Poonch

Poonch is a town in the Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir.

Based on the Mahābhārata mythology, and the evidence from the seventh-century Chinese traveller Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara were under the sway of the Republican Kambojas during epic times.

Poonch has witnessed many historical eras. Around 326 BC when Alexander the Great invaded the lower Jhelum belt to fight with Porus, this region was known as Dravabhisar. In the sixth-century AD, the famous Chinese traveller Huien Tsang passed through this area.

Poonch came under the Kashmir Sultanate during late 15th century through the military campaigns of Malik Tazi Bhat, a general of the Sultanate. This arrangement persisted until the late 16th century, when the region came under Mughal influence.

From 1819 to 1846, Poonch was a part of the Sikh Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Maharaja granted it as a jagir to Raja Dhian Singh, one of his nobles and a brother of Dogra Rajput Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu. In 1846 Poonch was part of the territories transferred to Gulab Singh, who became the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir under the suzerainty of the British Raj.

In 1947, after the Partition of India, a rebellion started in the western part of the Poonch district (in the Bagh and Sudhanoti tehsils) against the Maharaja's rule and demanding accession to the newly independent Pakistan. The rebels were armed and supported by Pakistan and they evicted the State Forces, who became ensconced in their garrison at the Poonch town. The town remained besieged for almost a year, until it was relieved by the Indian Army on 20 November 1948. The western part of the district remained under the control of the rebels, who joined Pakistan as the state of Azad Kashmir. The Line of Control between the two parts of the district runs to the west of the Poonch town.

During the 2019 India-Pakistan standoff, the Pakistan Air Force conducted an airstrike in Poonch as part of a larger operation in Indian-administered Kashmir. After the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, India blamed Pakistan-based terror groups and a diplomatic crisis ensued between the two countries. Pakistan resorted to shelling across the Line of Control on the border regions including the Poonch town, starting 24 April 2025.

The town is at an elevation of 1,021 m (3,349 ft), on the bank of the Poonch River.

Hinduism is the largest religion in the Poonch town, followed by 44.19% of people. Islam is the second-largest religion with 33.49% adherents.

The NH 144A starts from Jammu and ends at Poonch, thus connecting Poonch to the rest of Jammu Division and India beyond. The Mughal Road via the Pir Panjal Pass connects Poonch to the Kashmir Valley.

There is no rail connectivity to Poonch yet. Jammu–Poonch Railway Line is a proposed railway line from Jammu Tawi station via the Historic City of Akhnoor to Poonch. The nearest major railway station to Poonch is Jammu Tawi railway station, located at a distance of 236 kilometres and is a 6-hr drive. The nearest railway stations are Bijbehara railway station and Anantnag railway station, both located at a distance of 152 kilometres from Poonch Town.

Poonch Airport is a small airstrip which was constructed during Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The airport is non-operational as of 2026. The nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport located at a distance of 177 kilometres and is a 5.5-hr drive.

• 33.80427774.2619881 Shri Buddha Amarnath (बुड्डा अमरनाथ), Shri Buddha Amarnath, Rajpura, Mandi, Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, India (To reach the temple of Chattani Baba Buddha Amarnath the route from Jammu is via Sundarbani, Naushera, Rajouri, Bimbergali, Swarnkot, Chandak and then Poonch.). The Holy Temple of Chattani Baba Buddha Amarnath is situated at 290 km. North–West in Poonch district of Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir. The Chattani Baba Buddha Amarnath’s HIMLING SWAROOP is 4,600 ft (1,400 m) above sea level surrounded by the beautiful Loren Valley of gram: Rajpura in the suburbs of Mandi of Poonch District. Baba resides here in snow crystal form and thus this place is famous and known as “Baba Buddha Amarnath Chattani”. This place is located between the beautiful hills and valleys on the left of the river Pulasti. The weather is always nice and enjoyable. Nil.  (updated Mar 2016)