Kupwara  district  is  located between Pirpanchal and Shamsbari mountain ranges surrounded by snow clad mountains and dense green forests. These mountain ranges have many  meadows and pastures in their bosom which provide grazing grounds for cattle and sheep and health resorts and tourist spots for the adventurous souls. a brief description of important geographical landmarks is given below.

                                                                              MOUNTAINS  

1. AINCH:- This 1100 feet high mountain also falls in Kajinag range. In its eastern lap lie the beautiful villages of Fulmarg, Hachmerg, Tumna, Hafrada etc. We can have a view of the heavenly valley of Kashmir from  top of the mountain.

2. BULBEER:- This mountain comes into view the moment  we cross the Dutgully of Keran. It is 10,000 feet high. It iremains snow clad most of the time.

3. DAJALONGUN:- This 16000 feet high mountain is situated in POK and visible in north west of the district and always remains snow clad and mostly hidden in clouds.

4. FESHILTONG:- This mountain is also in the north west of Kupwara, having a height of 8000 feet.It contains historical pass of Lashdut and meadow of Gogalneur lies across it. Locals believe that there reside two saints in Fesliltong. One has cultivated a vegetable garden in his cave & keeps deer for milk & the other saint has constructed a golden mosque in his cave. Balitiyng is another mountain beside this mountain.

5. GAZRANDOOR:- This 9000 feet high mountain is located in Keran area. It is white in colour & it is believed that it is made of white marble. The water of its glaciers flows into Kishenganga river.

6. HARWAN BAL:- This mountain separates Lolab from Sopore and Bandipore area.

7. ISMALLINDOOR:- This 10225 feet high mountain is close to Nastchun. This range is spread over about 9 kms. The picturesque village Budnambal falls in its lap & on its other side lies POK. We even have a view of Sopore town from its top. We can also see the historical Raja Ram Buhadureni Lari. It is believed that Ramchander Ji had made his huts in the mountain when he was in exile. The small hills from Trehgam to Chowkibal are known as Dandakwan. Sheikh Noor-u-din wali & other poets have described it in their poems.

8. KAJINAG:-  It derives its name from the Kajinag spring which is situated at its top.It forms the line of control  between India   and Pakistan in   Handwara Tehsil and has a height of 15524 feet. It usually remains snow clad most of the year. On the top of it stands the historical Kajinag spring and Satkohl Nag which have been providing   water to   Kehmil, Puhru, Mawar and Talar rivers of the district and some of the water goes to Pakistan through Nowkote.

9. KALANGMULNG:- It is a group of three mountains, located across Awoora, having an average height of 14000 feet.

10. KHAZANMATTI:- This  mountain is in Kralpora, about 16 kms in the west of Kuwpara. People believe that this mountain has a treasure hidden in it. It  really has proved a treasure for hundreds of locals who have been selling its stones since decades together. It also has rich marble deposits.

11. LASHDUT:- This mountain stands across the Haihama Drang and has a height of 9000 feet. The pass Haihama Drang has been an important ways to go to Sharda Teerath.

12. NASTACHUN:- This mountain has a height of 10273 feet and separates Tehsil Kupwara of district Kupwara from Tehsil Karnah. It provides a pass connecting two tehsils known as Sadhna Pass. It mostly remains closed for six months in winter.

13. NAWAN:- This mountain stands between Kalaroos and Ring Machil and Provides a pass called Zamindar Khan Gali for going across the two.

14. RAJA RAM NI LARI:- This mountain is across Rashonpora in Harie. They say Ram had made his juts on its top because Kashmir was in floods then. He used boats to go here and there.

15. SHAMSBARI:- This giant mountain, 12000 feet high, stands between Ramhal and Karnah area. It also remains snow clad and is rich with  glaciers, providing water to Batmooji River of Karnah. People believe that there reside the blind and deaf fairies who kill people in winter. This mountain diverts the water of Kajinag to the valley.

16. SHIREENKOH:-  This 9000 feet high mountain stands in the north of Kupwara in Jumgand.

17. SOUIMJI:- This dormant volcano, 6100 feet high is located near Wadipora in Handwara Tehsil. Old Shasters and Kalhan call it Soyimji, meaning self coming. It used to emit fire till 1876 AD but now it is dormant. In 1826 AD it exploded for one month continuously. Hindus treat it as sacred.

 MOUNTAIN PASSES

 Mountain passes of  importance located in Kuwpara District are detailed below:--

1. BABACE GULLY:- This pass connects Nowgam with Baramullah.

2. BATANAR GULLY:- This is the bye pass of Nunwan Gully and it also joins the valley with Machil and Ring Bala areas.

3. CHILAS GULLY:- Historian Hassan says “ this way leads through Sopore, Kalarose (Lolab), Sharda (Peeth)  to Chilas.”

4. DUT GULLY:- This is the bypass of Farkiyan gully and it also joins the valley with Keran and Drawa areas. Previously it was an easy approach to Neelam valley which now lies across the LOC..

5. DUMARI GULLY:- This pass connects Chowkibal Budanamal, Rashanpora and Harie areas. This also connects the said areas with POK.

6. FARKIYAN GULLY:- This important and historical pass joins the valley with Keran and Drawa areas. On reaching Keran we can closely observe the most beautiful Neelam valley ( now in POK ) across the Kishan Ganga.

