Murree
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225821987
2008-07-15T15:47:25Z
Utcursch
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/212.119.70.68|212.119.70.68]] ([[User talk:212.119.70.68|talk]]) to last version by Axlq
{{Refimprove|date=October 2007}}
{{Pakistani Cities
|official_name= Murree<br />مری
|flag= Murree scene.jpg
|emblem=
|province=[[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]
|city_image=
|map =
|map_size = 150 px
|map_text =
|n1=33|n2= 54|n3= 0
|e1= 72|e2=24|e3= 0
|elevation_m= 2291.2
|area_total_km2=
|census_year=
|census_pop=
|population_density_km2=
|code=
|towns=
|uc= 1
|nazim = Sardar Muhammad Saleem Khan<ref>[http://www.ecp.gov.pk/content/tnpunjab.html Election Commission of Pakistan]</ref>
|naib nazim =
|footnotes=
|}}
'''Murree''' city ([[Urdu]]: '''مری''') is a popular [[hill station]] and a summer resort, especially for the residents of [[Islamabad]], and for the cities of the province of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]. Murree is also the administrative centre of [[Murree Tehsil]], which is a sub-division of Rawalpindi district and includes the Murree hills.
The name Murree is derived from 'marhi', "high place" <ref>"Murree" Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. John Everett-Heath. Oxford University Press 2005. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Accessed 14 June 2008 <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t209.e5014></ref> although there is a popular belief it is named after the virgin Mary.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/archive/030921/dmag8.htm Mystery of the Tomb of Mary - Dawn Magazine]</ref>
==Description==
Murree is one of the largest resort towns in the [[Galyat]] area of Pakistan, and is the capital city of [[Murree Tehsil]] (which is an administrative division of the [[Rawalpindi District]]). It is situated on the southern slopes of the Western Himalayan foothills as they ascend to the northeast towards Kashmir. During [[British Raj|British Rule]] in the nineteenth century, its altitude was established at {{convert|7000|ft|m}}, but its actual altitude has now been determined as 2,300 m (7,500 ft) above sea level<ref name="inpunjab" />.
Murree is accessible by road from the centre of the [[Islamabad]] and [[Rawalpindi]] areas. It is still associated with Britain; many British fruits (including cherries, raspberries and strawberries) thrive locally. There is a church, built in 1857, located at the centre of the town, which is still used as a place of worship. Many houses around the church are still standing, functioning mostly as hotels. Old traditional restaurants have been replaced by fast food shops and newer restaurants. Some old places of accommodation, such as the [[Rich Villa Hotel|Rich Villa Inn]] and Gulberg Hotel, have completely disappeared. A typical hotel usually provides a [[motel]] type accommodation with breakfast and communication access. Newly built hotels are also accessible.
Murree has expanded since 1947 at a rate much greater than that which its infrastructure can sustain. Securing water and electricity has been a constant challenge. The jam-packed bazaar has caught fire a number of times in the last century, and the growth of tourism and a construction boom have had an adverse effect on the local environment.
==History==
[[Image:Dark and Cloudy Murree Landscape.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Dark and Cloudy Murree Landscape]]
Murree was founded in 1851 by the Governor of Punjab, [[Sir Henry Lawrence]], and was originally established for the British troops garrisoned on the Afghan frontier<ref name="inpunjab">[http://www.harappa.com/engr/murree1.html Murree, in the Punjaub, 1863]</ref> as a [[sanatorium]].<ref name="EB1911">Murree - Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition</ref>
The permanent town of Murree was constructed at Sunnybank in 1853. The church was sanctified in May 1857, and the main road, The Mall, was built. The most significant commercial establishments, the Post Office, general merchants with European goods, tailors and a millinery, were established opposite the church. Until 1947, access to the Mall was restricted for non-Europeans.
