Ganderbal is a town and a municipality committee in Ganderbal District in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters of Ganderbal district. It is in Central Kashmir; it has an average elevation of 1,619 metres (5,312 feet). It is bordered by district Srinagar District in the south, Bandipora District to the north, Kargil (Indian union territory of Ladakh) in the northeast, Anantnag District to the southeast, and Baramulla District in the southwest. The current District Magistrate of Ganderbal is Mr. Shyambir Singh (IAS). Ganderbal is renowned for its beauty, boasting numerous picturesque places and captivating landscapes. Sonamarg is the most famous place in Ganderbal; Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is also traversed through Ganderbal district.

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Ganderbal
Town
View of Ganderbal town in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ganderbal Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Ganderbal Ganderbal (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 34.23°N 74.78°E / 34.23; 74.78
Country	India
Union Territory	Jammu and Kashmir
District	Ganderbal
Named for	Beauty
Elevation	1,619 m (5,312 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	28,233
Demonym(s)	Ganderbali, Ganderbalia, Ganderbalan
Languages
• Official	Kashmiri, Urdu, English[1][2]
• Spoken	Pahari, Gujari, Shina, Balti, Pashto
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	JK16
Website	ganderbal.nic.in

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Ganderbal is located at 34.23°N 74.78°E / 34.23; 74.78.^[3] It has an average elevation of 1,619 metres (5,312 feet) above sea level. It is bordered by the Srinagar district in the south, Bandipore to the north, Kargil in the northeast, Anantnag to the southeast and Baramulla to the southwest. It is divided into six Tehsils viz, Ganderbal, Kangan, Lar, Tulmulla, Gund and Wakura.

The Sind River, a major tributary to the Jehlum River flows through this district. The water of the river is mainly used for irrigation, and generation of hydroelectricity. There are three hydroelectric power stations, Lower Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project Ganderbal, Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project 1st Kangan and Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project 2nd Sumbal generating electricity on the Sind River. Besides, the water of the river is used for drinking by Srinagar city through Rangil Water Treatment Plant.^[4]

Water rafting tournaments are being organised at the tourist destination of Sonamarg every year, to boost the tourism industry of Kashmir valley. Besides Manasbal lake, Gangabal Lake^[5] at the foot of Mount Haramukh is one of the destinations of foreign tourists visiting the valley. Vaishnosar Lake and Gadsar Lake are situated north of Sonamarg.

Despite the fact that in the past Ganderbal has remained CM's^[6] constituency,^[7] it has remained quite behind in development as compared to other districts. Ganderbal constituency was represented by Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar who defeated Qazi Mohammad Afzal by a little margin of 461 votes in recently held state assembly elections 2014. The Central University of Kashmir^[8] is being constructed in district Ganderbal. There Faculties, the Faculty of Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir are also located within the jurisdiction of Ganderbal, serving to boost the economy and education of the district. Besides, there is a stadium which holds a record of playing a day-night matches Physical Education College, the only one in the state, is situated at Gadoora village, some 3.5  km away from district headquarters.

As of 2011^[update] India census,^[10] Ganderbal had a population of 297446.^[11] Males constitute 53.36% of the population and females 46.64%. Ganderbal has an average literacy rate of 58.04%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 68.85%, and female literacy is 45.71%. In Ganderbal, 17.01% of the population is under 6 years of age.^[12]

The Municipal Committee Ganderbal is an Urban Local Body with 17 elected members. Its last elections took place on 16 October 2018.^[13]

Keys:   BJP (2)   INC (2)   Independent (13)

The following renowned educational institutes are located within Ganderbal^[14]:

1. Central University of Kashmir Tulmulla.

2. Facilities of Fisheries (Rangil), Forestry (Benhama), Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (Shuhama) of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir.

3. Government Degree College, Ganderbal.

4. Government Degree College, Kangan.

5. Government Polytechnic College, Hathbura.

6. Government College of Physical Education, Gadoora.

7. Government College of Engineering and Technology, Safapora.

8. Qamariya College of Education and Training, Badampora.

9. Sainik School, Manasbal.

10. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Hathbura.

11. ITI, Ganderbal.

12. ITI, Kangan.

13. Government Unani Medical College/Hospital, Nawabagh.

These institutions play a significant role in shaping the educational landscape of Ganderbal and contribute to the academic development of the region.

• Sonamarg
• Wakura
• Kangan
• Lar