Five (Rivers) City/District, Jammu & Kashmir
From Skt: pañca, ‘five’
Poonch is located at the point where the Poonch river meets the Belar, Darungli, Rangun and Mandi.
Poonch is bounded by the Line of Control (boundary between Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir) on three sides (north, west and south).
In the ancient period, Poonch was part of the Gandhara civilization and later under the influence of the Mauryan and Kushan empires. Buddhist influence is evident from several ancient stupas and archaeological remains found in the region.
Poonch was eventually annexed by the Mughal Empire. Emperor Jahangir is said to have admired the region’s beauty and often visited it.
During the 19th century, Poonch became part of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu. The Dogras appointed a local ruler, Raja Moti Singh, to govern the region.
After the Partition of India in 1947, Poonch became a site of significant conflict during the Indo-Pakistani War. The town was divided, with parts of the district falling under Pakistani control (now known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The division has left a lasting impact.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Jammu & Kashmir place names.
