Kakpora
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
- Note - Please click → Pura for details of similarly named places elsewhere.
Kakpora (काकपोरा) is a town and tahsil in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. Its ancient name was Khagipura, or Khrigipura, or Khagendrapura, was one of the Principal ancient cities of Kashmir. It has been identified with present Kakapur. [1]
Variants
Location
Kakapora is located about 20 kilometres SE of Srinagar. The district road passes through the town, which connects it to the district headquarters at Pulwama (about 9 km SSW). It is situated on the banks of the Jhelum River and Romshi, one of the tributaries of the Jhelum River.
Origin
Jat clans
History
Kakapora has historical importance from ancient times of the Utpal dynasty of King Awantiwarman. An archaeological monument, a temple from the 11th century AD, has been excavated near Asian Masjid in Astan Mohallah Kakapora. The temple has only a remaining sanctum with some ruins. Many standing remains including stone-carved images of a female character (whom locals call "Rani") and a bathtub have been found. The monument is protected by archaeological survey of India and beautification, fencing floor reconstruction has been done by the department.
In September 2014 floods, the temple oozed freshwater due to its being below a level that people of surrounding areas used for domestic and bath purposes. The temple was affected by waterlogging, and reconstruction work was again started in March 2016.
In Rajatarangini
Rajatarangini[2] tells us that Lava was succeeded by his son Kusheshaya, who was a powerful prince. He bestowed the village of Kuruhara on Brahmanas. His son Khagendra, who succeeded him, was a valorous and patient king. He destroyed many of the Nagas, who were his enemies. He founded the villages of Khagikhuna and Musa.
Kasmir visit of Xuanzang in 631 AD
Alexander Cunningham[3] writes that The names of Khagipura and Khunamusha are referred by Kalhan Pandit[4] to Raja Khagendra, who, as the sixth predecessor of Asoka, must have reigned about 400 B.C. Wilson and Troyer have identified these two places with the Kakapur and Gaumoha of Muhammadan writers. The first is certain, as Kakapur still exists on the left bank of the Behat, at 10 miles to the south of the Takht-i-Suliman, and 5 miles to the south of Pampur. But the identification of Gaumoha, wherever that may be, is undoubtedly wrong, as Khunamusha is now represented by the large village of Khunamoh, which is situated under the hills at 4 miles to the north-east of Pampur.
काकपोरा
काकपोरा भारत के जम्मू और कश्मीर राज्य के पुलवामा ज़िले में स्थित एक बस्ती है। यह ज़िले में तहसील का दर्जा रखता है।