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Learn About Places Jammu Kashmir > Anantnag


Anantnag

Anantnag Jammu and Kashmir

Introduction :: The district of Anantnag is situated in the southern region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The district is divided into several Tehsils that are further subdivided into a number of towns and cities. Anantnag district is reputed for the health resorts situated in the district. Devotees gather in large numbers to the district to visit the sacred cave of Amaranth.The district covers an area of 3984 square kilometers. Dooru, Kulgam, Bijbehara, Pahalgam and Anantnag are the five tehsils of the district. The tehsils are further categorized into 150 Patwar Halqas and 26 Niabat Circles, which are administrative units of the district. The 12 community blocks of the district comprises of 605 villages. According to the census of 2001, the total population of the district was 11.70 lakhs. The headquarters of the district is the town of Anantnag. The district stretches across the geographical coordinates of 74 degrees 30 minutes to 75 degrees 35 minutes east longitude and 33 degrees 20 minutes to 34 degrees 15 minutes north latitude. The natural beauty of the district entices tourists to visit it. It is surrounded by the high snow covered peaks of the Himalayan mountain ranges and has a number of natural springs and streams.Historical research of the Anantnag reveals that the district derived its name fro the natural spring, Ananta Naga. The district has been witness to the change of rule in the region. The Martand Temple is the only archaeological site that stills stands in the district in its ruinous state. The other constructions of the Mughal dynasty have been lost. The temples, shrines and the springs are popular among the followers of the Hindu religion and are frequently visited by them.

HOW TO GO
Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of the Lidder Valley, Amarnath Holy Cave stands at 3,888 mtrs. and is 363 kms. from Jammu Via Pahalgam and about 414 kms. from Jammu Via Baltal. Mainly the journrey upto Holy Cave is under taken in two parts and one can reach first part of the journey through:
Air :: The nearest aerodrome is Srinagar. Srinagar is a beautiful valley having world famous sights to see, such as Dal Lake, Nagina Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, Mughal Gardens and what no t. It is the most sought after  tourist place. It is also known as "Paradise on earth". Srinagar is summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. There are daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Jammu. On some week days flights also pickup  passengers from Chandigarh and Amritsar .    UP
Rail ::Jammu is the nearest Railway Station. Jammu is winter Capital of Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu is a beautiful city and is also known as "CITY OF TEMPLES". One may  visit old temples such as Raghunath Temple , Mahadev Mandir and other temples . It is well connected with all stations of India.
Road ::Jammu and Srinagar are also connected through road. Buses and Taxies are also available for this part of the  journey .These can be hired on daily as well as full tour basis.
How to Reach Amarnath Holy Cave :: Though it is tough route still nearly one and a half  lac pilgrims visit  every year . The number of pilgrims is increasing every year. The journey from Jammu onward is by road and there are two routes . The details are given here.

