Rajauri district General information
Rajouri is a District in Jammu and Kashmir. The District drives its name from Rajouri town which itself had been historically known as Rajapuri. Rajouri District had been part of Poonch district prior to 1967. On 22nd September 1967, Government bifurcated district Poonch into two districts namely 'Rajouri' and 'Poonch', to facilitate the process of development and better supervision of economic activities in this area. By this way, Rajouri emerged as a District from 1st January 1968. The District has an area of 2630 Sq. Kms. Rajouri town is situated 154 Kms away from Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir. The only means to reach Rajouri is through Road. It is located in the foothills of Peer Panchal Range. The Districts Udhampur and Jammu bound the District in the East, Line of actual control passes on the Southern side, on the West by Poonch District and Pulwama District is on the North.
Rajouri area remained the region of great importance in ancient times. In Mahabharta there was a kingdom known as Panchal Desa. The king of this State was Panchal Naresh whose daughter Dropdi was married to Pandvas. The Historians Identify Panchalya Desha as the region in Panchal range of mountains. Rajouri was also a part of this kingdom of Panchal Naresh.
History
Rajouri area remained the region of great importance in ancient times. In Mahabharta there was a kingdom known as Panchal Desa. The king of this State was Panchal Naresh whose daughter Dropdi was married to Pandvas. The Historians Identify Panchalya Desha as the region in Panchal range of mountains. Rajouri was also a part of this kingdom of Panchal Naresh.
Rajouri, then known as Rajapuri – ‘the land of Kings’ - finds its mention in the travelogue of Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang who visited the town in 632 A.D. and described it as a part of Kashmiri dominion. Still earlier in the Buddhist period it formed a part of Gandhar territory (Afghanistan, Gandhar and Tashkent) and later was included in the domain called Darabhisanga which comprised the hilly stretch from Poonch to Kashmir. Those days Laharkote in Poonch district and Rajouri had emerged as two powerful states of the area.
According to F.E.Pargitor, second branch of Aryan emigrants crossed Himalayas in the north and west and settled in Rajouri and Poonch area. Rajouri, Bhimber and Naushera were included within the territory of Abhisar, which was one of the hill states of Punjab Kingdom. Early records of fragmentary nature show that in 4th century B.C. there existed in the north west of India a federal type of political set up in which Abhisar with its capital Rajouri was also included. At the time of Alexander's invasion, Rajouri was at the height of its glory. In Mauryan period, the town of Rajouri was a great trade centre. During the Mughal rule, the rulers of Rajouri have embraced Islam though they retained the title of Raja.
In 1846 Amritsar pact was signed between British Government and Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu. In the light of this pact, Jammu and Kashmir State was handed over to Raja Gulab Singh and he was designated as Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
After taking the charge of Rajouri from Raja Faqir Ullah in 1846, Maharaja Gulab Singh changed the name of Rajouri to Rampur. He appointed Mian Hathu as Governor of Rajouri. Mian Hathu remained in Rajouri upto 1846 A.D. He constructed a beautiful temple in between Thanna Nallah near Rajouri city. He also built Rajouri Fort at Dhannidhar village. After Mian Hathu, Rajouri was converted into a Tehsil and affiliated with Bhimber District. In 1904 A.D., this Tehsil was bifurcated from Bhimber and affiliated with Reasi District. After Independence, Rajouri became part of the newly constituted Poonch-Rajouri District. On Ist January 1968, Rajouri emerged as a new District on the map of the State.
LOCATION CLIMATE & GEOGRAPHY
District Rajouri is 154 km away from Winter Capital Jammu. It is located in the foothills of Peer Panchal Range. The Districts Udhampur and Jammu bound the District in the East, Line of actual control passes on the Southern side, on the West by Poonch District and Pulwama District is on the North. The climate varies from semitropical in the Southern part comprising Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote to temperate in the mountainous Northern part comprising the area of Rajouri, Thannamandi and Koteranka Tehsils of the District. The average rainfall is 500 mm and average temperature varies from 7.42 degree Celsius to 37.4 degree Celsius.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Thanamandi: This is an important historical place from the time of Mughals who used to stay here during journey from Delhi to Kashmir and vice versa.The climate of this place is very charming and infact a health resort.It is also famous for its artistic wooden products.The famous shirne of Shahdara Shariaf is 6 Kms from this place.
