Budgam district is an administrative district of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Located in the Kashmir Valley, the district lies to the south-west of Srinagar and forms part of the Kashmir division. Its headquarters are in the town of Budgam.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Division | Kashmir |
| Headquarters | Budgam |
| Region | Kashmir Valley |
Budgam lies in the central part of the Kashmir Valley, bordered by Srinagar district to the north-east, Ganderbal to the north, Pulwama and Shopian to the south, and Baramulla and Poonch to the west. The terrain is a mix of fertile valley plains drained by tributaries of the Jhelum river and higher ground rising into the Pir Panjal range along the south-western fringe. Karewa uplands across the district support saffron and horticultural cultivation.
The district is divided into a number of tehsils and community development blocks for revenue and development administration. It is administered by a Deputy Commissioner, while law and order is overseen by a Senior Superintendent of Police. Budgam sends representatives to the Jammu and Kashmir legislature from constituencies that include Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharief and Chadoora.
Agriculture and horticulture form the mainstay of the local economy, with paddy, maize, apples, almonds and saffron among the principal produce. Handicrafts, including Kashmiri carpet weaving, papier-mâché and willow wicker work from areas around Charar-e-Sharief and Shar-e-Shali, contribute significantly to household incomes. The Srinagar International Airport, although administratively associated with Srinagar, is situated within the district at Humhama.
The population of Budgam is overwhelmingly rural, with Kashmiri as the predominant language. The district has a substantial Shia Muslim population alongside a Sunni Muslim majority, and historically also small Sikh and Kashmiri Pandit communities.