Encyclopedia of District Mansehra

Mansehra District

Mansehra District (Urdu: مانسہرہ) is in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, which contains the town of Mansehra and the Kaghan Valley area (a popular tourist destination in Pakistan). The Karakoram Highway passes through the districtMansehra District
— District —
Location of Mansehra District (highlighted in yellow) within the North-West Frontier Province.
Country Pakistan
Province North-West Frontier Province
Capital Mansehra
Established
Government
- District Nazim
- District Naib Nazim
Area
- Total 4,579 km2 (1,768 sq mi)
Population (1998)
- Total 1,152,839
- Density 272/km2 (704.5/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
District Council
Number of Tehsils



History
Alexander the Great & Ashoka

Bust of Alexander III in the British Museum.Alexander the Great, after conquering parts of Punjab, established his rule over a large part of Mansehra District. In 327 B.C., Alexander handed this area over to Abisaras (Αβισαρης), the Raja of the Poonch state. Mansehra remained a part of Taxila during the rule of the Maurya dynasty. Ashoka was the Governor of this area when he was a prince, after the death of Ashoka’s father, Bindusara, Ashoka inherited the throne and ruled this area as well as Gandhara. Today, the famous edicts of Ashoka, inscribed on three rocks near Bareri Hill, serve as evidence of his rule. These edicts also show that this area was a famous religious centre for pilgrims. The name Mansehra is a modified form of the name Maan Singh, who once ruled over this area.

The Tanoli territory of Amb State has also been part of Mansehra District, since the State was abolished by the Government of Pakistan in 1969. Amb and its surrounding areas of Hazara have a long history which can be traced to Alexander the Great's invasion of India. Arrian, Alexander's historian, did not indicate the exact location of Embolina, but since it is known that Aoronos was on the right bank of the River Indus, the town chosen to serve as Alexander's base of supplies may with good reason be also looked for there. The mention in Ptolemy's Geography of Embolima as a town of Indo-Scythia situated on the Indus supports this theory.

In 1854 General Abbott, the British frontier officer from whom Abbottabad, administrative centre of Hazara, takes its name, discussed his location of Aornos on the Mahaban range south of Buner. He proposed, as M. Court, one of Ranjit Singh's French generals had done before him in 1839, to recognize Embolima in the present village of Amb situated on the right bank of the Indus. It lies about eight miles to the east of Mahaban and is the place from which the Nawabs of Amb take their title



Geography

Batgram, MansehraMansehra is located at the eastern border of the North-West Frontier Province, two hours away from Peshawar and three hours away from Islamabad. The district is located at 34° - 12' and 35° - 50' and 47° - 07' longitude. It is closely linked to Afghanistan in the west, which has increased the number of Afghan refugees in Mansehra over the past years.

The district of Mansehra has been blessed with wonderful scenery. Some of Mansehra's main features are mountain ranges, plains, valleys, and numerous lakes and rivers.

Bordering districts
Mansehra shares its borders with numerous other districts: the Kohistan and Diamir districts to the north, Abbottabad District to the south, the Neelum District of Azad Kashmir to the west, and the Swat district to the east and Batagram District to the northeast.

Lakes
There are three lakes in the district: Lulusar Lake, Dudipatsar Lake and Saiful Muluk Lake. All three are located in the beautiful Kaghan Valley and act as a mirror reflecting the snow-clad mountains surrounding them.

Lulusar Lake is approximately 48 kilometres away from Naran and has an altitude of 3325 meters. Surrounded by wildflowers in almost all colours imaginable, this lake is the main source for the Kunhar River. Lake Lulusar is said to be one of the most tranquil spots on the Kaghan Valley, the lake is fenced by snowcapped mountains whose image is reflected on the standstill blue-green waters of the lake.

Dudipat Lake is enclosed with beautiful, high, snow-drizzled peaks, it is one of the hardest places to reach, requiring a tough hike lasting four to seven hours. The hike is rewarding, as tourists are greeted with green pastures and the lake's blue-green waters.

The most famous of the district's many lakes is Lake Saiful Muluk, named in a folktale—the Qissa Saiful Muluk—about a romance between a Persian prince and a fairy princess. In the folktale, the lake was the meeting site for the two lovers. Lake Saiful Muluk is located at the northern end of the Kaghan valley. At an altitude of 10,578 feet (3,224 m) above sea level, it is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan. The water is spectacularly clear with a slight green tone. It is accessible by a jeep road during the summer months or can be hiked up from the village below in four to six hours. The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers all around the high basin feeding the lake.

Education
Mansehra is considered a good place for education because of its natural beauty and climate, it is the location of Hazara University and also contains colleges and many good schools. The First primary school in the district was established in 1872 in Behali village. Almost at the same time in Baffa and in 1892 in Mansehra city.


