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{{short description|Place in J&K}}
{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Kishtwar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kishtwar district
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Jammu and Kashmir|District]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| total_type = Total
| native_name =
| image_skyline = Gullabgarh Paddar.jpg
| image_caption = View of Gulabgarh Town in Kishtwar
| image_map = Jammu and Kashmir Kishtwar district.svg
| map_caption = Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir
| coordinates =
| coor_pinpoint =
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = {{nowrap|[[States and union territories of India|Union Territory]]}}
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Government of Jammu and Kashmir.svg}} [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Administrative divisions of India|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jammu Division]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Kishtwar]]
| parts_type = [[List of subdistricts in India|Tehsils]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kishtwar.nic.in/tehsil/|title=Tehsils in Kishtwar district|work=Kishtwar district website|accessdate=13 July 2021}}</ref>
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 1. [[Kishtwar]] 2. Chhatroo 3. Marwah 4. [[Paddar]] 5. [[Warwan]] 6. Nagseni 7. [[Drabshalla]] 8. [[Bunjwah]] 9. Mughalmaidan 10. Dachhan 11. Machail
| area_total_km2 = 7,737
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=About District, District Kishtwar, Government of Jammu and Kashmir|url=https://kishtwar.nic.in/about-district/|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 230,696
| population_footnotes =
| population_urban =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]<ref name="Kishtwar Census 2011"/>
| demographics1_info1 = 56.2%
| demographics1_title2 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]<ref name="Kishtwar Census 2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/01/0118_PART_A_DCHB_KISHTWAR.pdf|title=Kishtwar Census 2011|work=Govt of India Census|accessdate=13 July 2021}}</ref>
| demographics1_info2 = 920 [[female|♀]]/ 1000 [[male|♂]] 
| demographics_type2 = Languages
| demographics2_title1 = Official
| demographics2_info1 = [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[English language|English]], [[Hindi]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Urdu]]
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="OfficialLang">{{cite web |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222037.pdf |title=The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 |publisher=The Gazette of India|date=27 September 2020 |access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020 | work=Rising Kashmir | date=23 September 2020| url=http://risingkashmir.com/news/parliament-passes-jk-official-languages-bill-2020 | access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>
| demographics2_title2 = Spoken
| demographics2_info2 = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Padri language|Padri]], [[Hindi]], [[Kishtwari]]
| leader_title = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Constituency]]
| leader_name = [[Udhampur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Udhampur]]
| leader_title1 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]]
| leader_name1 = {{nowrap|[[Jitendra Singh (politician, born 1956)|Dr. Jitendra Singh]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]<ref name="Udhampur MP">{{cite web|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/MemberHomePage.aspx?mpsno=4718|title=Lok Sabha Members|work=Lok Sabha|accessdate=13 July 2021}}</ref>}}
| leader_title2 = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name2 = [[List of constituencies of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|3 constituences]]
| leader_title3 = [[District magistrate|District Magistrate]]
| leader_name3 = Sh. Ashok Kumar Sharma, JKAS
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| registration_plate = JK-17
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Roads in India|Major highways]]
| blank_info_sec1 = {{flagicon image|NH244-IN.svg}} [[National Highway 244 (India)|NH 244]]
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| website = {{url|kishtwar.nic.in}}
}}

'''Kishtwar district''' is a [[District (India)|district]] of the [[India]]n union territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. As of 2011, it is the largest and least populous district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated on the banks of the [[Chenab River]].

== History ==
{{Main article|Rajatarangini|History of Kashmir}}
Kishtwar is first referred to in the [[Rajatarangini]] by the ancient name Kashthavata<ref name="History">{{Cite web |url=http://www.jktourism.org/component/k2/item/132-kishtewar.html |title=Kishtwar High Altitude National Park|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="PDF">{{Cite web |url=http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/DPS%20Kishatwar.pdf |title=Brief Industrial Profile of Kishtwar District |last=Development Institute |first=MSME}}</ref> during the reign of Raja Kalsa of Kashmir (1063–1089), when "Uttamaraja", the ruler of Kashthavata visited the court of the Kashmir King in company with several other hill chiefs to pay their respects to the Raja.
This place, as said by people, is also mentioned in the epic Mahabharata.<ref name="census-handbook"/>

Kishtwar merged with the State of Jammu and Kashmir when [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] annexed it in 1821, A.D.<ref name="census-handbook">{{Cite book|title=District Census 2011 Handbook of Kishtwar|url=https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s317d63b1625c816c22647a73e1482372b/uploads/2016/09/2018033088.pdf|date=16 June 2014|page=26|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref> With the passage of time Kishtwar became a Tehsil of the [[Udhampur district]] and remained so until 1948, when it became part of the newly created District [[Doda district|Doda]] in the wake of first re-organization of the state during the post-independence period.