History
Ancient Indian (Bharata) cities.
According to ancient mythological stories, the name Anant Nag is given to the place because Lord Shiv during his journey to Amarnath cave left all his valuables on the way and Anant Nag was the place where he is supposed to have left countless number of serpents residing on him.The city finds its place in the Bhagavadgita that says "I am Ananta Naga"[2] It is also well mentioned in ancient Naga and Pichash cronicals of ancient aboriginals of the valley. Anantnag is an ancient city which came into existence as a market town around 5000 B.C. making it of the oldest urban human settlements in the whole world. It was also known as Kashyapteshwara in ancient times linking it to the mythology of Rishi Kashyapa. It has one spring called Inder Spring Hydro sphere. It has two Sulphur springs and countless fresh water springs. There are about 7 temples in Anantnag (Anantnag Bhawan Complex): two Shiva Temples, one Radha Krishna Mandir, one Durga Temple, one Ganesh Temple, Sita Ram Temple, Hanuman Temple, four Dharmshallas and one school building. Outside the complex in the town are three temples - Ancient temples - Devibal, Shiva Temple at Nai Basti, and third at Hara Mohalla. All three temples outside the complex were burnt and damaged. Kashmiri Hindus in February 1986 rebuilt them with assistance of the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Jag Mohan. Now both the Shivala temples outside complex are reported to have been again damaged and partially burnt. The district as well as its headquarter city are called by same name.[3] 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 city 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 Maharaja Gulab Singh the town as well as district again resumed their old name, Anantnag,as it was popular among the common masses.
Anant also means numerous in the Sanskrit language and Naga means spring in the Kashmiri language. Thus Anantnag is believed to mean numerous springs, because there are many springs, including Nag Bal, Salak Nag and Malik Nag in the town. Nag Bal issues from the foot-hill of table land. Its waters are received into tanks, whose sides are built with stones and which are over shadowed by Chinar trees. Houses of worship of the adherents of three religions Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs are built adjacent to each other near the tanks, which depicts a rare example of communal harmony between those particular faiths in the area. Another example of religious tolerance is the Mosque of Baba Dawood Khaki, which contains a small Hindu temple in its courtyard. Among the mosques of the town of Anantnag, one is built indirectly near the mausoleum of famous Kashmiri saint Rishi Malo to whose prayers the defeat of Akbar's first attempt to invade Jammu and Kashmir was attributed. The place is venerated by Kashmiris of all faiths.Anantnag is a city of various handicrafts. Shawl weaving, Gabbah and Namdah manufacturing are the main trades. Near Anantnag three streams namely Arapath, Brengi and Sandran confluence together, thus giving birth to river Veth (Jhelum). Another stream Lidar also joins the flow with them at a little distance downstream further ahead. From this place the river becomes navigable. In olden times river Jhelum was the main source of transportation between Anantnag and other towns downstream. The distances of different towns and cities from Anantnag are Achhabal - 6 miles (9.7 km), Kokarnag - 14 miles (23 km), Verinag - 17 miles (27 km), Pahalgam - 24 miles (39 km) and Srinagar - 33 miles (53 km).

Geography :: Anantnag is situated at 33.44 latitude and 75.12 longitude, at an elevation of 5,400 feet (1,600 m) above sea level, at a distance of 33 miles (53 km) from the main state-headquarters Srinagar. Anantnag is located at 33°44'N 75°09'E? / ?33.73°N 75.15°E? / 33.73; 75.15.[4] It has an average elevation of 1601 metres (5252 feet). The city is constituted by three main boroughs or towns Viz Anantnag, Khanabal, Mattan and half a dozen small townships. Most of the population of city resides in the Anantnag borough. The old city of Anantnag comprises Nagbal, Maliknag, Kadipora, Cheeni Chowk, Doni Pawa, Sarnal Bala, Janglatmandi, Old Port Khanabal, Downtown martand, & Dangarpora areas and few villages like Haji Danter,Mir Danter etc. The new city consists civil lines areas like New Colony, Laizbal, Anchidora, Iqbalabad, Posh Bilal Colony, Fasilabad, Moomin-Abad, Harnag, Sultan Bah-i-Rum Shah and Mid town areas like Ashshjipora, Naibasti, Batpora and Mir Bazaar. Anantnag has quite a population inhabiting several satellite areas like Wanpoh, Dialgam, Fatehpora, Nowgam, Seer, Fateh Garh University town and NH 1 A north and east.
Anantnag has for long enjoyed the status of the second largest city of Jammu and Kashmir, India, but in last few years has become largest city with respect to the area. The name of Anantnag District according to a well known archaeologist, Sir A. Stein from the great spring Ananta Naga issuing at the center of the city. This is also corroborated by almost all local historians including Kalhana according to whom the city 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.
Anantnag, like the rest of the Kashmir Valley, has witnessed many vicissitudes and experienced many upheavals from time to time. Hugel found here some monuments of the Mughal period in ruins when he visited Jammu and Kashmir in 1835. No significant ancient building or archaeological site is found in the district today except the Martand temple as most of the ancient architectural monuments in area were destroyed during rule of Sikander Hyat Khan. What must have once been magnificent architectural show pieces like the Martand complex of temples situated at a distance of nine kilometers from the district headquarters or the palaces of Laltaditya and Awantivarman at Awantipora lying midway between Srinagar and Anantnag are now in grand ruins. The majestic Martand temple is one of the important archaeological sites of the country. Its impressive architecture reveals the glorious past of the area. Martand temple is the clear expression of Kashmir’s pristine glory. The Mughal Emperors especially Jehangir developed many beauty spots of the district, but of their noble and magnificent edifices only fainted traces survive. All the same, even in their present ruinous conditions, these monuments do not fail to feast the eye or excite the imagination of admirers at large.

