Mansehra

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Mansehra (Urdu: مانسہرہ) city is located at 34°19'60N 73°12'0E^[1] in Mansehra District, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. It is very near to Abbottabad city.It is a major stop for tourists on the Karakoram Highway which leads to China. It is also a major transit point to the northern areas and locations such as the Kaghan Valley, Naran, Shogran, Lake Saiful Mulook and Babusar Top.

[edit] History

Mansehra and surrounding areas have a very old history going back thousands of years, the area has been under the rule of Alexander the Great, King Ashoka, and the Mughal and British empires, a notable relic are the Mansehra rock edicts^[2].

Main article: Mansehra District#History

[edit] Literacy

The literacy rate of Mansehra is quite high in comparison to the rest of Pakistan. Hindko is their first language as well as Pashto; and Urdu is spoken by every one. 10% of its population understand English. Mansehra is the meeting point of several distinct ethnic groups and regions involving Kohistan (Kohistani) to the north, Hazara and Punjab to the South (Hindko & Punjabi), Kashmir (Kashmiri) to the East and Pushtun areas to the west. As a result it is a melting pot of all these groups who live in considerable communal harmony with much intermarrying taking place with the result that many are often bi or tri lingual. The city was the staging area for relief work during the massive earthquake which affected northern Pakistan with many relief organizations setting up camps there.

[edit] Subdivisions

The city of Mansehra is administratively divided into four Union Councils these are^[3]:

• Mansehra City No 1
• Mansehra City No 2
• Mansehra City No 3
• Mansehra(Rural)

Each union council is divided into Mohallas. Prominent Mohallas are:

• Mohallah Noghazi
• Mohallah Jabri
• Upper Channi
• Lower Channi
• Basti/Mohallah SherAfzal Khan
• Chickrialli
• Dab No1
• Dab No2
• Dandi Mohallah
• Khanbahadar
• Lohar Baanda
• Muftiabad
• Mohallah Narri
• Sainabad.
• C & w Colney

[edit] Surrounding villages

The rural area surrounding Mansehra city consists of chains of villages that include:

• Aurangabad
• Behali
• Karer
• Jankiary
• Shargarh
• Khun Tanol
• Doganwab
• Kharyala
• Dhangri
• Hajiabad
• Jaloo
• Labourkot
• Ogra
• Pakhwal
• Potha
• Thakra

Two main roads lead all the way in to the city, Shinkiari road and Kashmir road. The Karakoram Highway is just outside the city limits of Mansehra. Ghazikot Township is a housing colony just outside of the city and is famous for its natural beauty. From the peak of Ghazikot Township all of Mansehra can be seen.

[edit] Education

Mansehra is considered a good place for education because of its natural beauty and climate. It has many good schools like: Mansehra International Public School and College Two Campuses,providing Quality Education and promote Inclusive Education, and more etc. The First primary school in the district was established in 1872 in the village Behali. Almost at the same time in Baffa and in 1892 in Mansehra. Recently the education system has received a boost, in particular the rural areas receive additional private and international funding that has led to an increase of small schools (boys and girls schools) post 2005.

• MCPS,Mansehra City Public School.
• MIPS, Mansehra International Public School and College Two Campuses.
• SSPSK, Seven Seas Public School Khawari
• The Pakistan Scout Cade College was established in 1996 in Batrasi, Mansehra (PSCC).
• University of Hazara A HEC recognized University

[edit] Tribes

The majority of the people here are from the Qureshi, Gillani, Tirmizi, Tanoli, Jilani, from the Syed tribe, Awan, Khan Khel section of the Swati tribe and Turks living in Behali who were the first ruler of this region. Tarmizi Syed came here from Swat and are the descendants of Pir Baba Swat, while they originally migrated from Iran to Pakistan. In district Mansehra there is also another tribe called Gujar who speak Gojriand are large in population.Mr.Muhammad Abid Akhtar renowned personality of this city who is Senior auditor National Bank of Pakistan is Qureshi. Currently the District Nazim Sardar Muhammad Yousuf is Gujjar.

Tanolis are the largest tribe of Hazara. Upper Tanawal and Lower Tanawal which cover the greater part of Hazara have been ruled by Tanolis for centuries. They have ruled the state of Amb of Hazara since the beginning of 18th century. During the late 17th century, Turks were overthrown by Swatis in areas of Upper Hazara. Tanolis, however, remained loyal to the Turks until the end of latter's rule in Hazara. Tanolis were later involved in the rebellions against the Sikhs in the 19th century. They also allied with Ahmed Shah Abdali in his conquest of India. Many Khans and princes of their dynasty have gained mass popularity as heroes.One of the famous tanoli of todays mansehra is Dewana Baba afamous saint in th pakistan.

Charles Allen referred to them in his book Men who made the North-West Frontier as "the extremely hostile and powerful Tanolis of the Tanawal Mountains, brave and hardy and accounted for the best swordsmen in Hazara." Majority i.e 80 % population of village khawari belongs to Tanoli tribe and specially Suntanall(sub tribe).

[edit] Nonprofits

Mansehra is also home to a large number of foreign non profit groups, being a gateway to the Kaghan Valley the town has served as a jump off point for groups wishing to provide support after the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake. These groups now own virtually all of the guesthouses and many of the larger buildings in the town, with previous owners mostly having relocated to Islamabad and Karachi after the quake.

[edit] See also

• Baffa
• Bajna
• Balakot
• Dhodial
• Kaghan
• Karakoram Highway
• Khaki
• Khawari
• Saiful Muluk
• Shinkiari
• Ichhrian

[edit] External links

• Mansehra International School & College (Main & City Campus)
• Mansehra International College
• Mansehra Valley
• Hazara University Mansehra

[edit] Distance

[edit] References

Coordinates: 34°20′N, 73°12′Ept:Mansehra