Udhampur district facts for kids
Udhampur is a special area, or district, in the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, which is a part of India. It's a big area, about 4,550 square kilometers, located in the amazing Himalayan mountains. The main town and center of the district is also called Udhampur. It's also home to an important army base, the Northern Command headquarters of the Indian Army.
Quick facts for kids
Udhampur district
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District of Jammu and Kashmir administered by India
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Udhampur district is in the Jammu division (shown with neon blue boundary) of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (shaded in tan in the disputed Kashmir region
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| Administering country | India |
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Division | Jammu Division |
| Headquarters | Udhampur |
| Demographics | |
| • Literacy | 73.49% |
| • Sex ratio | 870 |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Major highways | NH- 44 |
Contents
Climate and Nature
The weather in Udhampur District changes a lot. This is because the land goes from 600 meters high to 3,000 meters high. The main rivers here are the Chenab, Ans, Tawi, and Ujh. The district also has many natural resources like coal, bauxite, gypsum, and limestone.
How Udhampur is Governed
Udhampur district is divided into different parts to help manage it. It has eight main areas called tehsils. These include Chenani, Ramnagar Tehsil, Basantgarh, Latti, and Majalta. There are also seventeen smaller sections called blocks. Each block is made up of several panchayats, which are like local village councils.
People of Udhampur
In 2011, the population of Udhampur district was about 554,985 people. For every 1,000 males, there were about 871 females. This is called the sex ratio.
Most people in the district can read and write. The overall literacy rate is about 54.16%. For males, it's higher at 66.43%, and for females, it's 39.89%.
Most people in Udhampur district follow the Hindu religion. Many people here are from the Dogra community. There are also many nomadic people, like the Gujjars and Bakarwals, who move around the district. About 25% of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes, and 10.1% are from Scheduled Tribes. These are groups of people recognized by the government.
Languages Spoken
Many different languages are spoken in Udhampur district. According to the 2011 census, most people (81.36%) speak Dogri as their first language. Other languages spoken include Gojri (5.18%), Hindi (3.67%), Gaddi (2.81%), Pahari (1.35%), and Kashmiri (1.30%).
Fun Places to Visit
Udhampur has many beautiful and interesting places to explore.
Mansar Lake: This is a lovely lake surrounded by hills covered in forests. It's over a mile long and half a mile wide. Mansar Lake and Surinsar Lake are very important for nature and are protected under the Ramsar Convention. It's also a holy place, similar to the famous Lake Manasarovar. On one side of the lake, there's a shrine dedicated to Sheshnag, a snake with six heads.
Surinsar Lake: This lake is another beautiful picnic spot, surrounded by thick forests and mountains. It's considered a twin lake to Mansar Lake, located about 30 kilometers away. The Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is between these two lakes. It's home to many animals, including 3 types of mammals and 15 types of birds, like cranes. An old story says that the warrior Arjun from the Mahabharata created this lake by shooting an arrow into the ground.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel: This is India's longest road tunnel, stretching for 9.28 kilometers (about 5.8 miles). It's very modern and helps connect Jammu and Srinagar. The tunnel makes the journey 30 kilometers shorter and saves about two hours of travel time. It's an all-weather tunnel, meaning it can be used even when there's heavy snow or avalanches in places like Patnitop and Batote. This helps keep NH 44 open all year.
Shool Panishwar Mahadev Temple (Sudhmahadev): This very old temple, about 2,800 years old, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It's located in the Chenani Tehsil, about 50 kilometers from Udhampur town. It's one of the oldest Shiva temples in Jammu & Kashmir. A legend says that a demon named Sudheet accidentally scared Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva, thinking he was attacking, threw his trident. When Sudheet called out Shiva's name, Shiva realized his mistake. Sudheet asked to die to gain salvation, and Shiva granted his wish. Shiva then said that Sudheet's name would always be spoken before his own at that spot, which is why it's called Sudhmahadev.
Krimchi temples: Krimchi is home to a group of very old temples, believed to have been built in the 11th or 12th century AD. Locals call them the Pandava Temples. There are four large and three small temples, all dedicated to Lord Shiva. The way they are built shows some influences from ancient Greek architecture. Stories say that Raja Kichak from the Mahabharata created the town of Krimchi. It's also believed that the Pandavas stayed here for a long time during their exile.
Aparneshar Temple (Mantalai Temple): This temple is located high up, about 1,450 meters above the ground, surrounded by beautiful deodar trees. It is believed to be the place where Goddess Parvati was born and where she married Lord Shiva. There's even a special rock here said to be linked to their wedding. This area is being developed into a modern International Yoga Center.
Gauri Kund: This is a sacred pond located in Sudhmahadev, where Goddess Parvati is said to have bathed regularly.
Holy Places and Temples
Because it has so many shrines and temples, Udhampur is also known as Devika Nagari, which means City of the Goddess. Some of the important places of worship in the district include Aparneshar Temple, Sudh Mahadev, Babore Temples, Shiv Khori Cave Temple, Krimchi Temples, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
An ancient text from the 7th century, the Nilamata Purana, mentions that the Devika River is a special form of the mother Goddess Parvati. It is said to appear on Shiv Ratri to help the people of the Mader Desha region. Lord Shiva and his wife Uma are believed to appear together at eight places along the Devika river. The Devika River flows underground in some parts. People believe that just touching or bathing in the Devika waters brings spiritual benefits. It's also considered very holy to perform cremations on the sands of Devika, similar to the Ganges river at Kashi.
Important Towns and Villages
Udhampur district has many important towns and villages. Some of these include:
- Balwalta
- Battal Baaliyan
- Chenani
- Cheryaai
- Chopra Bazaar
- Domail
- Jaganoo
- Jakheni
- Kishanpur
- Mansar Lake
- Manwal
- Mongri
- Narsu
- Palthyar
- Pancheri
- Patnitop
- Ramkot
- Ramnagar
- Rehamble
- Sansoo
- Sen Brahmana
- Thaathi
- Thalora
- Tikri
- Udhampur
- Latti Dhuna
Indian Army Presence
Udhampur is very important for the Indian Army. It is where the Northern Command Headquarters is located. This command oversees three main army groups, called Corps (XIV, XV, and XVI). These groups are stationed along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Before India became independent, the Northern Command Headquarters was in Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan). After India was divided, a new Western Command was set up in Shimla to protect the northern borders.
However, after wars in 1962, 1965, and 1971, it became clear that the area was too large for one command. So, in 1972, the Northern Command Headquarters was created in Udhampur. It took over the responsibility for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. This command has been actively involved in protecting the region since it started.
The Northern Command also manages the highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen Glacier. Here, army posts are located at altitudes from 15,000 to 23,000 feet.
Since 1990, this command has played a key role in fighting against a "proxy war," which means a conflict where other groups are supported to fight. They have stopped many illegal activities and recovered weapons and explosives. The command also built fences along the Line of Control to prevent people from crossing illegally.
The XIV Corps is responsible for areas like Ladakh and Kargil. During the Kargil conflict in 1999, the 8 Mountain Division played a major role in pushing back enemy forces. The XVI Corps is one of the largest army groups in the world, with five divisions.
In 2005, the Indian Army created a new command called the South Western Command. This new command works with the Northern Command (in Udhampur) and the Western Command. Also, a new corps, the 9 Corps, was formed in Himachal Pradesh to help with defense in the western area.
Politics in Udhampur
Udhampur District has three areas for elections, called assembly constituencies. These are Udhampur, Chenani, and Ramnagar.
See also
- Talwara (Udhampur district)
