Poonch (Urdu: Hindi: ) (also referred to as Punch) is a town and a municipal council in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahbhrata evidence,[1] and the evidence from the 7th-century Chinese traveler Xuanzang,[2] the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara were under the sway of the Republican Kambojas during epic times.Poonch is located at 33.77N 74.1E.[8] It has an average elevation of 981 metres (3218 feet). The Pir Panjal range of mountains separates Poonch Valley from the Kashmir Valley. For a long time the only road connection between the two valleys was from Jammu. But now with the completion of the Mughal Road connecting Bufliaz in Poonch to Shopian in Kashmir, there is a direct connection between the two. It consist of 4 tehsils, Haveli, Mendhar, Surankote and Mandi. Poonch has a humid subtropical climate (Kppen Cfa), much cooler than what is found in much of the rest of India, due to its moderately high elevation and northerly position. Winters are cool, with daytime a January average of 2.5 C (36.5 F), and temperatures below freezing at night. Summers are short and usually pleasant. The summer temperature generally does not rise above 31 C. Winters are cool and characterized by rainfall due to western disturbances. Snowfall is quite common during the months of January and February.
