Dawar Village

Dawar Village is the central settlement and administrative headquarters of Gurez Valley in Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, situated along the Kishanganga River at about 2,370 metres elevation. Surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks including Habba Khatoon Peak, it serves as the main base for visitors to Gurez. The village is known for traditional wooden houses, Dard-Shin culture, and scenic river and mountain landscapes, offering a glimpse into life in a remote Himalayan valley.

Visitors can expect a remote Himalayan village set along the Kishanganga River with traditional wooden houses, terraced fields and snow-capped mountains. The settlement serves as the main market and administrative centre of Gurez Valley with basic shops, homestays and guest houses. Visitors can walk along the river, view Habba Khatoon Peak, interact with the local Dard-Shin community, and explore surrounding meadows and viewpoints. The environment is quiet and rural with limited urban facilities.

Dawar lies in the historic Dardistan region inhabited by the Dard-Shin tribe and was located on an old trade route connecting Kashmir with Gilgit. The Gurez Valley with Dawar as its centre has long been associated with Dardic heritage and historic trans-Himalayan connections.

Centre of Dard-Shin culture with Shina language, traditional wooden houses and local customs. The valley is culturally associated with Habba Khatoon, the 16th-century Kashmiri poet, after whom the prominent peak overlooking Dawar is named.