Srinagar, Nov. 16 -- Poonch-known in older times as Parnotsa-was an ancient hill kingdom. It was located at Latitude 33deg-45' and Longitude 74deg-9', at a height of about 3,300 feet above sea level. This region had its own political and cultural identity long before the famous Chinese Buddhist traveller Hieun-Tsang came here in 633 A.D.

At that time, the kingdom was spread around the beautiful valleys of the Poonch Tohi River and its smaller streams. These rivers gave water to the fields, helped people settle, and supported early farming and trade. Because it was surrounded by hills and river systems, and stood at a higher level than the plains, Parnotsa grew safely as a small but organised state even before foreign travellers started w...