History

District Kishtwar has been curved out in the year 2007 and it started functioning as an independent administrative unit on 01-04-2007. Kishtwar town is the HQ of District Kishtwar situated at a distance of 235 km from the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir State. It is located between 35-55 and 45-97 degrees longitudinal; however, the altitude of the District varies from 3000-15000 ft. above sea level. Commonly known as the ‘Land of Sapphire and Saffron’, it is also very rich in forest products. Kishtwar is surrounded by the District Anantnag, and District Doda and also touches the boundaries of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Kishtwar District is a newly formed district of Jammu and Kashmir. As of 2011, it is the third least populous district of Jammu and Kashmir (out of 22), after Kargil and Leh. The District has derived its name from “Kishat Rishi” who stayed here.

It is the modified version of the earlier name of Kishaswar. Kishtwar in its ancient form Kashthavata, is first referred to in the Rajatarangini during the empire of Raja Kalsa of Kashmir, when “Uttamaraja”, the ruler of Kashthavata visited the court of the Kashmiri king in company with several other hill chiefs to pay their respects to the Raja. Kishtwar is surrounded by the mighty Himalayas from all sides, kindling off in Marwah-Warwan Valley, Paddar Valley, and Chhatroo Valley. Kishtwar endowed with dense forests of deodar, fir, and pine is a treasure of scenic beauty.

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 the newly created District Doda in the wake of the first re-organization of the state during the post-independence period.