7. HAIHOM DRUNG:- This pass is at a distance of 10 kms from Kupwara, in the north. Historian, Abu Fazal, of Akbar’s period says that it was an important pass leading to Sharda Peeth. Lawrance says this pass has been a place of Koli khel Afreedi Pathans who were known as Kheberees. Kalhan, in his Raj Trangani, says Raja Boj along with his army was waiting for Silhans son in the same pass. Thakur Icher Chand, the translator of Raj Tarangni says, on the north sides of the checkpost of this pass there are gold mines, that is why the pass is known also as Suna Drung (Golden Pass). Stien says “ I have been given to understand that the ruins of two pillars of the checkpost are yet existing in the pass".

8. HARWAN GULLY:- It joins Lolab valley with Sopore and Bandipore. Previously it was the common link between the said areas. Wakfield, during his travel from Sopore to Lolab had used this very path.

9. KAKWA GULLY:- I t is a by-pass of Sadna gully and connects Chowkibal with Karnah.

10. LASH DUTT GULLY:- This pass connects the valley with Lash Dutt and other border areas, through Awoora. It was once an approach to Sharda Peeth and Kail.

11. MAWAR- RAJWAR GULLY:- This pass connects Rajwar and Mawar areas.

12. NONAWANI GULLY:- This pass joins the valley with Machil border area. This also leads us to Gurez from Lolab, through Habakhatoon hill and Nowshera. The road leading through this pass is motorable from May to November and then gets closed for six months of the winter. Journey through the meadows around this pass is adventurous.

13. PUTUKHAN:- This pass lies on Fishal Tong hill to the north of Zurhama village and has been an important route for Sadhus to visit  Sharda Peeeth.

14. SADHNA PASS:- Originally known as Nastachun (broken nose or cut  nose). This pass is in the lap of Shamsbari mountain, at a height of 10273 feet and joins Karnah valley with Kupwara by a vehicular road. Before 1947 this was an easy and shortest approach for the residents of the district for going to Muzaferabad etc. Maharaja Pratap Singh had to install a checkpost in the pass to save his domain from invasion and loot of Bomba Rajas of Karnah. This pass remains mostly closed from December to April due to snow. Journey to Karnah through the zig zag roads of this pass is fantastic and soothing. The signs of old legendary blind and deaf fairies can be seen here.

15. SHALI- BUTH:- This pass connects Awoora area with Shali Buth.

16. SOI DOORI GULLY:- It is a way which goes from Sarkoli to Chontiwari.

17. TOOTIMARI GALI:- It joins Chokibal area with Karnah & POK.

                                                                       MEADOWS

             Almost every inch of our paradise is a green meadow, surrounded by evergreen forests, However the most beautiful meadows wherein we can see hundreds of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and buffaloes grazing, birds chirping,  charming surroundings, glittering springs, brooks and rivulets and fresh and stimulating breeze are as under:-

1. AINCH BEHAK:-  A cluster of meadows, located in Ainch mountain in the west of Ramhall area. There is a shrine, known as Char Yar, in the meadows. It is said that some of the  pillars  in Jamia Masjid Srinagar have been taken from Ainch.

2. BADI BAHAK:- It is near Dudi area of Dangyari Karnah.

3. BANGUS:- The most beautiful and  plain meadow, located in the mountain of Bangus is worth seeing. It is full of wild flowers and charming beauty.  We can reach here from Rajwar, Nowgam and Chokibal.  It was earmarked for laying out the highest golf course in the world. It has very high tourism potential.

4. BUDNAMBAL:- It is a charming meadow on the top of Balbeer mountain in Chowkibal area.

5. BURZALA:-It is behind mountain of Raja Ram.

6. CHURU NAD:- This meadow is in Magam area of Tehsil Handwara,near Pahal Daji.

7. DRANGYARI BEHAK:-  A marvellous meadow located in the west of Chowkibal, on the way to Karnah,  having Rest House facilities.

8. DUDA:- It is in Keran area.

9. GOGAL NIYOOR:- It is behind Fishal Tong mountain in the north of   Zurhama

10.  HARWAN:- Situated between Sopore & Lolab.

11.  HELEEM  DA BELA:- It is near the Bungus in mawar.

12. JABDI:- This is in karnah area.

13.  KAJA  BEHAK:- It is in Juma Gund area

14. KUMKADI MEADOW:- It is located in the north of Haihama and is very beautiful.

15. LASH KOOT:-It is in Lalpore area of Lolab.

16. MACHIL MEADOWS:- All of the Machil area is almost a meadow.

17. MARIYAN:- This is near Sadhna pass.

18. NADIAN:- This is in Karnah area.

19. NAGA MARG:- This beautiful meadow is located on the hills between Bandipore & Lolab via Diver.

20.  NOWGAM MEADOW:- It is located in the west of Mawar area of Handwara.

21. RANGWAR MEADOW:- Located on the top of Shamsbari and Kakwa mountains of Drangyari Chowkibal.

22. RING BALA & RING PAYEEN:- These meadows are located in Machil area of Kupwara Tehsil.

23. SOR PUTH:- It is in the west of Raja Ram mountain.

24. SHUNDI:- It is also behind mountain of Raja Ram.

25. TILPATRA:- It is in Hingankoot area of Ramhal.

26. TRIMAKH:-   It is also near Divar village of lolab.