[DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 P R E F A C E The publication, District at a Glance” for the year 2015-16 is an annual publication of the department. The present issue which is the 8th in the series has been prepared with a view to provide important indicators/data of the District to the users/Scholars/planners. I take the opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for the cooperation extended by the different Departments for providing the necessary inputs /requisite data and hope to get their continued support in future also. I also appreciate the sincere efforts put in by the officials of this agency .Suggestion for improvement of future issue of this publication shall be welcomed. Yash Paul Sharma (Dy. Director, (P&S) District Sts. & Evl. Officer, Kishtwar [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 F O R E W O R D The District Statistics and Evaluation Office is entrusted with the responsibility of collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of data on diverse facets of the economy in this rapidly changing world in the era of globalization. Development is a continuous process and depends largely on reliable and quality data. The “District at a Glance” is an annual publication of the District Statistical Agency for addressing the data requirements for vast spectrum of users. I hope the information contained in the publication will enhance the knowledge of users in ascertaining the present socio economic scenario of the district. I place on record my appreciation for the sincere efforts put in by the Deputy Director, Evaluation and Statistics and the team of officers and officials associated in bringing out this publication. Suggestions for improvement of future issues of this publication are most welcome. Sd/- G.N.Balwan (KAS) District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 HISTORY The erstwhile Kishtwar state was usurped by maharaja gulab singh the dogra ruler of Jammu, in the year 1821 A.D. and downgraded it to the status of a province under a governor . in 1875 A.D .Maharaja Ranbir Singh further downgraded it to the status of a district. Ultimately in 1909 A. D. Maharaja Pratab Singh made it a Tehsil of Udhampur District .Doda District, with its headquarter at Doda city was carved out of Udhampur District in 1948 A.D. Thus the erstwhile state of Kishtwar was brought down to the status of a Tehsil of Doda district in a phased manner. Doda was then a Niabat (Sub Tehsil) of Ramban Tehsil .Bhaderwah was then a full-fledged Tehsil including the areas of present Gundoh and Thatri Tehsils. The claim of Kishtwar to be the seat of district administration was ignored .people of Kishtwar, especially those hailing from far off places like Marwah, Warwan , Dacchan ,Chatru, and Padder, had to face great hardships and discomfort while going to and coming from district headquarter. They have to travel long distances on foot in absence of motorabe roads. Nature, too was averse to the prosperity of people of Kishtwar. It has a land locked area and thus nestles in rain shadow. Monsoons hardly cross high mountains for a shower which made this area of Kishtwar drought prone area. Irrigation facilities were non-existant. Canals constructed at various places had been abandoned before completation there by putting the state exchequer to great financial loss and with not even nominal outcome. Nobody bothered for the development of Kishtwar. [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 Kishtwar has played a vital role in shaping the destiny of its adjoining areas. It has bequeathed to the posterity a secular outlook hundreds of year ago. There was no other erstwhile princely state in india which had Mohd Tej Singh, Anayatullah Singh etc, a synthesis of Hindu Muslim name , as its rules. Kirat singh was first raja of Kishtwar who became a mohammadan in about 1664 A.D. at the hands of mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Srinagar with the title of Saadatyar Khan but he preferred to be called kirat singh instead of muslim name of khan.Mohd Teg Singh was the last ruler who had three sons namely jai mal singh, Dilawar Singh and Zowar singh .all the musllim rulers of Kishtwar allowed the royal prests to perform religious functions of rajas although they offered five times prauyar according tyo muslim faith also .even Sarthal Yatra performed by the Hindu Rajas ,earlier was not stopped but encouraged the tombs of Shah Farid-ud-din and Shah Assrar-ud-din attracted devotes from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Some of the fairs and festivals were also common. Fundamentalism and communalism had no place in the society. Thus Kishtwar allowed a harmonious culture to flourish in its salubrious climate. This gave birth to a unified Kishtwari culture. The bonds of brotherhood were thus cemented. This is a peculiarity of Kishtwar. [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 The erstwhile Kishtwar state was divided into nine paragon or cantons