Achabal (Urdu pronunciation: [ətʃʰəbəl]), known as Achival[3] (Kashmiri pronunciation: [at͡ʃʰiwal]) in Kashmiri, is a town in Anantnag district, in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Achabal
Achival | |
---|---|
Achabal Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India Achabal Achabal (India) | |
Coordinates: 33°41′N 75°14′E / 33.68°N 75.23°E | |
Country | Jammu & Kashmir |
Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
District | Anantnag |
Elevation | 1,936 m (6,352 ft) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 5,835 |
Languages | |
• Official | Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[1][2] |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Vehicle registration | JK03 |
Achabal is an important tourist town about 8.1 km away from Anantnag, and is notable for an ancient spring surrounded by a garden terraced and developed by the Mughals. The upper portion of the garden is called 'Bag-e-Begum Abad' developed by Malika Noor Jehan Begum in 1616 AD and renowned as Sahib Abad in which there is a Hamam (treasure of water) getting heat from a logical lamp (Tosnag).[citation needed]
Cascades and fountains have been erected by Mughal Emperors. A mosque standing in the garden is believed to have been constructed by Mughal Prince Dara Shikwah. Achabal was once the pleasure retreat of Empress Noor Jehan. A trout hatchery is also located nearby. Achabal is the site of a Mughal garden called Achabal Gardens.[citation needed]
Achabal is located at 33°41′N 75°14′E / 33.68°N 75.23°E.[4] It has an average elevation of 1936 metres (6352 feet) above mean sea level.[citation needed]
According to Kalhana's Rajatarangini Achabal(Sanskrit Akṣavāla) was founded by Akṣa son of King Nara II of Gonandiya dynasty.[5][better source needed]
At the 2001 India census, Achabal had a population of 5835. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Achabal had an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 65% of the males and 35% of females literate. 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.[6]