Pampore, known as Pampar or Panpar in Kashmiri, is a historical town situated on the eastern side of the Jhelum River on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway. It was known as Padmapura in antiquity. Pampore is about 11 km away from Srinagar city centre Lal Chowk. It is primarily known for its cultivation of saffron.

Etymology

Pampore was originally called Padmapura.

Geography

Pampore is located at 34.02°N, 74.93°W.

Prehistory

At the Galander site near Pampore, remains of the large extinct elephant Palaeoloxodon turkmenicus were found associated with stone tools produced by archaic humans, with the elephant bones suggested to display deliberate fracturing via stone tool hammering. The site is suggested to date to around 400,000-300,000 years ago.

Economy

Pampore is known for its cultivation of saffron, with the broader region around Pampore being responsible for 90% of India's saffron crop, though production as of 2023 has declined due to higher temperatures and erratic rainfall.

Demographics

As of the 2011 Indian census, Pampore tehsil had a population of 60,613. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Pampore has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy. As of 2011, Pampore town had a population of 21,680, males being 11,007 (51%) and females 10,673 (49%).

Politics

Pampore is an Assembly Constituency in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.