Kokernag
Kokernag is a sub-district town and a notified area committee in Breng Valley (The Golden Crown of Kashmir), Anantnag district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The place is known for its gardens, pristine fresh water springs and rainbow trout farms. It is 25.3 km from Anantnag via NH244.It is one of the most popular weekend getaways from the state capital Srinagar.[1]
Kokernag Brang Kokernag | |
|---|---|
Sub-District | |
| Nickname(s): Brang Kokernag | |
  Kokernag Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India  Kokernag Kokernag (India) | |
| Coordinates: 33.584721°N 75.308601°E | |
| Country |  |
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Anantnag |
| Government | |
| • Type | Parliamentary |
| • Body | Municipal |
| Elevation | 2,000 m (7,000 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 6,553 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Urdu, Kashmiri, |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 192202 |
| Vehicle registration | JK03 |
| Website | Anantnag District |
Kokarnag is the name of one king of Naga kingdom.Here is some examples,
Ram Swarup Joon[1] writes In the Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 48, while describing various Kings who attended a ceremony in the Durbar (court) of Maharaja Yudhisthira, seventeen names are mentioned which are today found as tribes and clans. These are Malhia, Mylaw, Sindhar, Gandhar, Mahity, Mahe, Savi, Bath, Dharan, Virk, Dard, Shaly, Matash, (kokar) Kukar (Khokar) Kak, Takshak, Sand, Bahik (Bathi) Bije (Bijenia), Andhra, Sorashtra (Rathi) Mann, Ar, Sohat, Kukat, Othiwal (Othval). Ram Swarup Joon[3] writes about Kukarnag, Kakrryan or Kak: Kukar was the son of Takshak. Kak, Kakrayan, Kakar, Khokhar are derivatives of Kukar. They are also called Karaskars. The Kukar rulers are also mentioned to be present at King Yudhisthira's coronation. There was a kingdom called Naga (karkotaka kingdom) centuries of years in Kashmir. One of the King was called Kokarnag the same kokarnag of mahabharata described.
Names
The etymology of the word 'Kokernag'(کوکرناگ in Urdu language) is controversial and there are various theories and none has any conclusive historical proof. One theory is that the name derives from the two words namely, koker and nag. Koker has been taken from a Kashmiri word for chicken, while nag has been taken from Sanskrit word for springs. The springs gush out of the base of a thickly wooded hill from where it divides into channels, which resembles to the claw-foot of a hen, hence its name.[2] A second theory is that Koker means 'fowl' and nag means 'serpent'. Another theory is that the word Kokernag originates from Koh (Mountain) kan (from or under) nag (spring).[3]
Kokernag is known also as Breng Kokernag, the name given by Shiekh ul Alam, poet and scholar. He said "kokernag breng chu sunsund preng" which means that "Kokernag is Golden crown of kashmir". Kokernag is also mentioned in Ain Akbari, where in it has been mentioned that the water of Kokernag satisfies both hunger and thirst and it is also a remedy for indigestion.[2]
Geography
Kokernag is at the height of approximately 2,000 m above sea level. Towns situated around Kokernag are Wangam, Devalgam, Hangalgund, Nagam, Sagam, Zalengam, Daksum, Magam, and Soaf Shali. The total area of Kokernag trouth farm about 400 Kanals of which 129 kanals is for the purpose of gardens and area.[1]
Climate
| Climate data for Kokernag (1981–2010, extremes 1978–2012) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) |
18.0 (64.4) |
29.2 (84.6) |
28.3 (82.9) |
32.6 (90.7) |
34.9 (94.8) |
33.0 (91.4) |
31.8 (89.2) |
31.2 (88.2) |
29.2 (84.6) |
23.4 (74.1) |
18.4 (65.1) |
34.9 (94.8) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
13.4 (56.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
27.1 (80.8) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.5 (68.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
8.2 (46.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −3.5 (25.7) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
2.7 (36.9) |
6.5 (43.7) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.1 (55.6) |
16.0 (60.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
11.4 (52.5) |
6.6 (43.9) |
1.9 (35.4) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
6.4 (43.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15.3 (4.5) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.2 (39.6) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
4.4 (39.9) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−10.5 (13.1) |
−15.3 (4.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 92.6 (3.65) |
119.8 (4.72) |
144.9 (5.70) |
112.1 (4.41) |
114.7 (4.52) |
79.0 (3.11) |
94.9 (3.74) |
95.5 (3.76) |
50.8 (2.00) |
42.7 (1.68) |
37.3 (1.47) |
60.8 (2.39) |
1,044.9 (41.14) |
| Average rainy days | 5.7 | 7.5 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 72.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 79 | 72 | 63 | 57 | 57 | 55 | 66 | 69 | 62 | 59 | 67 | 73 | 65 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department[4][5] | |||||||||||||
Economy
It is known for its trout streams and the largest fresh water spring in Kashmir, Trout hatchery department which has constructed pools in series where in trout is reared.
The state's first rural mart has been set up in Kokernag, to promote and market the handicraft products manufactured by the local women self help groups, by NABARD.[6]
Demographics
According to the 2011 India census Kokernag had a population of 6,553. Males constitute 68% of the population ●Females 32%. Kokernag has an average ●Literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%.Male literacy is 77%,Female literacy is 33%.In Kokernag, 9% of the population is aged under 6 years.
Transport
Kokernag is situated at a distance of about 22 km from Anantnag on the right side of Anantnag-Kishtwar National highway. The easiest and most comfortable way of reaching this place is to hire a Sumo at Anantnag. One can also catch a local bus that is easily available in Anantnag and head towards Kokernag. It takes about one hour to reach Kokernag.[1].The nearest airport is 88 km away, at Srinagar. The nearest railway station is Anantnag railway station on the 119 km long Kashmir Railway that runs from Baramulla to Banihal. It lies at a distance of 30 km from kokernag.
References
- "Kokernag". Department of Tourism, Government of J&K. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir. "Kokernag". J & K Tourism. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- Khan, Ruhail (6 July 2017). Who Killed Kasheer?. Notion Press. ISBN 9781947283107.
- "Station: Kukernag Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 439–440. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Jammu & Kashmir's first rural mart set up in Kokernag". The Indian Express. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.