Birote

Birote is Union Council in Abbottabad District in Pakistan, between the borders of Punjab and Kashmir. Birote was a part of Bakote until 1981 when a separate Union Council was formed.

Population

The main ethnic tribe of the area is Bund Abbasi, Lahrals sub-tribes, Khanals in Termuthin and Lahwar, Nakodrals in Kau and Bhan, Chingsal in Birote, Basian, Julial, Sulial, Huteri Hotrool, Mojwals in Morha and Nakar Mojwal. The Bund Abbasi tribe has been a feudal and ruling tribe in the area for five centuries.

Geography

Birote is the administrative center of Bakote Kalan Union Council in the east of Abbottabad District.

Birote is surrounded by the areas of Bakote, Nathia Gali, Ayube Reala, and the Union Council of Dewal Sharif in Murree Tehsil.

It is located on the banks of the Jhelum River. The highest place in Birote is the peak Samannat on Mukeshpuri mountain, located approximately 90 kilometers north of Islamabad. Mukeshpuri is 2800m / 9100 feet high. Manwan ni hell is the lowest place in Birote. It is located on the right bank of the Jhelum River, at the provincial borders of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Azad Kashmir.

Birote is the last Union Council of KPK in South Eastern border of Kashmir and Punjab. Birote is situated between Dewal (south), Natheagali (west), Bakote (north) and the Bagh District in Kasmir.

Kahoo

Kahoo is in between Birote and Termuthean, starting from Bandi in east to Nakkar Qutbal and Ram Kot in the west. Kahoo means Olive tree in local Dhondi/Kareali language. Sufi Gull Baba shrine is located in the eastern edge of Kahoo, near Ayubia forest.

Termuthian

Termuthean is at the southern side of Union Council Birote. It is situated on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provincial border 10 kilometers north from Murree City.

Abbasian

Abbasian is at the northern side of Union Council Birote towards northern side of the Hazara Division. New Kohala Bridge.

Kanair

Kanair (كنير)is a nullah between Birote Kalan and Birote Khurd.

Mohrha

Mohrh(موهره) is situated in central Birote Khurd.

Infrastructure

There are two roads that link Birote to the rest of the country; the Kashmir Highway and the Upper Dewal Kohala Road, also known as Khaqan Abbasi Road. Other roads linked with Birote are Swar Gali Bakote Road, Basian Malkote Road and Basian Bakote Road, Choorean Lower Dewal Road, Termuthean Malkote Road, and the newly built Termuthean Lower Dewal Road.

There are two basic health units. One, BHU Birote, in Maira, Birote Kalan and a second, BHU Birote Khurd, in Mohrha, Birote Khurd.

Politics

In 1961, the Ayub Khan administration, as part its local government reforms, replaced the Namberdari system with Union Councils, Tehsil Councils, and district councils. As a result, the Union Council of Bakote was formed and included Bakote, Birote and Birote Khurd as its wards.

Birote was a part of Hazara constituency in the 1936 elections when only seven landowners cast their votes.

Education

Birote has two higher secondary schools, two middle schools, 58 primary and mosque schools and more than a dozen religious institutions. The traditional religious education by the religious scholars and teachers of this area has for centuries been influenced by the older Vedic tradition.

In last decade of 18th century, Seyed Masoom Ali Shah of Juleal, Birote introduced a travelling private school in Birote.

In the 1980s several new schools were founded: Yasin Public School, Minjah model school, Iqra Academy School, Seyed Ahmed Shaheed Academy (1984), a Seeda School (2001) and Greenland Public School (2011).

Religious education

In Dravidian, Arian and than Kathwal civilisation, vedic education was taught in Mukeshpuri and Kohala Davi temples. Around 1400 AD under Hazrat Sha Ali Hamdan, Circle Bakote and Kathwal embraced Islam.