Chenani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chenani
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Town
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 Chenani
Location in Jammu and Kashmir
Chenani
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| Union Territory |  Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Udhampur |
| Tehsil | Chenani |
| Elevation | 1,062 m (3,484 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 2,620 |
| Demographics | |
| • Literacy | 88.91% |
| • Sex ratio | 809 ♀/ 1000 ♂ |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Dogri, English, Hindi, Kashmiri, Urdu |
| • Spoken | Dogri, Hindi, Kashmiri |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN |
182141
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| Telephone code | 01992 |
| Vehicle registration | JK-14 |
Chenani is a small town in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is also a tehsil, which is like a sub-district. A local city council, called a notified area council, manages the town.
Before 1947, Chenani was a special area called a jagir. It was ruled by a Chandel Rajput leader. This was part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Chenani has become more important recently. It is now home to Asia's longest road tunnel. This tunnel connects Chenani to Nashri.
Contents
History of Chenani
The area of Chenani was once a small kingdom. It was ruled by a Rajput family called Anthal. These rulers were from the Chandel Rajput clan. They arrived in Chenani around the 9th century AD. They came from a place called Kot Kalhur in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.
Local people asked Raja Bir Chand of Bilaspur for help. They wanted protection from harsh local rulers called Ranas. So, Raja Bir Chand sent his younger brother, Raja Gambhir Chand. He was also a Chandel Rajput ruler. He came with an army to help the people.
When Raja Gambhir Chand reached Chenani, he made the Ranas leave. He then set up his own independent state. This state continued to exist until 1947. During this long period, 52 different Rajas from this Rajput family ruled Chenani.
Geography of Chenani
Chenani is located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) northeast of Jammu city. It sits at an average height of 1,062 meters (3,487 feet) above sea level. The Tawi River flows right through the town of Chenani.
The town is well-connected by roads. NH 44 (formerly NH 1A) passes through Chenani. This highway connects Kashmir to the rest of India. Buses from Jammu take about 3 to 4 hours to reach Chenani. You can also find mini-buses from Udhampur to Chenani.
The closest train station to Chenani is in Udhampur. It is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away. Chenani is also a starting point for visiting famous holy places. These include Sudhmahadev, Gourikund, and Mantalai shrines. You can reach them by bus or taxi from Chenani.
People and Religions
Religion in Chenani Town (2011) Hinduism (75.92%) Islam (21.68%) Sikhism (2.06%) Christianity (0.27%) Buddhism (0.08%)
In 2011, Chenani Town had a population of 2,620 people. There were 1,448 males and 1,172 females. Most people in Chenani can read and write. The literacy rate is 88.91%. For males, it is 94.43%, and for females, it is 82.19%. About 12% of the people in Chenani are under 6 years old.
Main Religions in Chenani
Hinduism is the largest religion in Chenani. Over 75% of the people follow Hinduism. Islam is the second largest religion. More than 21% of the people follow Islam.
Other religions are also present in Chenani. About 2.06% of people follow Sikhism. Around 0.27% are followers of Christianity. Finally, about 0.08% of the population follows Buddhism.
Getting Around Chenani
Air Travel
The closest airport to Chenani is Jammu Airport. It is located about 97 kilometers (60 miles) away from the town.
Train Travel
Chenani does not have its own train station. The nearest railway station is Udhampur railway station. This station is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Chenani.
Road Travel
Chenani has good road connections to other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also connected to the rest of India. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, also known as NH 44, passes through the area. There are also other local roads within the district.
The Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel is very important for Chenani. It is also called the Chenani–Nashri tunnel. This tunnel is 9.2 kilometers (5.7 miles) long. It helps vehicles bypass the Patnitop area. When the highway is fully rerouted through this tunnel, it will shorten the journey. The distance between Jammu and Srinagar will be reduced by 31 kilometers (19 miles).
This tunnel is India's longest road tunnel. It is located about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Chenani town. It also helps prevent traffic jams. These jams often happen on NH44 during winter. They are caused by snowfall and avalanches near Patnitop.
