Magam is a

tehsil A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a Zila (country subdivision), district including the designated populated place that ser ...

in central Kashmir's Beerwah sub-district. It is also a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

, notified area committee, and a

block Block or blocked may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Block programming, the result of a programming strategy in broadcasting * W242BX, a radio station licensed to Greenville, South Carolina, United States known as ''96.3 ...

Budgam district Budgam district is an administrative district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kash ...

in the Indian-administered

union territory Among the states and union territories of India, a Union Territory (UT) is a region that is directly governed by the Government of India, central government of India, as opposed to the states, which have their own State governments of India, s ...

of Jammu and Kashmir. It is away from sub-district headquarter Beerwah and away from

Srinagar Srinagar (; ) is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary ...

, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Magam comes under both Budgam and Baramulla districts, and is the main business hub in the area, located on the way to Gulmarg. The Idara Abu Fazal Abbas Islamic Library, opened in Magam in 1985, is the largest Islamic private library in Jammu and Kashmir.

Economy

Magam is considered the hub of business in district Budgam due to its connectivity with various districts like Budgam, Baramulla and Srinagar. Due its growing business activity, many commercial financial institutions have a presence in Magram; it has seven ATM machines and seven commercial Banks. Magam is also known as the gateway of Gulmarg, a tourist destination only away from it.

Demographics

, Magam had a population of 5,470, of which 18% is under 6 years of age. Magam has an average literacy rate of 51.22%, 27.28% lower than the national average of 78.5%. The male literacy rate in Magam is 57%, while the female rate is 42%.

Education

Magam has two higher secondary schools namely Government Boys Higher Secondary Institute, Government Girls Higher Secondary Institute. At the secondary level, it has: Lucent International school; RMP school; Green View Public High School; Government middle school for boys and girls (separate); Yagipora, Raheislam Educational Organisation, the New Convent School. Lucent International School is a franchise of Dehradun that provides transport to all connected areas of

and

. These institutes offer teaching in the arts, science, and commerce streams. Government Degree College Magam was established in 2012. The college offers courses like BA, B.Com, and BBA. The College also hosts an IGNOU Study Centre (30026) where

distance education Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance; today, it usually involves online ...

is offered. A technical institute operates there. Himayat centres play a role in Magam to provide student internships.

Transport

Magam is well-connected with the State and District Highway roads; it is also connected by rail to Srinagar and Gulmarg. Mazhom railway station is located from Magam. The town has a post office. Two bus stands provide transportation to adjoining areas. Magam is famous for tanga (a light horse-drawn two-wheeled vehicle). These tangas were first used by tourists to travel from Magam to Gulmarg and for other local transport. These tangas can still be seen in Magam. Tonga ride is still known as Kings' ride.

References

{{Kashmir Valley Cities and towns in Budgam district Tehsils of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)