==Administration==
Kishtwar district consists of 13 blocks: Marwah, [[Warwan]], Dachhan, [[Kishtwar]], Nagseni, [[Drabshalla]], Inderwal, Mughal Maidan, Bonjwah, Machail, Palmar, Thakrie Trigham, and [[Paddar]].<ref>[http://jkrd.nic.in/listAllDistricts.pdf Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly Created Districts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910092544/http://jkrd.nic.in/listAllDistricts.pdf |date=2008-09-10 }} dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2008-08-30</ref>

Each block consists of several [[panchayat]]s. Block Kishtwar is the 1st block of Kishtwar District and Beron Town 1st Kishtwar is the 1st panchayat of Block Kishtwar, Beron town panchayat consists of Panditgam, Zewar, Nagdera, Bucherwal Mohalla, Semmna and Wazgwari. Marwah consists of 12 panchayats 1. Nowpachi, 2.Nowgam, 3.Yourdu, 4. Pethgam, 5.Ranie A, 6. Ranie B, 7. Quderna A, 8 Quderna B, 9 Chanjer, 10. Dehrana, 11. Hanzal, 12.Teller.

'''Kishtwar Sub-district:'''
*[[Kishtwar]] tehsil
*[[Drabshalla]] tehsil
*[[Bunjwah]] tehsil
*Nagseni Tehsil

'''Chhatroo Sub-district:'''
*Chhatroo tehsil
*Mughal Maidan Tehsil

'''Marwah Sub-district:'''
*[[Warwan]] tehsil
*Dachhan tehsil
*Marwah Tehsil

'''Atholi (Paddar) Sub-district:'''
*[[Paddar]] tehsil is the most remote town of the district bordered by [[Zanskar]] in [[Kargil district]], [[Ladakh]] to the north and east and towered by the [[Sickle Moon Peak]].

==Geography==
Kishtwar district has a total area of {{convert|7737|sqkm}}. The district is bordered by [[Kargil district]] in the east, [[Chamba district]] to the south, [[Anantnag district]] to the north and [[Anantnag district|Anantnag]] and [[Doda district|Doda]] districts to the west.

==Politics==
Kishtwar District has 3 assembly constituencies: [[Gulabgarh (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Gulabgarh]], [[Inderwal (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Inderwal]] and [[Kishtwar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kishtwar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/ERos_AERos.html |title=ERO's and AERO's |publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir |access-date=2008-08-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022185235/http://ceojammukashmir.nic.in/eros_aeros.html |archive-date=2008-10-22 }}</ref> Kishtwar district is part of the [[Udhampur (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. The present [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|MP]] of Udhampur Constituency is [[Jitendra Singh (politician, born 1956)|Dr. Jitendra Singh]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]].<ref name="Udhampur MP"/>

==Demographics==
{{Bar box
|title=Religion in Kishtwar district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C01"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{Bar percent|[[Islam]]|#009000|57.75}}
{{Bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|40.72}}
{{Bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|yellow|0.91}}
{{Bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.62}}
}}

{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
| caption= Languages of Kishtwar district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C16">{{cite report |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0100.XLSX |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] |value1 = 50.60 |color1 = lightgreen
|label2 = [[Kishtwari]] |value2 = 16.67 |color2 = mediumaquamarine
|label3 = [[Gujari language|Gojri]] |value3 = 15.19 |color3 = tomato
|label4 = [[Padri dialect|Padari]] |value4 = 7.44 |color4 = salmon
|label5 = [[Bhadarwahi|Bhadrawahi]] |value5 = 4.03 |color5 = darkorchid
|label6 = [[Hindi]] |value6 = 1.31 |color6 = yellow
|label7 = [[Sarazi language|Siraji]] |value7 = 1.25 |color7 = blue
|label8 = Others |value8 = 3.51 |color8 = grey
}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Kishtwar district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 230,696. This gives it a ranking of 586th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]). The district has a population density of {{convert| 29 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} . Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.06%. Kishtwar has a [[sex ratio]] of 938 females for every 1000 males, and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 58.54%. [Male 71.75% [Female 44.13%].

