. Bihal. 7. Dhanna. 8. Andarla Katerra.9 Samlar. 10. Majwal. 11. Sarhuta.12.Niddi Sohana. The valley is covered by mountains on all sides and appears like a bowl. A beautiful stream known as Nala Baan flows through the valley besides many other small streams which eventually find their way in the Nala Baan making it a small rivulet when it enters Kotli District and is itself merged into Poonch River. Deira Domandah is the highest place inside the valley. One can get a good view of almost all surroundings of valley by standing near the beautiful Masjid built there, known as ‘’Sawa ni Maseet’’. On the Northern side of valley there is a Fortress on the top of Karjai Hill…. Known as Karjai Fortress or ‘’Qallah Karjai’’. Contrary to common belief that is was built by Great Mughal Emperior Akbar, research shows this fortress was built by Governer Kashmir Malik Zafer (1640-1646) for his daughter ‘’Raj Mehal Begam’’. The outer walls of this national heritage are going to ruin but officials don’t pay any attention. Thus a national treasure is going to be lost from our hands. There are many springs of crystal clear water being famous among them are 22 located near Biyyal village, a place known as 22 Narra. Khuiratta city also draws its water supply from these springs. Another single but large spring is present there at Dehari Baagh, located under Jamia Masjid and is source of large quantity of water. Khuiratta and its surrounding areas are very popular among tourists. Many famous Masjids and shrines are also there. Darbar Maii Toti Sahiba is one of famous shrines located some 4 kilometers from Khuiratta city and an annual ‘’urrs’’ is held there in which a large number of people form near and far come to participate. Another known shrine of "Hazrat Baba Ali Lashkar" is located at Dheri Sahibzadian. Othe shrines include famous religious scholars of their times like Hazrat Mian Imam Baksh of Hozra near Tokkahn and shrine of Pir Haider Shah of Dehari Bagh. The great work accomplished by these saints and Sufis of Islam is portrayed by their followers who tried to follow their footsteps to help the community. In short Khuiratta has got everything; it has beautiful mosques/ Masjids, teaching places like Pasban Academy and Holy Public, visiting places like Kurjai Fort/castle, Katassary island, magical villages of Chirri, Sehor, Sumlar, Giyaen, Seri Khanpour and many more. The major Market, known as Khuiratta bazar is almost 2 kilometers long situated just on the left side of Nala Baan. A very large Hospital is built near Main Khuiratta Bazar and is almost complete. This Hospital is largest in Azad Kashmir and bears the name of famous personality Sardar Abdul Aziz (late) who provided funds for it. Upon completion this state-of-the-art community hospital which the late Mr Abdul Aziz started building in 2005 under AZIZ WELFARE TRUST would serve world class facilities for patients . Abdul Aziz was a highly respected philanthropist who funded many charitable projects in the area offering free treatment to those who cannot afford it. Sadly Mr Aziz passed away in June 2009, however his legacy continues and the construction of the hospital has been completed. The next stage is to equip the hospital. Born in Abdal, a small village in eastern side of Valley, name of Doctor Surgeon Muhammad Maqsood Abdali is well known. Currently living in UK this hardworking man achieved 5 Gold Medals in the field of Medicine which is a record and no other Doctor from Azad Kashmir and even Pakistan equals this honor. Khuiratta is also famous for its ‘’Besakhi Mela’’ or Besakhi Festival. For many years this Mela was being held in Dehaari Na Baagh. Lately it has been moved to Sihor Bela as it caused much disturbance to the local residents. Thousands of people gather from all over the country to view the attractions offered by the mela. It should be noted here that KhuiRatta is the only place in Azad Kashmir where this mela is organized. This mela lasts for three days; activities include bull racing, wrestling, football and other form of traditional entertainment. After a couple of years being held at newly Built Sports Ground of Bela the Mela (festival) for 2013 was held again at old famous spot of Deharri Bagh Ground beside Boys Degree College Khuiratta. Mela started from 18.04.2013 till 20.04.2013. Smaller villages located in Khuiratta have some very beautifully constructed Masjids/mosques. Some notable elders from the area such as Ch.Muhammad Khadim Khan district education officer and member of education promoter UK organization "FRIENDZ OF KASHMIR"Ch. Muqadam Sayda Jatt,Ch Sharif commissioner rtd Ch. Mohd Numberdar Jatt, Haji Ch Muhammad Abdullah Gujjar (late),Haji Ali Muhammad, Raja Nisar Ahmaed khan (former M.L.A) ,Ch. Muhammad Ali, Haji Ch Mohd Beir Wali Gujjar (late),, Raja Subaydar Faqeer Mohd, Raja Gul Bahar, Chairman Mohd Basheer Jatt, Raja Siakndar Iqbal,Bhatti Babu Feroz, Cc. Rafiq Nayyer (Former N.L.A) Head Master Abdur Rahman Shamim, Professor Bashir Niaz, Ch. Nasim Advocate (former Chairman Zakat Council), and many others are prominent personalities. Their services for their area are unforgettable. A very noticeable Religious personality of Bannah Valley/Khuiratta was Molana Muhammad Din Sahib (1934- 26 Jan, 2008)
Professor Anwar Hussain Chishti (late), another prominent, well educated and Religious personality passed away in 2010. Matloob Inqlabi, the former advisor for P.M. Pakistan is Current M.L.A from khuiratta and also Minister for Education (Colleges, IT and TEVTA)
Education
It is believed that literacy rate is above 80% and good thing is that almost 100% of new generation is attending schools. Khuiratta has some good educational facilities. In education field the name of CH.Muhammad Khadim Khan is unforgettable. There are two degree colleges for both boys and girls.
‘’Chiragh Hasan Hasrat Degree College’’ for boys is named after famous personality Chiragh Hasan Hasrat , who was a prolific satirist and journalist. Born in 1904 in a village near Baramula, Kashmir and died at Lahore on June 26, 1955 at Lahore. There are also some English Medium Schools, of which notable are Holy Public School & College, Ideal Public School, Allama Iqbal Public school & College Seri, Pasban Science School & College, Pakland School/
One of the earliest and only government school is the "Government High School Khuiratta". Educational backgrounds are also well known and young generation is very keen towards it. Khuiratta has its own history. Before the independence of Pakistan and India in 1947, it was used as a trade corridor between Rajouri and Mirpur.
