Shopian or Shupiyan is a Guhjar town and administrative division of the Shopian district, located in southern part of Kashmir Valley, of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Shopian or Shupiyan is a hill district with its administrative division in Shopian, located in south side of Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, since it is situated on the historical road commonly known as Mughal Road, most of its area is occupied by forests. Shopian district comes under the Pir Panjal Range which makes it very cold in winter. . After partition of India, it was a tehsil of Pulwama district. In March, 2007, the district status was granted by the Government of India.
The geologist Frederic Drew stated that Shopian derived its name from a distortion of word shah-payan, i.e. "royal stay". However, the local people hold the view that Shopian was earlier named as "Shin-Van" meaning "snow forest". The Shias have a different view, believing it was earlier inhabited by Shias so it is "Shin-Van" that is "The Forest of Shias". Shopian is an ancient town of Kashmir and had an importance due to it being situated on the ancient imperial route, commonly known as Mughal Road, which connects Lahore and Srinagar. Shopian was one out of six Wazarat Headquarters in Kashmir from 1872-1892 A.D.
Shopian town is 51 kilometres (32 mi) from Srinagar and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Pulwama at an elevation of 2,146 metres (7,041 ft) above sea level. It has decades-old road connectivity with Anantnag as well as Kulgam.
Geography
Shupiyan is located at 33.72°N 74.83°E. It has an average elevation of 2057 metres (6748 feet). It is 54 km from Srinagar.
Demographics
According to 2011 Census of India, Shopian Municipal Committee has population of 16,360 which further extends to 9,319 (males) and 7,041 (females), The average population of the town is 6 persons each house.
Population
According to 2011 Census report, Shopian Town had a population of 12,396. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Shupiyan has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 51%. In Shupiyan, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Education
In 1988, The Government of J&K established a college namely Government Degree College, Shopian which provides higher education infrastructure to the people of shopian district.
Places of interest
Shopian district has many places with tourism potential: the waterfalls of Aharbal, Kausar Nag, Kongwatan, Arshi Pora Lahanthour, Sedow, Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubijan - 6 km from Heerpora Village; Peer Marg/Peer Gali - 20 km away from Heerpora on the historical Mughal Road; beautiful Lake Nandansar - 2 km away from the Peer Ki Gali; Hash Wang Bagam Pather, Sok Saray, and Mughal Saray at Jajinar. The Jamia Masjid in Shopian is one of the famous historical monuments built during the Mughal reign resembling that of jamia Masjid Srinagar. The famous Aasar-i-Sharief Dargah at Pinjura, attracts thousands of devotees on the occasion of Eid-i-Milad-un- Nabi and Shab-i-Mehraj. Darul Uloom Islamia Pinjura where large people gather to seek (spiritual and moral) knowledge and propagate to others.
On the outskirts of Shopian town near Nagbal area, there is a famous Siva temple called Kapalmochan Mandir with three natural springs and a unique Shivling with small Rudraksh shaped knots spread all over it.
Transport
The major roads connecting Shopian with neighbouring districts are:
Shopian-Pulwama-Srinagar Road
Shopian-Anantnag Via Chitragam
Shopian -Anantnag via Kaider
Shopian Anantnag Via Kulgam khudwani Wanpoh khanabal
Shopian-Rajouri-Poonch via Mughal Road
Shopian-Zawoora-Keller
Shopian-Sedow-Aharbal
Shopian-Hirpora
Shopian-Bijbehara via Malik Gund Imamsahib,
Shopian-Pinjoora
Shopian-Turkawangam
Shopian-Zainapora( Babapora)- Frisal- khudwani
Shopian-Zainapora( Babapora)- wachi - Sangam
Shopian to Kulgam kachdoora, sehpora Mohan Pora or Okay
Shopian to Reshnagri via Narwaw, Saidpora
Shopian to Nehama via Vehil Nowgam, Kanjiullar
Shopian to Ramnagri via Narwaw, Saidpora, Amshipora.
Shopian to Kangiullar via Ramnagri and Gadiporahir
Shopian to Kheer Bhawani at Mamzam via Ramnagri, Kanjiuller Nihama
Shopian to Aharbal via Ramnagri, Gadipora and Nihama
Shopian to Zawoora via Rambiara.
Shopian to Shadab Karewa Via Zowoora.
Shopian to Narapora, keller via Zawoora
Shopain to Aharbal via Saidow
Shopian Arshi pora road to link Via Herman Kadder Road
Shopian to Manzimpara via Kundalan.
Shopian to Anantnag via Manihall and Yaripora
Shopian to Toolihalan
Shopian to Aharbal via Ramnagri, Rashinagar, vatoo [under construction]
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopian_district