Dhandidhar Fort: It is a historical monument located on a hill in the vicinity of Rajouri town.This fort was probably constructed by Mughal King during the reign of Emperor Jahangir nearly 400 years back.It is just 2 Kms.away from Rajouri presenting panoramic and impressive view of the entire area.
Usman Memorial: Usman Memorial has been constructed at Jhangar in the memory of Brig.Usman who was mainly responsible for freeing the captured area around Jhangar.After having captured this strategic area,Brig.Usman convened a conference of army officers to decide future course of action.Meanwhile,he fell to heavy shelling of the enemy on 3rd July 1948.This great memorial is maintained by the Infantry Unit located at Jhangar.The heroic deeds of armymen as well as civilians who died while fighting in this area are commemorated every year on 3rd of July as "Jhangar Day".
Balidan Bhawan: This Bhawan is a memoir of great sacrifices made by the people of Rajouri during 1947-48.On the night of Diwali in October-November 1947,the Pakistani marauders forcibly captured the town when indian army was operating in other parts of the district.The marauders mercilessly put to death thousands of men and women,old and young,infants and children and plundered the town in lust of wealth and booty.The Indian army liberated the town on 13th April,1948 the day of Baisakhi festival.The Bhawan since then has been dedicated to the sacrifices of those heroes and was given the name of Balidan Bhawan .
War Memorial: It has been raised at Gujjar Mandi Chowk in Rajouri township.Rajouri was liberated by the Indian army on 13th April 1948.Major General Kulwant Singh launched an attack against Pakistani forces who had converted the site of present airfield into a slaughter ground.
Hall of Fame: On the top of the mound,the great memorial Hall of Fame has been constructed in commemoration of the heroic deeds of those who had laid down their lives for the sake of their motherland in the sectors of Rajouri and Poonch.
Shahdara Sharief: It is the shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah in the lap of montains which is well connected with 30 Km. black topped road from Rajouri Town. The shrine commonly known as Shahdara Sharief is a popular tourist spot in Rajouri district. Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine daily. There was a pir named Ghulam Shah who was born in Syed Family at village Saidian Rawalpindi. Ghulam Shah made Shadara his abode for the rest of his life.
Nao Gazi Ziarat: The Ziarat of Qutab Shah Wali at Danidhar near Rajouri town is also very popular which is the 9 yard long grave of the saint and locally known as Nao Gazi Ziarat.
Mangla Goddess: At this place there is one cave existing on the pattern of Mata Vaishno Devi and bears much religious importance. Large numbers of devotees from different parts of the district visited this shrine. In view of the existing inflow of the devotees a Sarai has been constructed. The majestic and ancient shrine of the goddess Mangla is a place of the people and is situated on a hillock at Bhawani Nowshera and is 70 Kms. from Rajouri. The shrine is believed to be as old as that of Mahabharata and the miracles experienced there have made the shirne more popular among the people's.
Chingus: The famous Chingus Sarai designed with Mughal architect style located about 2,000 feet above sea level and on the right bank of nallah and just on the Jammu-Poonch highway is a spot of historical interest. The entrails of the Mughal emperor Jahangir were buried inside this Sarai when he passed away while returning from Kashmir. It is around 35 Kms. from Rajouri.
Samot Sar: An oval shaped blue water lake is situated at an altitude of 3,550 meters on the northen end of Badjari Marg. This one Km.long lake is accessible in four hours from Budhal to enjoy the beauty of nature scattered in this part of Pir Panjal range.
Chandan Sar: Chandan Sar,a bean shaped lake and full of iceberg till end of July, is situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters.Two kms.in circumference, it is a source of Chamar Nala which joins Bafliaz nala near Behram Gala. It is day's trekking from Ravi Walli marg.
Divya Sar: Divya Sar is a typical like an Indian earthen lamp and hence named as "Divya Sar". Situated at a height of 3,600 meters, the lake is one km. in length.
Sukh Sar: An oval shaped lake at an altitude of 3,000 meters, Sukh Sar is a small sized lake if one approaches a group of lakes in the area from the northen end.
Gum Sar: This is an another small lake at the foot of Dhakyar peak at an elevation of 3,600 meters. Dhakyar peak is the highest peak in this range. It is a pyramidical mountain with height of about 4,660 meters.