Bakarwal

The Bakarwal (also spelled Bakkarwal or Bakrawala) are a nomadic Muslim ethnic group and a sub-tribe of the larger Gujjar community. They primarily inhabit the Indian Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, where they have been listed as a Scheduled Tribe since 1991. The Gujjar-Bakarwal are among the largest Muslim tribal communities in the region and constitute the third-largest ethnic group in the Indian-administered part of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Bakarwal are traditionally pastoral nomads, known for seasonally migrating with their livestock in search of suitable grazing pastures. Their annual transhumance involves moving between high-altitude meadows in the summer and lower-altitude areas during the winter. They were officially enumerated as a distinct group for the first time during the 2001 Census of India.

They inhabit a vast area stretching from the Pir Panjal Range to Zanskar, located in the Himalayan mountains of India . Their seasonal migration patterns encompass regions such as Suru Valley and Kargil in Ladakh, and they traverse the Pir Panjal and Banihal passes during their transhumance. This extensive migration route underscores their deep-rooted connection to the diverse terrains and climates of the Himalayan region.