Chithi Bandi, ( چھٹی بانڈی )also spelled as Chithibandi, is a village located in the Bandipora tehsil of Bandipore district in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Situated approximately 9 kilometers from the district headquarters in Bandipora, it falls under the postal code 193502.

Etymology

The name “Chithi Bandi” is believed to be of Kashmiri origin, composed of two words: “Chithi” and “Bandi” . There are multiple interpretations regarding its meaning:

1. Postal Connection Interpretation:

“Chithi”: In Urdu and Kashmiri, “Chithi” translates to “ letter”.

“Bandi”: Refers to traditional solid wooden houses, known as “Kothi”, commonly built by the Gujjar and Pahadi communities in Kashmir.

According to this explanation, the village was named “Chithi Bandi” because it housed the only post box serving neighboring villages, and many residents lived in these traditional wooden houses.

2. Soil Description Interpretation:

“Chithi”: Derived from “Chitti”, meaning “whitish” or referring to clean and soft soil.

“Bandi”: As described above.

This interpretation suggests that the village was named for its distinctive white or soft soil, with “Bandi” indicating the traditional housing structures.

These interpretations highlight the village historical significance, either through its role in regional communication or its unique geographical features.