History

Anantnag District is in southern sector of Jehlum Valley. It is because of its rejuvenating climate, the inspiring majesty, its lofty mountains, the melodious flow of sweet waters of its springs and streams, fertile soil, fragrant flowers and delicious fruits that the district has come to be synonymous with greatness. Geographically the district lies between 33o-20′ to 34o-15′ north latitude and 74o-30′ to 75o-35′ east longitude. The entire Southern sector of the district, which is contiguous with tehsils of Reasi, Banihal and Kishtwar of Jammu province, and Eastern sector which is contiguous with tehsil Kargil of Ladakh division comprises of thick forests and mountains. The Northern and Western sides of this district are bounded by Pulwama district while Kulgam district falls in its west. Of all the districts of the state, Anantnag claims the largest number of streams (Nallas) like Sandran, Brengi, Arpath and Lidder. The most important among these is Lidder which takes of from Sheshnag lake and irrigate maximum area of the district.The area of the district after carving out district Kulgam in year 2007 stood at 3574 Sq. Kms, which constitutes about 1.31% of the total area of Jammu & Kashmir state. As per Census 2011, the population of the district is 10.70 lac with 5.52 lac Males and 5.17 lac Females. As per the report of Revenue authorities, the district consists of 395 Villages having 01 Municipal Council and 09 Municipal Committees. There are twelve  Tehsils Viz. Anantnag, Bijbehara, Dooru, Shangus, Kokernag, Mattan, Sirigufwara, Shahabad Bala-Verinag, Sallar, Qazigund, larnoo and Pahalgam which have further been sub divied into 34 Nayabats (Land Revenue Circles) and 96 Patwar halqas. These villages have also been divided into 16 Community Development Blocks Viz. Achabal, Breng, Dachnipora, Khoveripora, Qazigund, Shahabad, Chittergul, Vessu, Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Shahabad-Hiller, Larnoo, Shangus, Sagam & Verinag . For Law & Order purposes there are 09 Police Stations and 06 Police Posts in the district. Owing to proximity of Peer Panchal Range, which stretches in its South and South-East, the district has a more temperate climate in summer than other districts of the Valley. In winter, however, snowfall is heavier and temperature is relatively low. Being engulfed on two sides by mountains, the monsoon does not generally reach the district. The rainfall is often excessive in Spring, moderate in Summer, deficient in Autumn and moderate in Winter. The name of Anantnag District according to a well known archaeologist, Sir A.Stein from the great spring Ananta Naga issuing at the southern end of the town. This is also corroborated by almost all local historians including Kalhana according to whom the town has taken the name of this great spring of Cesha or Ananta Naga “land of countless springs”. The spring is mentioned in the Neelmat Purana as a sacred place for the Hindus and Koshur Encyclopedia testifies it. The district as well as its headquarter town are also called Islamabad. Regarding this second name no mention is to be found in the old chronicles of Kashmir. It is however, said that the name of Islamabad was assigned to the town by one Islam Khan who was the Governor of Kashmir during the Mughal rule in 1663 A.D., but the change in its nomenclature proved temporary and during the reign of Gulab Singh the town as well as district again resumed their old name, Anantnag, but stillbut still the name Islamabad is Popular among common masses, though officially the name Anantnag is used. Before the advent of Muslim rule in 1320 A.D., Kashmir was divided into three divisions, viz; Maraz in the south, Yamraj in the centre and Kamraj in the north of the Valley. Old chronicles reveal that the division was the culmination of the rift Marhan and Kaman, the two brothers, over the crown of their father. The part of the valley which lies between Pir Panjal and Srinagar now called the Anantnag was given to Marhan and named after him as Maraj. While Srinagar is no longer known as Yamraj, the area to its north and south are still called Kamraz and Maraz respectively. Lawrence in his book “The Valley of Kashmir” states that these divisions were later on divided into thirty four sub-divisions which after 1871 were again reduced to five Zilas or districts.