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Schools
Agahi Community Schools
Starting in 1997, Agahi has established several community-owned schools in villages in Mansehra district, a commercial academy and a teacher training center. In each village, a Community Based Organization (CBO), composed of parents, is responsible for the over all management of the school. A School Management Committee (SMC), a sub-committee of active members of this CBO, handles daily operational issues, motivates parents to enroll their children in the school and identifies village-based teachers. Agahi uses best practices of learner-centered education with small classes, 50% girl ratio and village-based women teachers with ongoing teacher skills upgrading, mentoring and monitoring.
Mansehra International Public School and College
Mansehra International Public School or MIPS, was founded in 1995 by Engr Sher Afzal Khan Swati, who served as a Member Advisory Committee to Governor of NWFP. He later hired some of the teachers from different areas in his school. The school is now administrated by Engr Sher Afzal Khan Swati and Faisal Khan Swati.
MIPS, like many others in Mansehra, is divided into separate sections for boys and girls. Both the school and the college provide boarding. Currently, there are over 750 students studying in the school from all across Pakistan. The college enrols roughly 400 students.
Islamia Public School & College Mansehra (The Oldest and Pioneer of private instiutes in Mansehra Established in 1964)
Sky International Public School
Mansehra Public School
Khyber public School
Hazara convent
Iqra collegiate
Al Quran
All Government Higher Secondary school
Government High school Baffa , Bherkund , Khaki, Pherhina
GGC GBC Mansehra also famous in district
The Educators - Main Mansehra Campus (Baidra Road) and Ibra Pre-School Campus (Shah Rah-e-resham)
A Q KHAN SCHOOLING SYSTEM MANSEHRA . Main campus Baidra Road CHITTI DHERI MOH.AURANGABAD MANSEHRA...
SDC Khaki mansehra. SDC khaki mansehra is powered by TUSDEC (Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company) and Federal Government to enhance the Technical Capbilities of the habitant of the Area. SDC khaki Offer many course which are absolutely free of cost on the successful completion then course SDC khaki Rewards a Certificate from the Approval Of PIDC (Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation) Pakistan. Courses Offered: Civil, Electricians, Electrical Supervisiors, Plumbing, Welding, Tourism, Trekking, Hotel Management, F & B productions, Computer Courtesy Driving, English, Motor rewinding. Also Advance diploma in Hotel managment and tourism is introduced.

The Educators was founded by Col Afteb S Ahmed(R),LT Col Salahuddin Swati(R) and Maj Tanvir Anwar(R) in 2003. Currently, there are about 800 students in the school.
Pak International public school is the old and major school of Hadobandi village .Malik Nadeem khan Tanoli is the first principal of this school pak international school plays an important role in hadobandi village
Rivers
The largest river is the Kunhar River, also known as the Kunnar (not to be confused with the Kunar River of the Chitral District). The river is the gateway to the Kaghan Valley and runs through Balakot. Siran is a largest river in the area of Pakhhal it comes from mountain namely Musa Da Masalla and ends in the lake of Tarbela Dam.

Administration
Subdivisions

Administrative subdivisions of Mansehra District.The district consists of three tehsils, which are divided into 59 Union Councils[7], and two PATA (Provincially Administered Tribal Areas):

Balakot
Mansehra
Oghi
Kala Dhaka
Upper Tanawal area of Hazara Division.
Balakot
Balakot Tehsil consists of 16 Union Councils:

Atter Shisha
Balakot
Garhi Habibullah
Garlat
Ghanool
Hangrai
Kaghan
Karnol
Kewal
Laber Kot
Mohandri
Pairan
Sandasar
Satbani
Shohal Mazullah
Talhata

Mansehra
Mansehra Tehsil consists of 33 Union Councils:

Baffa Town
Battal
Behali
Belian
Bherkund
Bhogerr Mong
Chater Plain
Datta
Devli Jaberr
Dhodial
Hamsherian
Hilkot
Icherrian
Inayat Abad
Jaborri
Jaloo
Labarkot
Lassan Nawab
Lassan Thakral
Malik Pur
Mansehra City No 1
Mansehra City No 2
Mansehra City No 3
Mansehra City No 4
Mansehra(Rural)
Perhinna
Phulrraa
Sacha Kalan
Shinkiari
Shoukatabad
Sum Alahi Mong
Swan Miara
Tanda
Trangi Sabir Shah
Panjool Nawazabad
[edit] Oghi
Tehsil Oghi consists of 11 Union Councils:


Nikka Pani
Shergarh
Shinayah
Shungli Bandi
Ballian
Dalbori
Khatai
Oghi
Shamdara
Constituencies
The district is represented in the provincial assembly by six elected MPAs who represent the following constituencies:[8]

PF-53 (Mansehra-1)
PF-54 (Mansehra-2)
PF-55 (Mansehra-3)
PF-56 (Mansehra-4)
PF-57 (Mansehra-5)
PF-58 (Mansehra-6)
[edit] Demographics
Mansehra is home to a diverse group of people, including Gujjars, Pashtuns, Paharis, Hindkowans, Rajputs, Maliars, Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sayyids, Karlugh Turks and Afghan refugees among many other ethnic groups. Its population in 1998 was 1,152,839