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Karewas are the lacustrine deposits in the Valley of Kashmir and in Bhadarwah Valley of the Doda District of the Jammu Division. These are the flat topped mounds that border the Kashmir Valley on all sides. They are composed of fine silt, clay, sand, and bouldery-gravel. They are characterised with fossils of mammals and at places by peat. According to geologists, during the Pleistocene Period, the entire Valley of Kashmir was under water. Subsequently, due to endogenetic forces, the Baramullah Gorge was created and the lake was drained through this gorge. The deposits left in the process are known as karewas (Fig. 6.4).
According to Middlemiss, the thickness of karewas is about 1400 m. In fact, the karewas have been elevated, dissected and in great measure removed by subaerial denudation as well as by the Jhelum river giving them the present position. The karewas are mainly devoted to the cultivation of saffron, almond, walnut, apple and orchards. The karewas, devoted to saffron cultivation are fetching good income to the growers. The karewas of Palmpur, Pulwama, and Kulgam are well known for their production of superior quality of saffron.