Teetwal
{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Teetwal
| other_name = Tithwal
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Jammu and Kashmir#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
| coordinates = {{coord|34.39|N|73.77|E|display=inline,title}}{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Teetwal/@34.3927317,73.7649675,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x38e09473034cf935:0x4678334a7253c027!8m2!3d34.391564!4d73.7727908?hl=en&authuser=0|title=Teetwal (Google Maps)|work=Google Maps|accessdate=29 August 2020}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = Union Territory
| subdivision_name1 = Jammu and Kashmir
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kupwara
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
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| established_date =
| founder =
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Pahari,Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, English{{cite web |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf |title=The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 |publisher=The Gazette of India|date=27 September 2020 |access-date=27 September 2020}}{{cite news | title=Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020 | work=Rising Kashmir | date=23 September 2020| url=http://risingkashmir.com/news/parliament-passes-jk-official-languages-bill-2020 | access-date=30 May 2021}}
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 193225{{cite web|url=https://www.postalpincodefor.com/pin-code-of-Teetwal/Tangdhar/Kupwara/Jammu-And-Kashmir|title=Teetwal Pin Code|work=Postal Pin Code For|accessdate=16 March 2020}}
| registration_plate = JK
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Teetwal (also spelled Tithwal) is a small border village in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated on the banks of the Kishanganga River in Kupwara district, {{cvt|82|km}} from the district headquarters and close to the Line of Control with Pakistani-administered Kashmir.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/340km-loc-road-to-put-vales-on-tourism-map/articleshow/77453907.cms|title=340km LoC road to put vales on tourism map | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}} Teetwal is connected to the rest of India via Tangdhar. Not to be confused with Tithwal, a sub-section of the Swati tribe living near Kashmir.
History
Prior to the 1947 Partition of India, Teetwal used to be a commercial hub.
Geography
Teetwal village is located on the Line of Control (LOC), separating Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani-administered regions. As per the Karachi Agreement signed by India and Pakistan in 1949, no construction is permitted within 500 yards of the zero line on LOC, and this "no construction zone" is considered a "no man's land" which is secured by both countries with landmines within their respective areas. India has constructed an Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) along the 734 km of LOC. AIOS is a three-tiered fencing system with checkposts and wire fences where villagers are given passage based on the smart card-based identity cards issued by the Indian Army. Teetwal is among the villages that lie between the landmine zero point on the LOC and the 3 tiers of AIOS.
Maa Sharda Devi temple
On 22 March 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah re-inaugurated the Sharda Devi temple in Teetwal, Karnah in Kupwara district, which is close to the Line of Control.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/srinagar/new-era-shah-inaugurates-temple-near-loc-in-jk/articleshow/98924460.cms|title='New era': Amit Shah inaugurates temple near LoC in J&K}}{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/temple-at-teetwal-step-towards-building-kartarpur-like-corridor-for-sharda-peeth/articleshow/98032774.cms|title=‘Temple at Teetwal step towards building Kartarpur-like corridor for Sharda Peeth’}}
The construction work on the Sharda Peeth base temple at Teetwal started after local Muslims handed over the land for the construction of a temple in 2021. They also remained part of the construction of the temple and its inauguration. {{cite web |title=India Plans To Open Corridor To Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir For Pilgrimage |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-plans-to-open-corridor-to-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-for-pilgrimage-3885050 |website=NDTV.com |access-date=24 March 2023}} The architecture and reconstruction of the Maa Sharda Devi temple was carried in accordance with scriptures under the aegis of Sharada Peeth, and the temple was inaugurated on the first day of Chaitra Navratri.{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/shah-e-inaugurates-sharda-devi-temple-says-reviving-old-culture-490543|title=Shah e-inaugurates Sharda Devi temple, says reviving old culture}} A mosque is also being constructed near this temple. The Teetwal temple of Maa Sharda Devi was the base camp for Sharada Peeth prior to partition. The temple was destroyed by tribal raiders in 1947. Sharada Peeth is situated barely 40 kilometers from Teetwal.{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/diwali-lights-lit-sharda-devi-temple-at-teetwal-for-first-time-since-independence-along-loc-in-j-k-s-kupwara-news-232493|title=Diwali Lights Lit Sharda Devi Temple At Teetwal For First Time Since Independence Along LoC In J&K's Kupwara}}
Administration
Teetwal has an elected gram panchayat for local governance. There is a school with 400 students and an irrigation canal constructed with the INR 2,200,000 provided by the Indian Army under the Operation Sadbhavana, and several bunkers to protect villagers from the shelling and firing by the Pakistan Army.[https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/loc-international-border-villages-india-pakistan-aios On the wrong side of fence], The Caravan, 01 April 2021.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census of India, Teetwal has 187 households.{{cite web|url=https://ourhero.in/villages/teetwal-331|title=Teetwal Population|work=Our Hero.in|accessdate=16 March 2020}} The literacy rate of Teetwal village was 73.75% compared to 67.16% of Jammu and Kashmir. In Teetwal, male literacy stands at 89.89% while female literacy is 55.67%.{{Cite web |title=Teetwal Village Population - Karnah - Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/village/331-teetwal-jammu-and-kashmir.html |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=www.census2011.co.in}}
class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Demographics (2011 Census) ! !! le | |||
Population | 1035 | 549 | 486 |
Children aged below 6 years | 193 | 104 | 89 |
Scheduled caste | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scheduled tribe | 103 | 51 | 52 |
Literacy | 73.75% | 89.89% | 55.67% |
Workers (all) | 235 | 211 | 24 |
Main workers (total) | 161 | – | – |
Marginal workers (total) | 74 | 71 | 3 |
Transport
=Road=
Teetwal in India, is right on the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, is connected to Tangdhar in India via the "Gundishat Bridge-Teetwal Road". NH 701 which begins at Tangdhar, provides further connectivity to other places in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond in India.
==Tithwal International Bridge==
Tithwal Bridge is one of the five crossing points along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/a-shut-loc-bridge-and-a-kashmir-village-living-under-the-shadow-of-pakistani-snipers/524598/|title=A shut LoC bridge, and a Kashmir village living under the shadow of Pakistani snipers}} It was first constructed in 1931, but was destroyed in the First Kashmir war. However, in 1988, the bridge was reconstructed jointly by India and Pakistan. This bridge connects the "Srinagar-Sopore-Tangdhar-Teetwal road" in India to the "Muzaffarabad-Nausadda-Kundal Shahi road" in Pakistan.
=Rail=
The nearest railway stations to Teetwal are Baramulla railway station {{convert|118|km}} and Sopore railway station , 116 km away, both are on Baramulla-Sopore-Srinagar-Jammu railway line and these are reachable by a 3.5 hour drive by road from Tangdhar.
=Air=
The nearest airport is Srinagar International Airport, located at a distance of {{convert|168|km}}.
See also
Referencesthe
{{reflist|2}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Municipalities of Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Villages in Kupwara district}}