Bandipore district (also spelt Bandipora) is an administrative district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Located in the Kashmir Valley along the northern shore of Wular Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, the district was carved out as a separate administrative unit in 2007. Its headquarters is the town of Bandipore.
| Region | Kashmir Valley |
|---|---|
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Headquarters | Bandipore |
| Created | 2007 |
| Parent district | Baramulla |
| Notable feature | Wular Lake |
Bandipore district lies in the northern part of the Kashmir Valley. It is bounded by Kupwara district to the north-west, Baramulla district to the west, Ganderbal district to the south, and the Line of Control area in the north and east through the Gurez sector. The district encompasses a varied terrain that includes the lowland shores of Wular Lake, the forested foothills of the Pir Panjal and Himalayan ranges, and the high alpine valley of Gurez along the Kishanganga (Neelum) river.
Wular Lake, fed primarily by the Jhelum river, dominates the southern part of the district and supports fisheries, water chestnut harvesting, and waterfowl habitats. The Razdan Pass connects the main valley to the Gurez area, which remains snow-bound for much of the winter.
The district was created in 2007 when the Government of Jammu and Kashmir reorganised the state's administrative map and announced the formation of several new districts, including Bandipore, by separating territory from the larger Baramulla district. Administratively, Bandipore is divided into tehsils including Bandipore, Sumbal, Aloosa, Hajin, Gurez and Tulail, along with several community development blocks. The district is part of the Baramulla parliamentary constituency for Lok Sabha elections.
The population of the district is predominantly Muslim, with Kashmiri and, in the upper Gurez valley, the Shina-speaking Dard community forming significant linguistic groups. The economy rests on paddy cultivation, horticulture (notably apples and walnuts), fisheries from Wular Lake, livestock and small-scale handicrafts. Tourism is a developing sector, especially in the scenic Gurez valley and around Wular.
The district hosts the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project, a run-of-the-river plant on the Kishanganga river developed by NHPC Limited, which became operational in 2018. The project was the subject of an international arbitration between India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty. The Wular Lake conservation programme, implemented through the Wular Conservation and Management Authority, also operates within the district.
Bandipore is significant for its environmental assets, particularly Wular Lake, which is designated a Ramsar site of international importance. Its strategic location near the Line of Control and the presence of major hydropower infrastructure also give the district considerable economic and geopolitical relevance within the Kashmir region.