SOPORE- 5 things you might not know about

Sopore is a place located in North Kashmir, situated on the banks of Jehlum river.

#1 - Historical Importance

Sopore was founded by Utpala engineer and irrigation minister "Suyya" during the reign of king Avantivarman in 880 CE. it is because of his name suyya-pur was named which has been shortened to Sopore in recent times.

Factual Incidient
"funny but true"
When the engineer Suyya was working in Sopore no people were coming forth to work and plunge themselves in gushing water. The king, Avantiverman, thereupon ordered that a part of treasury may be thrown into the water; consequently, a large number of people plunged into the river to get as many coins as they could. It was engineer Suyya's idea to throw coins into flooded land not the king.

#2- First Attack

kashmir conflict got sparked in sopore when Pashtun tribesmen attacked the place in 1947 . In 1990' separatist activities and violence with frequent protests emerged. On 6 January 1993, Indian troops fired local residents and set fire to homes and businesses in which 100's were killed and burnt alive inside shops. The incident is infamously remembered as Sopore massacre. The top hurriyat sepratist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani also belongs to sopore.

#3- Asia's Largest Fruit Market

Asia's Largest Mandi is located in sopore. sopore is the only town in kashmir named as apple town . Even Aisa's largest Mandi ( whole sale market) is located in sopore. Fruit business is the life line of the economy of town and has given town the moniker “Chota London”

#4- Asia's Largest lake

Do you know Sopore town is near to one among Asia's largest fresh water lakes, named wular Lake covered by mesmerizing beauty.

#5- First Intrepreneur Of Sopore

Do you know Khawja Samad Pandith's name continues to remain synonymous with the town. The ideas of present entrepreneurs were not missing in him even in that age. Cinema Theatre, juice factory in collaboration with Mohan Meakins (present public private partnership mode), state-of-art workshop/ petrol pump, mills were not only the symbols of economic activities but the sole employment source for the poor.

To be Continued. . .