GUREZ is a scenic valley in the Greater Himalayas located approximately 86 km (53 miles) from Bandipore and 123 km (76 miles) from Srinagar in northern Kashmir and southern Gilgit-Baltistan. At about 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is home to a wide variety of animals and wildlife, including Himalayan brown bears and snow leopards.The Kishanganga River flows through the valley and the road to Gilgit passes through Gurez. Dawaris a central municipality and the region’s population is estimated at around 30,000, spread across 15 villages. Due to heavy snowfall and the closure of the Razdan Pass in winter, the valley remains closed for six months of the year. Historically,Gurez was part of ancient Dardistan, straddling Sharda Peeth tothe west, Minimargto the north, Drass to the east, and Bagtor to the south. This valley follows the ancient Silk Road that connects the Kashmir Valley with Gilgit and continues to Kashgar. Archaeological investigations in the valleys north of Gurez have uncovered hundred sofinscriptions inscribed in Kaloshti, Brahmi and Tibetan. Sculptures in particular provide insight into the origins of the Kashmiri people and the early history of Buddhism. Dawar, the ancient city of the Dards, is located in the Gurez Valley and is an important archaeological site. Other important archaeological sites in the valley include Kanzarwan, where the last Buddhist councils believed to have been held, and further down the river are the ruins of the old Sharda University along the Kishanganga/ Neelam River. The most striking mountain in Gress is the Hubba Khatoon, which is legendary. This pyramidal mountain is named after the Kashmir poet Hubba his Khatoon. She is a beautiful and intelligent woman from the village of Saffron in Chandala, originally known as “Zune” (meaning the moon in English). She was the daughter of a farmer, Abdi Lazar, and married a illiterate farmer boy named Haba. Zune was abused by her mother-in-law and husband because she spent most of her time poetry and singing. She was disappointed in her pain and changed her name to Haba Khatoon. Kashmir emperor Yousuf Shah Chak was fascinated by her beauty, intelligence and poetry. He arranged her divorce with Haba and married her. According to the story, Shah Chak was imprisoned by rival King Akbar, and Hubba Khatoon wandered near the summit, now named for her, in search of her lover. After her husband’s death, she wandered on the banks of the Jeram River in mourning. She drowned in Geram 20 years later and died, and her graveis now in Aswajan. The Haba Khatoon Drama Club was founded in 1976 by the late poet Hajj Abdul Aziz Samoeng (former police officer, SSP). The club played a central role in maintaining the cultural spirit and traditions of the Dhad Singh tribe. Only Sunni Muslims live in Gurez. Prior to the arrival of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, the area waspre dominantly Hindu. Hamatani visited the Kashmir Valley three times, accompanied by about 700 preachers known as “Sadarts.” of these 700, seven have settled in Gres, including Baba Abdul Razak Shah and Baba Delweish, whose shrine is located in Fakirpora near Handial. The names of the other saints are unknown, but there are also shrines on the other side of the Kishanganga River, such as Chorwan, Bagtore, Danguitartureil,and Camryon the other side of his LC near the village of Dudgagi in Kashmir under Pakistani occupation. Islamis Grez’s largest religion,followed by 84%of his population Hinduism is the second largest religion with 14.24% adherents. Sikhism and Christianity make up her 1.1% and her 0.3% of the population respectively. Gurez – Tile has no significant mention in the history of the Kashmir Valley. The Daad were a sect of Aryans who lived alone in the area. Daad was originally a Buddhist, but during the reign of the Shah Mir he converted to Islam in the 14th century. He was the first Muslim king of Kashmir. The Dads also include the Chak dynasty that ruled Kashmir in the 16th century. After the fall of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Zorawar Singh, Dogra General of Raja Gulab Singh’s army, was deployed to these areas and regrouped in Gilgit. In 1947, Pakistan attacked the Kashmir Valley. The Pak Army also planned operations in remote,semi-arctic and barren areas such as Balochistan, Tyrrell and Grez. The imposing Himalayas between Kashmir and the region provided good opportunities for such activity, pushing the enemy forward as far as Tragbar, south of the Razdan Pass facing Bandipur and the Ural Lake. General Thimaiyah responded to this threat with rapid airstrikes. An erasure operation was launched from Bandipora to push back the invaders and eventually Indian forces succeeded in capturing Grez on his 25th June 1948
