Kishtwar

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kishtwar | type = city | latd = 33.32 | longd = 75.77
locator_position = right | state_name = Jammu and Kashmir
district = Doda
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altitude = 1638
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 15,806| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
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area_telephone =
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Kishtwar is a town and a notified area committee in Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India.

Geography

Kishtwar is located at coord|33.32|N|75.77|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/12/Kishtwar.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kishtwar] ] . It has an average elevation of 1638 metres (5374 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Kishtwar had a population of 15,806. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Kishtwar has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the Indian national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 62%. In Kishtwar, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Location

Kishtwar, situated on a central plateau set amidst sylvan surroundings of wooded hills, is a beautiful town located 216 km from Jammu, at an altitude of 1640 meter above the sea level, in Doda District. It is an upland valley in the north-east corner of Jammu region and is just 107 km from the national highway resort of Batote. Kishtwar branches off in Marwa-Wadwan valley, Paddar valley, Chhatroo valley and is flanked by lofty Himalayas from all sides. The monsoon hardly reaches this part of the State which makes it a drought prone area and insufficient in food grains in particular the Marwah-Wardwan area which remains cut off for 5-6 months in a year due to snowfall in winter. In order to avoid any starvation death sufficient stocks of food grains and other essential commodities are stored well in advance in these areas so that the public may not suffer on this account. Kishtwar has a lot of potential for generation of Hydro Electric Power. One of the major projects implemented in Kishtwar is Dul-Hasti which was commissioned in April 2007. Kishtwar is popularly known as 'Land of Sapphire and Saffron' is also very rich in forest products. The richest forests in Jammu and Kashmir are found on the high mountains and hills of Kishtwar.Kishtwar is linked with other parts of the state by an all weather road, National Highway 1-B, which remains open throughout the year. Kishtwar is also connected with Kashmir Valley by Chhatroo-Synthan road, which is being upgraded into National Highway.

Places of interest

Naqseen

Naqseen, full of scenic beauty, is located on the east of Kishtwar town, which is surrounded by forests. This place has been named after the Budhist Preacher Naqseen.

Dachhan

Is a part of Marwah Niabat. From here, the route originates for high mountains of Bramah, Vaishno, Mahesh and Sickle North. It is rich in trout fish. Mathralla is the most beautiful spot which has springs and a rock statue of a cow. It is from the feet that the water gushes out. There is a national park also.

Warwan

Is a beautiful valley adjoining Dachhan. It spreads from villages Hanzi and Inshan. The valley has good spots like Tuiller, Nopachi, Marwah, Tata Pani, Dashbal and Inshan and it is connected with Kashmir via Margan top (13,000 feet) which leads to village Inshan from a track that also goest to Pahalgam. These areas are rich in trout fish, having unique rainbow colour, each weighing 2kg to 6 kg Nopachi could serve as a base camp for expeditions to Nunkun via Tata Pani which has a hot water spring and is good to have bath in sulpher containing water for skin diseases and rheumatic pains. Marwah river passes just in the centre of the valley, which otherwise contains meadows. These meadows are used for grazing the cattle by nomadic Bakarwals.

Mughal Maidan

About 24 km from Kishtwar is named Mughal Maidan as it is claimed that Mughals had suffered heavy casualties at this place when they attacked Kishtwar via Synthan and Singhpora. One of the beautiful trek starts from here which goest to Kashmir valley via Singhpora. It passes through at a height of 11,570 feet and culminates at Wello near Kokarnag. Mughal Maidan is situated on the bank of Chhatroo river. The slopes adjacent Mughal Maidan are full of thick forests which are rich in wild-life.

Bhandarkot

An ideal place for rock climbing, is also the confluence of the rivers Chander and Bhaga coming from Paddar, Marwah and Chhatroo. From this place downwards, Chander Bhaga is called as Chenab river. This spot serves as a take off point for trek to Dachhan, Nunkun, Bramah, Marwah and Warwan.

Zumum Palmar

Zumum Palmar located five km on hill-side from Kuriya Palmar, is a beautiful spot amidst natural scenery, lushgreen meadows and dense forests. Ziarat Sharief of Zen Shah Shaib is situated near this spot which is visited by a large number of devotees from the district.

Paddar

Paddar, the area with rich wild-life is full of natural beauty. The famous sapphire/ruby mines are located in this area. It has hot springs and a river which is ideal for cannoing. One trek goes to Zanskar via Machail. There are virgin treks having lot of potential.

Brahmin mohalla

situated in the heart of the city,the mohalla is hindu dominated and the residents are largely brahmin by cast.Lakshmi Narayan Mandir is the center attraction of this mohalla.The mohalla is well known for its intellectual personalities especially in the field of astrology.The renowned pundits of the area were pt. Hari Lal,Pt.Dina nath jyotshi who left to heavinly abode after serving the community for over 5 decades.Presently Pt. Chuni Lal jyotshi,a state award holder in field of education, is serving the community with his unbeatable jyotish skills.

History

District Kishtwar in the past used to be an independent hill principality the present name, related with "Kishat Rishi" who stayed here, is the modified version of earlier name of Kishaswar. Located about 232 km from Jammu at a height of 5,360 feet, Kishtwar in its ancient form Kashthavata, is first referred to in the Rajatarangini during the reign of Raja Kalsa of Kashmir (A.D.1063-89), when "Uttamaraja", the ruler of Kashthavata visited the court of Kashmiri king in company with several other hill chiefs to pay their respects to the Raja.The Mehta Family was gifted the lands of Kishtwar by the King of Kashmir Their Family Temple "Hatta Wali Mata" and their Heritage can still be tracked back to Kishtwar. The founder of this family was the Commander-in-Chief of the Kashmir Army "Sip-E-Salar Sri Jiya Lal Mehta". Known for his Bravery and valour he fought the Mugals and Northern raiders that invaded the lands later on the lads were annexed by the kings of Jammu and Kashmir. Today the Lands of Kishtwar are protected by the Indian Army as this state suffered severely by the Militants who threaten the sovereignty of this proud and beautiful land.

Kishtwar endowed with dense forests of deodar, fir and pine is treasure of scenic beauty. Kishtwar has rich wild-life like snow-deer, leopard, Neel Gai and musk-deer. There are high altitude mountains ranging between 20,000 feet to 21,000 feet like Num Kum, Burmah and Barnag. It offers tremendous scope for pilgrim tourism also as some important shrines are located in the area. These include Ziarat Zain-Shah-Sahib, Farid-ud-Din Sahib, Hazrat Asrar-ud-Din Sahib, Athara Bhuja Devi temple, Chandi Mata temple and Hatta Wali Matta.

Kishtwar merged with the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1821, A.D. With the passage of time Kishtwar became a Tehsil of District Udhampur and remained its part till 1948, when it became part of newly created District Doda in the wake of first re-organization of the state during the post-independence period.

References