Until 1876, Murree was the summer headquarters of the [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]] local government; after 1876 the headquarters were moved to [[Shimla|Simla]].<ref name="EB1911"/>
The railway connection with [[Lahore]], the capital of the [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab Province]], made Murree a popular resort for Punjab officials, and the villas and other houses erected for the accommodation of English families gave it a European aspect. It was described in the Gazetteer of Rawalpindi District, 1893–94 as follows:
<blockquote>The sanatorium of Murree lied in north latitude 33 54' 30" and east longitude 73 26' 30", at an elevation of {{convert|7517|ft|m}} above sea level, and contained a standing population of 1,768 inhabitants, which was, however, enormously increased during the [May-November] season by the influx of visitors and their attendant servants, and shopkeepers. It is the most accessible hill station in the Punjab, being distant from Rawalpindi only a five hours' journey by tonga dak. Magnificent views are to be obtained in the spring and autumn of the snow crowned mountains of Kashmir; and gorgeous sunset and cloud effects seen daily during the rains [July-August]. Part of the station, especially the Kashmir end, are also well wooded and pretty.<ref name="inpunjab" />
</blockquote>
In 1901 the population of the town was officially 1844, although if summer visitors had been included this could have been as high as 10,000.<ref name="EB1911"/>
In the hot season it was the headquarters of the 'Lieutenant General of the Northern Command. The Commissioner of the Rawalpindi Division and the Deputy-Commissioner of Rawalpindi also resided
here during part of the hot season, for which period an Assistant Commissioner was placed in charge of the subdivision consisting of Murree Tehsil. The site was selected in 1850 almost immediately after the annexation of the Province, and building operations commenced at once. In 1851 temporary accommodation was provided for a detachment of troops ; and in 1853 permanent barracks were erected. The garrison generally consisted of three mountain batteries. In 1873, 1874, and 1875 Murree was the summer headquarters of the Punjab Government. It is connected with Rawalpindi town by a service of tongas.<ref name="IGI">[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_049.gif Murree Town - http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_049.gif]</ref>
The houses crown the summit and sides of an irregular ridge, commanding magnificent views over forest-clad hill-sides into deep valleys studded with villages and cultivated fields. The neighbouring hills are covered during the summer with encampments of British troops, while the station itself is filled with European visitors from the plains and travellers to Kashmir. A fine view of the snowy peaks of Kashmir is to be had on a clear day, and the crest of Nanga Parbat (26,182 feet) can sometimes be seen. The municipality was created in 1850.<ref name="IGI"/>
The income during the ten years ending 1902-3 averaged Rs. 49,500, and the expenditure Rs. 48,200. In r903-4 the income and expenditure were Rs. 5r,40o, chiefly from [[octroi]], and Rs. 54,400 respectively. The income and expenditure of cantonment funds averaged Rs. 10,000 between 1893 and 1903. The chief educational institutions are the Lawrence Military Asylum for soldiers' children, and the St. Denys' and Convent English schools for girls. The station contains the Lady Roberts Home for invalid officers and a branch of the Alliance Bank of Simla. The Murree Brewery was the only industrial concern of any importance.<ref name="IGI"/>
== 1857 War of Independence==
{{see also|1857 War of Independence in Murree}}
In the summer of 1857, the local tribes of Murree and Hazara, including the Dhond Abbasi and Tanoli, planned to attack the British Army. The campaign was led by the chief of the [[Dhond Abbasi]] tribe, [[Sardar Sherbaz Khan]], and by [[Malik Nawab Bahadur Khan]] of the [[Tanoli]] tribe. They fought respectably against the British Army, giving the British considerable difficulties. The British Army eventually signed an agreement with the local Abbasi tribe, which was refused by the Tanoli tribe, thereby dividing the opposition to the British. The British Army later ignored the agreement to take control of Murree again..<ref>[http://www.madhoo.com/archives/2003/08/a_view_from_pak.php A view from Pakistan]</ref>
==British presence==
After the British forces' occupation of Murree and [[Abbottabad]], many English soldiers and administrators went there during the summers for the cooler climate of the area. The British settled here and raised families. Some prominent people who were born here include:
*[[Bruce Bairnsfather]] - a famous [[cartoonist]] during [[world War I]]
*[[Francis Younghusband]] - an army officer and explorer. He established the Bible Society in the Christian High School in Geryal Murree. The society did in depth research into the local languages. This society translated a chapter of new testament book Loqas in Dhondi that was noted by the compilers of the "Linguistic Survey Of India".<ref>This has now been republished as the "Linguistic survey of Pakistan, vol V" by sang-e-Mil publishers Lahore</ref>
*[[Reginald Dyer]] - officer responsible for the [[Amritsar Massacre]]
==Tribes==
The main tribe of Murree are the [[Dhond Abbasi]], other tribes are the [[Kethwal]]s, the [[Dhanyal]]s and the [[Satti]].
