Kishtwar district

Kishtwar district consists of 13 blocks: Marwah, Warwan, Dachan, Kishtwar, Nagsani, Drabshalla, Inderwal, Mughal Maidan, Bonjwah, Machail, Palmar, Thakrie Trigham, and Paddar.[2]

Each block consists of a number of panchayats. 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.Nowpachi2.Nowgam.3.yourdu.4 pethgam.5.Ranie A.6 Ranie B 7.Quderna.8 Quderna B.9 Chanjer.10 Dehrana.11 Hanzal.12.Teller.

Kishtwar Sub-District:

• Kishtwar tehsil
• Drabshalla tehsil
• Bonjwah tehsil
• Nagsini Tehsil

Chatroo Sub-District:

• Chatroo tehsil
• Mughal Maidan Tehsil

Marwah Sub-District:

• Warwan tehsil
• Dachan tehsil
• Marwah Tehsil

Paddar Sub-District:

• Paddar tehsil is the most remote town of the district bordered by Zanskar to the north and towered by the Sickle Moon Peak.

Kishtwar District has 2 assembly constituencies: Inderwal and Kishtwar.[3] BJP and CONG won one Assembly Constituency each respectively.

According to the 2011 census Kishtwar district has a population of 230,696. This gives it a ranking of 586th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 29 inhabitants per square kilometre (75/sq mi) . Its 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 rate of 58.54%. [Male 71.75% [Female 44.13%].

The district is Muslim majority 57.75%, with Hindus constituting 40.72% of the population.

The economy of area is not regularized with no visible investment from government. The area being rural in nature has agriculture based economy. Due to 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 best quality and used extensively for construction purpose.

The Padder area produces world class Pine nuts called chilgoza which is a delicacy and costly dry fruit. In Marwah, Chatroo, 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 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; however, the quality of Kishtwar apple is not of world class.

The rivers are a rich source of hydel electricity and the site of the hydroelectric power projects of Dul Hasti 390 MW, Ratle Hydroelectric Project 850 MW, Kirthai 1400 MW, 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 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.

The Chenab River flows through the district and is joined by tributaries such as 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. The area is also known for its high mountain passes which have been the mountaineer's delight since British era. Many illustrations are found in the travelogue written by British writers including Otto Rothfield's With pen and Rifle in Kashmir. The Kishtwar Anantnag National Highway passes through the 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 destination with a wide range of landscape. 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 Air Landing ground under the control and management of Indian Army which caters to civil and military Helicopters. The 33 hectare Chowgan is the largest natural ground located in the center of city and is used as a venue of recreation and religious and political gatherings. Mini Secretariat housing all the offices of Kishtwar District Administration besides world class Conference Hall is located 3 km from the main bus stand in Kuleed area. Kishtwar is endowed with dense forests of deodar, pine and fir. There are high altitude mountains 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, Ashoka dosa jeal.

• G. M. Saroori
• Ghulam Haider Gagroo

• Qazi, S.A. (2005), "Part II: Doda district", Systematic Geography of Jammu and Kashmir, APH Publishing, pp. 210-, ISBN 978-81-7648-786-3

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kishtwar district.

• kishtwar.nic.in
• Kishtwar.com
• Kishtwartimes.com