{{bar box
|title=Sex Ratio in Kishtwar District in 2011 Census.<ref name="census2011-C01"/><br>(no. females per 1,000 males)
|float=left
|width=360px
|left1=Religion (and population)
|right1=Sex Ratio
|bars=
{{bar pixel|Muslim (pop 133,225)|green|94.050||940 }}
{{bar pixel|Hindu (pop 93,931)|orange|89.362||894 }}
{{bar pixel|Other (pop 1,446)|grey|70.118||701 }}
{{bar pixel|Total (pop 230,696)|black|91.983||920 }}
}}

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! colspan=10 | Kishtwar district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.<ref name="census2011-C01">{{cite report |title=C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW01C-01%20MDDS.XLS |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
!|
!| Hindu
!| Muslim
!| Christian
!| Sikh
!| Buddhist
!| Jain
!| Other
!| Not stated
!| Total
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Total
|| 93,931 || 133,225 || 277 || 450 || 2,094 || 3 || 514 || 202 || 230,696
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
|| 40.72% || 57.75% || 0.12% || 0.20% || 0.91% || 0.00% || 0.22% || 0.09% || 100.00%
|-
| colspan=10|
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Male
|| 49,604 || 68,655 || 164 || 296 || 1,056 || 0 || 273 || 117 || 120,165
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Female
|| 44,327 || 64,570 || 113 || 154 || 1,038 || 3 || 241 || 85 || 110,531
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Gender ratio (% female)
|| 47.2% || 48.5% || 40.8% || 34.2% || 49.6% || 100.0% || 46.9% || 42.1% || 47.9%
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Sex ratio <br><small>(no. of females per 1,000 males)</small>
|| 894 || 940 || – || – || 983 || – || 883 || – || 920
|-
| colspan=10|
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Urban
|| 4,398 || 10,288 || 34 || 97 || 24 || 0 || 0 || 24 || 14,865
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | Rural
|| 89,533 || 122,937 || 243 || 353 || 2,070 || 3 || 514 || 178 || 215,831
|- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;"
| style="text-align:left;" | % Urban
|| 4.7% || 7.7% || 12.3% || 21.6% || 1.1% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 11.9% || 6.4%
|-
|}

{{clear|left}}

Muslims are in majority with nearly 58%. Hindus are 41%. There is a small percentage of Buddhists in the far-eastern areas of the district who are the [[Bhotiya|Bhotias]].
==Economy==
The economy of the area is not regularized with no visible investment from the government. The area is rural in nature has an agricultural-based economy. Due to the dry nature of the climate, the village peasant population usually grows wheat and barley in Rabi (winter) season and ''Rajma'' (kidney bean) and maize in Kharif (rainy) season. Kishtwar has the distinction of producing world-class blue Diamond Sapphire and its Kashmir sapphire was mined at Padder valley. The area is although rich in natural mineral resources but poor infrastructure has posed difficulty in its extraction. Mineral gypsum is mined at Village Trigam. The river sand of Chenab is of the best quality and used extensively for construction purposes.

The Padder area produces world-class Pine nuts called ''chilgoza'' which is a delicacy and costly dry fruit. In Marwah, Chhatroo, Mughalmaidan and Bounjwah tehsils, [[walnut]] production of best quality walnuts in thousands of tons is recorded, but due to the absence of any fruit Mandi, exact figures are not available. Besides walnut, Marwah tehsil produces thousands of tons of ''Rajma'' (kidney beans) which is the cash crop of the area. Villages of Pochhal, Matta and Hidyal produce [[saffron]] of good quality. Rural households are also abundantly gifted by nature through cash crops of edible mushrooms and [[morchella]] called ''guchhi'' in the local language. Some families have been reported to earn more than Rs. 100,000 per year by just selling the dried Morchella in local markets. Edible ferns are also a natural cash crop of the area. Apples are produced in some areas.

The rivers are a rich source of hydroelectricity and the site of the hydroelectric power projects of [[Dul Hasti Dam|Dul Hasti]] 390 MW, Ratle Hydroelectric Project 850 MW, Kirthai 1400 MW, [[Pakal Dul Dam|Pakal Dool]] 1,000 MW, Lower Kalnai 48 MW and Chaudhary 15MW, Keeru HEPP and Kwar HEPP with the highest per capita wattage production in the world for such a small area. These projects have been the largest source of employment in the area and have immensely contributed to the prosperity of the area.

