Poonch River
| Poonch River | |
|---|---|
 Poonch River | |
  | |
| Location | |
| Countries | India, Pakistan |
| Provinces | Jammu and Kashmir, Azad Jammu and Kashmir |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| • coordinates | 33.64511°N 74.43532°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Mangla Reservoir, Kotli District, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan |
• coordinates | 33.2896°N 73.7414°ECoordinates: 33.2896°N 73.7414°E |
The Poonch River (also known as Punch River, Punch Tohi, Tohi of Punch[1][a]) is a tributary of the Jhelum River that flows through Jammu and Kashmir in India, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan.
Name[edit]
According to Georg Bühler,[2] the ancient form of the word Tohi is Taushi mentioned in the Rājataraṅgiṇī and the Nīlamata Purāṇa. In the latter work, Āpagā (Aik Nala of Sialkot), Tauśī and Candrabhāgā are named together. Probably, the word is connected with the Sanskrit tuṣāra, 'cold', i.e. 'snow'.
Course[edit]
The river originates in the south-facing foothills of Pir Panjal range, in the areas of Neel-Kanth Gali and Jamian Gali. It is called 'Siran' (Suran) in this area. It flows south and then west until it reaches the town of Poonch, after which it bends southwest, finally draining into the Mangla Reservoir near Chomukh. The towns of Poonch, Sehra, Tatta Pani, Kotli and Mirpur are situated on the banks of this river.[3]
Tributaries[edit]
Frederic Drew wrote of the Poonch river in 1875: