Udhampur district is an administrative district in the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary sources (a) through (d), reflecting due weight in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (f) through (h) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (i) below). (a) (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories."; (b) (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state."; (c) C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947"; (d) Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute betw een India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China." (e) Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir."; (f) (subscription required) Quote: "... China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962."; (g) Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million. AJK has six districts: Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Kodi, Rawalakot, and Poonch. Its capital is the town of Muzaffarabad. AJK has its own institutions, but its political life is heavily controlled by Pakistani authorities, especially the military), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control." (h) Quote: "Kashmir's identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised "Line of Control" still separating Pakistani-held Azad ("Free") Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir."; (i) Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'." Covering an area of in the Himalayan mountains, the district has its headquarters in the town of Udhampur. The Northern Command headquarters of the Indian Army is located in the district.
Weather conditions Temperature varies considerably in the Udhampur District, as the altitude ranges from . Chenab, Ans, Tawi and Ujh are the main rivers. The district is rich in minerals such as coal, bauxite, gypsum and limestone.
Administration Udhampur district comprises eight tehsils (Chenani, Ramnagar Tehsil, Basantgarh, Latti, Majalta) and seventeen blocks, namely, Dudu Basantgarh, Gordi, Chenani, Bajalta, Panchari, Ramnagar and Udhampur.Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly Created Districts dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2008-08-30 Each block consists of a number of panchayats.
Demographics
The 2011 census indicates the population of the district to be 554,985. There are 871 females for every 1000 males in the district. The overall literacy rate is 54.16%, with 66.43% for males and 39.89% for females. The majority of the population of the district practice Hinduism. The majority are Dogras in this district. There are a large number of nomadic Gujjars and Bakarwals present in the district as well. 19.50% of the population lives in urban areas. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes account for 24.97% and 10.15% of the population of the district.
According to the 2011 census, Udhampur district has a population of 555,357, greater than that of Brunei and roughly equal to the EU nation of Luxembourg. This gives it a ranking of 538th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 20.86%. Udhampur has a sex ratio of 870 females for every 1000 males (which varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 69.9%.
Religion
The religious composition of the district is: Hindu 88.12%, Muslim 10.77%.
Udhampur district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census. Hindu Muslim Christian Sikh Buddhist Jain Other Not stated Total Total 489,044 59,771 1,962 3,418 106 57 235 392 554,985 88.12% 10.77% 0.35% 0.62% 0.02% 0.01% 0.04% 0.07% 100.00% Male 262,013 31,219 1,118 1,974 73 32 119 236 296,784 Female 227,031 28,552 844 1,444 33 25 116 156 258,201 Gender ratio (% female) 46.4% 47.8% 43.0% 42.2% 31.1% 43.9% 49.4% 39.8% 46.5% Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males) 866 915 755 732 – – – – 870 Urban 96,254 7,753 1,243 2,805 62 26 4 61 108,208 Rural 392,790 52,018 719 613 44 31 231 331 446,777 % Urban 19.7% 13.0% 63.4% 82.1% 58.5% 45.6% 1.7% 15.6% 19.5%
Languages
At the time of the 2011 census, 81.36% of the population spoke Dogri, 5.18% Gojri, 3.67% Hindi, 2.81% Gaddi, 1.35% Pahadi and 1.30% Kashmiri as their first language.
Notable sites
Mansar Lake: Mansar is a lake fringed by forest-covered hills, over a mile in length by half-a-mile in width. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes is designated as Ramsar Convention in November 2005. Besides being an excursion destination in the state, it is also a holy site, sharing the legend and sanctity of Lake Manasarovar. On the eastern bank of the lake there is a shrine to Sheshnag, a snake with six heads. Surinsar Lake: Surinsar Lake is surrounded by thickly wooded mountain ranges. Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake are considered to be twin lakes; Mansar is located 30 km away from it. The Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the midst of both the lakes and supports 3 mammalian species and 15 avifauna species including crane. According to Hindu mythological legends, the origin of the lake is closely associated with the legendary warrior of Mahabharat, Arjun. It is said to believe that Arjun shot an arrow in to the Mansar and a spring gushed of the earth and now it is known as Surinsar Lake.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel: It is India's longest road tunnel with a length of 9.28 km (5.8 mi). It is the first tunnel in the India with a fully integrated tunnel control system. The tunnel reduces the distance between Jammu and Srinagar by 30 km and travel time by two hours. The all-weather tunnel bypasses snowfall and avalanche prone areas in winter at places like Patnitop, Kud, and Batote that obstruct NH 44 every winter and cause long queues of vehicles - sometimes for days at length.
Shool Panishwar Mahadev Temple/ Sudhmahadev: The 2800 years old temple Sudh Mahadev also Shool Panishwar Mahadev Temple is situated in the Chenani Tehsil of District Udhampur. The Temple of Sudh Mahadev is about 50 km away from District Headquarter of Udhampur. The temple is one of the oldest Shiva Temples of Jammu & Kashmir State. Sudh Mahadev is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated at a height of approximately 1225m. One legend associated with this shrine is as: Once, when Goddess Parvati was in deep prayer, a demon called Sudheet came to pay his respectful obeisance. But his demonic look frightened the Goddess and She made a loud shriek. Her cry revered acted across the mountains surrounding the valley. Lord Shiva was disturbed by the sound. When He opened His eyes, He saw the demon, at whom he hurled His invincible Trident (Holy Trishul). As the trident pierced through Sudheet, he began to chant Lord Shiva's name. Lord Shiva realized the mistake, so He offered to bring Sudheet back to life. But Sudheet refused to come back to life telling Lord Shiva that only by dying at His hands would he be able to obtain moksha (Salvation). Moved by the demon's words, Lord Shiva ordered that, henceforth, Sudheet's name would be taken before His own at the place where he was killed. That is how the place where Goddess Parvati used to worship a shivling came to be known as Sudhmahadev.
Krimchi temples: Krimchi is the site of one of the oldest temple complexes of the state. Believed to have been constructed in the 11th - 12th century AD, this group of temples, also locally known as the Pandava Temples. Consists of four large and three small temples dedicated to Lord Shiv. The architecture of the temples shows Greek (Hellenic) influences. As per the legends, Raja Kichak of Mahabharat was said to be the creator of town Krimchi and the Kingdom. It is also said that Pandavas while in exile remained there for a long period.
Latti: Latti is a village in Dudu Block in Udhampur District of Jammu & Kashmir UT, India. It is located 83 km towards East from District headquarters Udhampur.
Aparneshar Temple (Mantalai temple): Aparneshar Temple or Mantalai Temple at an elevation of 1450 metres from the ground, surrounded by deodar trees. This is the place where mother Parvati was born and married Lord Shiva. One divine rock (patthar) related to the wedding of Parvati and Shiva can also be spotted in this shrine. Ever since Dhirendra Brahmachari, the Yogic mentor of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was killed in air crash in June 1994 property worth hundreds of crore in Mantalai Aparna Asharam is gathering dust. This facility is now being developed as a state-of-the-art International Yoga Center.
Gauri Kund: Place where Parvati took bath regularly located in Sudmahadev.
Temples
Owing to a multitude of shrines and temples, Udhampur is also known as Devika Nagari meaning City of the Goddess. Places of worship located in the district include Aparneshar Temple (Parvati Janmbhoomi), Sudh Mahadev (Shool Panishwar Mahadev), Babore Temples, Kansar Devta's shrine, Shaankari Devta mandir, Shiv Khori Cave Temple, Bhairav Ghati, Krimchi Temples, Shiv Parvathi Cave shrine, Cairhai, Mutal Pingla Devi shrine, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Deva Mayi Maa Temple, and Sheshnag Shrine.
In the 7th century text, the Nilamata Purana by Nila Muni, it is mentioned that the Devika River is a manifestation of the mother Goddess Parvati to benefit people of Mader Desha that covers the areas between river Ravi and Chenab and the river Devika and appears on the Shiv Ratri. Lord Shiva and his consort Uma are believed to manifest together at eight places alongside the Devika river. The subterranean river Devika presently flows under a sandy surface.