Gufkral represents an important site in the area.^[3] Gufkral is located at Banmir village in Hurdumir area of Tral, five km (3.1 mi) from the sub district headquarter. The area falls between two nallahs (streams) on an extensive deposit of Karewa (elevated table-land) where people used to live in ancient times.

Tral is located at 33°56′N 75°06′E / 33.93°N 75.1°E / 33.93; 75.1.^[4] The average elevation is 1,662 metres (5,453 ft) and its average area is 110 km² (42 sq mi).

The main town area of Tral is divided into two parts/divisions – Upper Tral (Tral-i-Bala) and Lower Tral (Tral-i-Payeen). There is a significant difference in the altitudes of these two divisions/parts as their name suggests. The population of Lower Tral (Tral-i-Payeen) is more than that of Upper Tral (Tral-i-Bala).

As of 2011 Indian Census, Tral had a population of 1,10,196 with 57,536 males constituting 52.21% of the population and 52,660 females constituting 47.79% of the population.^[5] Out of 1,10,196, 17,844 is urban and 92,352 is rural population of Tral.^[6][7]

Religion edit

According to the 2011 census, Islam is practised by about 89.51% of the population, while 7.41% follow Sikhism and 2.48% follow Hinduism.

Tral has an average literacy rate of about 64%. There are various educational institutions in and around Tral town. Tral has two educational zones:- Zone Tral and Zone Lurgam which consist of 201 government educational institutes and 33 private schools up to senior secondary level^[9] besides a degree college,^[10] an Islamic College for females namely Islamic Oriental College and an Industrial Training Institute.^[11]

Nagaberan (Upper Dachigam), Wasturwan (Syedabad), Gufkral, Shikargah, Panner Dam, Aripal Spring, Narastan, Hajan and Dilnag are the main tourist attractions of Tral. Tarsar-Marsar lakes are also accessible via the meadows of Nagaberan.

Tral Wildlife Sanctuary edit

On 26 October 2019, the government declared a new breeding ground for endangered Kashmiri stag (Hangul) in Tral area.^[12] It was named as Tral Wildlife Sanctuary which is spread over 154.15 km² (59.52 sq mi) and came into being by merging Paner-Shikargah forest area in Tral with Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in Pahalgam.

Tral is a volatile area and a traditional hotbed of militancy. Burhan Wani, former commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, hailed from Sharifabad, Tral.^[13] Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat, successor of Burhan Wani, also hailed from Rathsuna Tral and was killed in Saimoh village (Tral) by Indian security forces, thus sparking days of unrest.^[14] Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (Kashmir based Al-Qaeda Cell) is also believed to be operated from Tral as its founder and chief, Zakir Musa, hailed from Noorpora area of Tral.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people living in or coming from the Tral area include:

• Ali Muhammad Naik – former MP, MLA, speaker of Legislative Assembly.
• Maulana Noor Ahmad Trali – religious scholar.
• Burhan Wani – Hizbul Mujahideen militant.