==Tourism==
{{Main|Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir}}
The [[Chenab River]] flows through the district and is joined by tributaries such as the Marvisudar river of Mawah, Fambar Nallah, Chingam Nallah which meet at the confluence near Bhandarkoot. The rivers have cut steep gorges and wide plains on the way. Warwan valley and Marwah valleys are unique in being located in the way of river Marusudhar. {{clarify|date=December 2017}} The area is also known for its high mountain passes which have been the mountaineer's delight since the British era. {{tone inline|date=December 2017}} Many illustrations are found in the travelogue written by British writers including Otto Rothfield's ''With pen and Rifle in Kashmir''.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

The [[National Highway 244 (India)|Kishtwar–Anantnag National Highway]] passes through the [[Sinthan top|Sinthan Pass]] and Daksum Nowpachi Road passes through the Margan top a 13 km long and 5100-metre-high pass. The Steep Brahma mountain peak is situated at Dachhan which is documented by British mountaineers. The Warwan Valley has been rated among India's top ten trekking destinations with a wide range of landscapes. Saffron of purest quality is produced in the iron-rich soil at Pochhal, Matta, Lachdayaram and Hidyal.
[[Kishtwar National Park]], in the northeast region of the district, has a large number of peaks and glaciers. The town has a small airstrip under the control and management of the Indian Army which caters to civil and military Helicopters. The 33-hectare Chowgan is the largest natural ground located in the centre of the city and is used as a venue for recreation and religious and political gatherings. Mini Secretariat housing all the offices of Kishtwar district administration is located 3 km from the main bus stand in Kuleed area. Kishtwar is endowed with dense forests of [[Cedrus deodara|deodar]], pine and fir. High altitude mountains are ranging between 20,000 feet to 21,000 feet like [[Nun Kun]], Barhma. there are many peaks in [[Paddar]] like Cerro Kishtwar, Tipendai, Gupta Peak, Shivling Peak, Aushuko Peak, Omasla Peak etc.

There are many trekking routes in Paddar like Omasla trek, Kabbanla trek, Potla trek, Ashuko trek, Tundupla trek, Sarsangla trek, Mounla trek etc. and many sightseeings like Darllang Nalla, Bujas Nalla, Barnaj Nalla, Chandi Mata Mandir, Lossani Gompa, Naag Stone at Darlang Nalla. {{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Transportation==
===Air===
[[Kishtwar Airstrip|Kishtwar Airport]] is a proposed airport in the district headquarters [[Kishtwar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-administration-signs-mou-with-army-to-operationalise-kishtwar-airstrip-329266|title=Jammu and Kashmir administration signs MoU with Army to operationalise Kishtwar airstrip|work=WION News|accessdate=21 September 2020}}</ref> The nearest airport is [[Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport]] in [[Srinagar]] which is located around 210 kilometres from Kishtwar town.

===Rail===
There is no railway connectivity to Kishtwar yet. The Udhampur–Doda–Kishtwar is a planned railway line for Doda and Kishtwar districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/prabhu-agrees-to-hold-survey-on-3-new-rail-lines-in-jk/|title=Prabhu agrees to hold survey on 3 new rail lines in J&K|work=Daily Excelsior|accessdate=13 June 2015}}</ref> The nearest major railway station is [[Udhampur railway station]] which is located 150 kilometres from district headquarters Poonch.

===Road===
Kishtwar district is well-connected to the winter capital [[Jammu]] and summer capital [[Srinagar]] by the [[National Highway 244 (India)|NH 244]] alongside other intra-district roads. The road to [[Srinagar]] passes through the picturesque [[Sinthan top]].

==Notable people==
*[[Om Mehta]], politician
*[[G. M. Saroori]], politician
*[[Ghulam Haider Gagroo]], poet and magistrate

==See also==
* [[Kishtwar]]
* [[Paddar]]
* [[Sinthan Top]]
* [[Chenab Valley]]
* [[Pir Panjal]]
* [[Jammu]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |last=Qazi |first=S.A. |chapter=Part II: Doda district |title=Systematic Geography of Jammu and Kashmir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZh3Zkoqtc4C&pg=PA210 |year=2005 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7648-786-3 |pp=210-}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20191103232129/https://kishtwar.nic.in/ kishtwar.nic.in]
* [http://www.kishtwar.com Kishtwar.com]
* [http://www.kishtwartimes.com Kishtwartimes.com]

{{coord|33.312683|N|75.769447|E|display=title}}

{{Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Kishtwar district
|North =
|Northeast = [[Kargil district]]
|East =
|Southeast = [[Lahaul and Spiti district]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
|South = [[Chamba district]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
|Southwest = [[Doda district]]
|West =
|Northwest = [[Anantnag district]]
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kishtwar district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Jammu and Kashmir|Kishtwar]]
[[Category:Chenab Valley]]

Kishtwar district - Revision history

imported>Lions Count12 at 22:13, 27 August 2021