Awantipora

Awantipora अवन्तिपुर اونتی پورہ
city
Remains of Awanti Swami Temple
Awantipora Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Awantipora Show map of India Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates: 33°55′N 75°01′E / 33.92°N 75.02°E / 33.92; 75.02Coordinates: 33°55′N 75°01′E / 33.92°N 75.02°E / 33.92; 75.02
Country	India
State	Jammu & Kashmir
District	Pulwama
Elevation	1,582 m (5,190 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	6,250
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Sex ratio	♂/♀
Website	pulwama.nic.in

Awantipora or Awantipur is a town and a notified area committee in Pulwama district of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is situated between Anantnag and Srinagar on NH 44 (former name NH 1A before renumbering of all national highways). Awantipora was named after Avanti Varman and had a number of ancient Hindu temples built by the king including the Avantiswami Temple. The ruins of temples constructed by Lalitaditya are also found in Awantipora. The temple sites are protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Awantipora has a number of ancient Hindu temples built by King Awanti Varman (AD 855- 883) when he chose the site as his capital.

Avantishwar temple located at Jawbrari in the centre of a courtyard surrounded by a colonnaded peristyle is dedicated to Siva on the banks of the River Jhelum (Vitasta). Less than a kilometre away is Avantiswamin temple dedicated to Vishnu. The Vaikunta Vishnu illustrated as frontispiece is said to be found in this temple. The two temples are quite similar structurally. The walls of the entrance are ornamented with sculptured reliefs both internally and externally.

The ruins of temples constructed by Lalitaditya, the Brahmin emperor of Kashmir, are also located in Awantipora.