Baramulla

<!-- See WikiProject Indian cities for details -->Greater Baramulla (Kashmiri: बारामूला <small>(Devanagari)</small>, بارامولا <small>(Nastaleeq)</small> known as Varahamula () in antiquity, is a city in the Baramulla district in Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir. Baramulla is the third largest city of Jammu & Kashmir state (2001 census) after Srinagar (894940 people)and Jammu (369959 people). The old town is connected by five bridges with the new town and five more bridges are in the pipeline. The commonly used language is Kashmiri, followed by Gujari, Hindi, and Punjabi.

Origin and Geography

The name Baramulla, meaning "Boar's Place," is derived from two Sanskrit words Varaha (Boar) and Mula. According to Hindu teaching, the valley of Kashmir was once a lake called "Satisaras," the lake of Parvati. The ancient Hindu texts state that the lake was occupied by a demon, Jalodbhava, until Lord Vishnu, assumed the form of a boar and struck the mountain at Baramulla (ancient Varahamula) boring an opening in it for the water to flow out. As such, the town is located on the banks of river Jehlum at the highest point of the river. The river forms a delta just in the outskirts of the town.

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