of Kishtwar proper, Nagseni, Padder, Marwah, Warwan, Dachhan, Kontwara, Saroor, Sarthal, Udil, Bunjwah consisting of 156 revenue villages. All these have now been divided into 11 (eleven) Tehsils .namely Kishtwar, Chatroo, Mughal maidan, Marwah,Dachhan, Warwan, Padder(Atholi), Machail, Nagseni, Drabshallah, and Bounjwah. and 13 blocks. The erstwhile Kishtwar state was flourishing state. The king of Kishtwar had its own army and a fort or Qila on a hillock near Kishtwar town which was manned by the garrisons of 15 to 20 soldiers. Kishtwar approved for district status on july 06, 2006 by the state Cabinet headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Hon’ble Chief Minister J&K State and son of the soil, started functioning from 1st april ,2007 with Shahid Anayatullah, hailing from Bhaderwah, as its 1st Deputy Commisioner. Conferring of district status to Kishtwar had been widely hailed and lauded by the people of Kishtwar for this great historic decision which hitherto did not find favour at the hands of valley based Chief Ministers. Kishtwar district at present has an area of 7824 sq.kms excluding some forest area . it is the largest district in jammu and kashmir division which stands at no. 3 position after Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh division having 45110 sq kms and 14036 sq.kms at their areas respectively. The population of the district as per 2011 census is 2,30,696. [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 INTRODUCTION Kishtwar the land of saffron and sapphire was an independent hilly state during the medieval period. Maharaja Gulab Singh, the Dogra ruler of Jammu annexed it in 1821 AD. District Kishtwar was carved out from the erstwhile District Doda during the year 2007-08. The Kishtwar District is spread over a large area ranging from the border of Himachal Pradesh on south, Ladakh on east, Kashmir valley (District Anantnag) on north-west & Doda on the west. The erstwhile District Doda comprised of an area of 11691 Sq. Kms. out of which earlier Sub-Division Kishtwar and now District Kishtwar has an area of 1644 Sq.Km (as per Census 2011). The Plateau of Kishtwar is 5300 feet or 1631 meters above sea level. It lies between 75 -25” East longitude & 34 -10” North latitude. Kishtwar town is 234 kilometer from Jammu & 280 kilometers from Srinagar. Geology: Geologically District Kishtwar is rich, but the mineral resources have not been fully explored and exploited. Sumcham area of Padder Tehsil is known for Sapphire, a precious mineral. Nagseni and Padder blocks are rich in Lead and Shilajit (Bitumen). Climate & Rainfall: The rainfall is scanty, Climate is generally dry and because of this reason the District has been declared as Drought Prone Area. The temperature of the District varies from place to place. Most of the areas of Tehsil Padder & Marwah remain snow bound for five-six months of the year. In fact Block Warwan and Marwah besides some of areas of Dachhan and Padder remain cut off from the rest of the world during winter. Summer hardly witnesses any rain and precipitation often occurs during the winter season. [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 Culture The District is known not only for its rich cultural heritage and ethical values but also for its age-old traditions of secularism and the spirit of tolerance, which have been since times immemorial, binding the people together. The district is having mixed culture and the people are Pahari Speaking. Because of its connectivity with Jammu, Srinagar, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, the people are generally speaking Kashmiri, Ladakhi, Dogri, and some Pahari languages like Kishtwari and Paddri. The people are also credited to have unity in diversity. For example, besides regional languages, there are about one dozen languages being spoken in different areas. These are Kashmiri, Dogri, Bhadarwahi, Kishtwari, Siraji, Pogli, Khashali, Gojri, Paddri and Panjabi etc. According to Dr. G.A. Fierson, the word “Pahari” applies to the group of languages spoken in the sub-Himalayan hills extending from Bhaderwah to the eastern parts of Nepal. [DISTRICT AT A GLANCE] 2015-16 How to Reach Kishtwar District Headquarter Kishtwar is located about 235 Km. from Jammu and about 280 Km. from Srinagar. There are two National Highways connecting the District viz.NH-1A and NH-1B. The general approach to the whole of the District is through road transport i.e. Taxi, Deluxe Buses etc. visitors coming from other parts of the country can also utilize the Flight or Train services up to Jammu/Srinagar. From Jammu / Srinagar, road transport services are easily available to reach District Headquarter Kishtwar and to other Tourist Spots of the District. One can have the view of River Chenab while approaching to Kishtwar Geography Kishtwar is bounded on the North by Kashmir and Zanskar valleys, on the South by Bhaderwah and Doda Tehsils, on the east by Himachal Pradesh and on the west by Anantnag and Ramban district.