==Administration==
[[Image:Murree Urban UC.svg|thumb|right|200px|<small>Location of Union Council within Murree Tehsil</small>.]]
As well as being tehsil headquarters, Murree is also a [[Union Councils of Pakistan|Union Council]], it is bounded to the north by [[Darya Gali]] and [[Rawat]], to the west by [[Ghora Gali]], to the south by [[Numbal]] and [[Mussiari]], and to the east by [[Ghel]] and [[Charhan]].
== Journalism in Murree==
The earliest records of newspapers being sold in the Murree Hills are from 1936 during [[British Raj|British rule]]. Today there are four daily newspapers (''Daily Ousaf'', ''Daily Musalman'', ''Daily Azkar'', and ''Daily Nawa-i-Hazara'') published in Islamabad but edited by people in Murree Hills and [[Circle Bakote]], including well-known local political personalities of Jhika Gali and Mussyari. There are also two weekly newspapers, the ''Hill Post'' and the ''Hill News''.
The Murree Union of Journalists was founded in in 1983. The first president of the union was Salim Shwalvi, a well known journalist from [[Kashmir]].
==New Murree Project==
The government of Punjab is at the brim of initiating the “New Murree Project” to promote tourism.<ref name="Daily">[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-8-2005_pg7_38 New Murree project in harmony with environment - Daily Times Pakistan]</ref> The location selected for this project is [[Patriata]] after considering the other three , [[Ban]], [[Barian]] and [[Charihan]]. This project will cover {{convert|4111|acre|km2}} of land, including {{convert|3849|acre|km2}} of the Murree Forest Division and {{convert|262|acre|km2}} of the Rawalpindi North Forest Division.<ref name="Daily"/> The water for New Murree City will be supplied from River Jhelum.
==Famous People==
Famous people from Murree include:
* Mohammad Khaqan Abbasi (Former MNA)(Dewal) <ref name="Nation">[http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/feb-2008/11/nationalnews1.php Clan factors to play decisive role in NA-50 contest]</ref>
* Shahid Khaqan Abbasi(MNA) (Dewal)<ref name="Nation"/>
* Sardar Khala Khan (Rawat){{Fact|date=April 2008}}
* Raja Ashraf Abbasi (Ausia) {QASIM SHAHZAD}
* Nadeem Abbasi (Ausia)
* M. Zahoor Abbasi (Tolot) Ex. Director Rwp Education Board <ref name="Nation"/>
* M. Bilal Abbasi (Tolot) CEO Al-Qasim Group Of industry
== Picture gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Murree1.jpg|Snowfall in Murree (1865)
Image:Murree2.jpg|A bridge in Murree (1865)
Image:Murree3.jpg|An old house in Murree (1861)
Image:Murree4.jpg|An 18th century church
Image:Murree5.jpg|Jheeka Gali
Image:Murree6.jpg|Post office in Murree
Image:Murree7.jpg|Murree after fire in 1875
Image:Murree8.jpg|Rifle Brigade Buglers Kuldana (1896)
Image:Murree9.jpg|1861
Image:Murree10.jpg|Convent of Jesus and Mary
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Rawalpindi District]]
*[[Circle Bakote]]
*[[Mukeshpuri]]
*[[Abbottabad]]
*[[Ayubia]]
*[[Bhurban]]
*[[Changla Gali]]
*[[Dunga Gali]]
*[[Jhika Gali]]
*[[Khaira Gali]]
*[[Mohra Sharif]]
*[[Nathia Gali]]
*[[Patriata]]
*[[Thandiani]]
== External links ==
* {{wikitravel|Murree}}
* [http://www.imagesofasia.com/city/html/pakistan_Murree.html Murree Pakistan - Images of Asia]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95BuqtA-7z4 Play Video: Churches & Chapels - Murree]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Murree-Union-Councils}}
{{PakistanCities}}
{{Pakistan topics}}
[[Category:Hill Stations in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Rawalpindi District]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1851]]
[[Category:Places of Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
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