Indo Islamic Heritage
The nearest railway station to Farooq Ahmad House is Sopore Railway Station, located approximately 2 km away. The nearest bus stand is Sopore Bus Stand, at a distance of around 2.2 km, offering regular bus services to Baramulla, Kupwara, Handwara, and Srinagar. The nearest airport is Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar, situated at an approximate distance of 50 km from the site.
Farooq Ahmad House is a traditional residential building located in Khushal Mattoo Mohalla, Sopore, reflecting the vernacular architectural character of north Kashmir. The house was originally constructed by Ghulam Lassa Marzi, a timber businessman, indicating the economic and material linkage of Sopore with the timber trade. A few years ago, the property was purchased by Farooq Ahmad, who currently works as a technician in the Health Services Department. Sopore, historically founded as Suyya-pur in 880 AD, is a riverfront town on the banks of the River Jhelum, known for its apple orchards, farming economy, and wooden vernacular buildings. Architecturally, the house follows the vernacular Kashmiri (Kṣatriya) style and consists of three floors, with six rooms each on the ground and first floors and a large hall on the second floor. The building is distinguished by arched windows, multiple wooden dubs (projecting balconies) on the main and left façades, and rich decorative elements such as pinjrakari, carved wooden panels, moulded brick courses, and exposed wooden joists. Constructed using stone, Maharaji brick, wood, and mud mortar, the house retains traditional materials, craftsmanship, and spatial planning typical of Sopore’s historic residential architecture.
Year of Built: 19th Century
Address: Farooq Ahmad House, Khushal Mattoo Mohalla, Sopore, Baramulla District, Jammu and Kashmir, India – 193201
Country: India
State: Jammu and Kashmir
District: Baramulla
Pincode: 193201
Longitude: 74.4718° E
Latitude: 34.3049° N