Holy places :: Kashmir is the land of saints, Sufis, and Munis and the Anantnag district being part of the Kashmir Valley is no exception. Anantnag is bestowed with religious wealth in the form of numerous shrines and places of worship enjoying reverence and allegiance of people professing different faiths. There are numerous sepulchers of saints which have enchanting environs, while visiting these shrines, one feels in close proximity of the Almighty. Some of the shrines have historical importance in addition to religious significance attached to them. The Famous shrine in Anantnag is Hazrat Baba Hyder Rashi(Ra)at Historical Jamia Masjid islamabad Anantnag. These shrines belong to both Hindus and Muslims and are visited by thousands of devotees. Some of the shrines are the world famous shrine of Baba Hyder Gazi (ra), Amarnath Ji, Devibal, Gautam Nag, Verinag, Nila Nag, Vitasta, Mattan, Bawan, Uma Devi of Uma Nagri, Nagdandi, Domtabal Asthapan, Khana Barnain Triporsundari Asthapan Devsar, Goswami Gund Ashram, Guddar Asthapan, Lok Bhawan, Swami Mirza Kak Asthapan Hangulgund, Durga, Shiva Bhagwati at Akingam, Kulwagishiri Asthapan Kulgam, Liddar Syandhai Asthapan, Trisandhia Asthapan, Gauri Temple at Pahalgam, Shillagram Temple. Other famous shrines of Reshis like Reshi Maloo (Anantnag), the last of the giants of the Rishi order in Jammu and Kashmir about whose resting place the Alamda-i-Kashmir (Flag Bearer of Kashmir), Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Rishi had foretold his disciples. The devotees of the district and other places visit these shrines particularly on days when the festivals connected with the shrines are celebrated here.

Sports :: Adventure sports are popular among tourists. Pahalgam has potential for canoeing and water skiing. Water trekking is local name for three to four day trip along the Jhelum River in a shikara with camping gear. Aru (58 km) and Pahalgam (45km) are popular destinations for hikers, trekkers and fishermen.
Sports like football and cricket are popular among schoolchildren as well as adults.

Performing arts

Main rticle :: Music of Kashmir
Performing arts of the city include :: Bhand Pather, a form of traditional folk theatre art form of play and dance, is performed by a group of about ten to fifteen artists. They depict in a satirical style social evils. Performance is accompanied by light music.Chakri is a major and popular form of Kashmiri folk music. Another form of Kashmiri genre of music called Sufiana music is also practiced in the city. It was introduced in the valley in the 15th century from Iran. Over centuries, it has assimilated a number of Indian Ragas, and has established itself as a classical music of the region. The instruments used in the music include santoor, sitar, Kashmiri saz, tabla, and wasool.
Nagma, a form of dance, is performed to the accompaniment of Sufiana music. The dancer is a female while males play different instruments used in Sufiana music.Drama and film making

Anantnag at a glance

Hospitals
Jasco Maternity Hospital
Distt Hospital Janglat mandi
Maternity Hospital Nagbal
Children's hospital Nag bal
ST Bishop Hospital Sarnal Bala
Rahmet - e - Alam Hospital Sarnal Bala
Sub District Hospital Martand
Central Military Hospital Dakbunglow Khanabal
Shaheed-e-ummat Dr Qazi Nisar Memorial Hospital Islamabad
Emergency Hospital Qazigund
Nizamudin Memorial Hospital Kelam Kulgam
District Hospital Kulgam
SKJ Hospital Iqbalabad K.P. Road Anantnag

Other Facilities

Clubs :: Pahalgam Club, managed by JK TDC has a restaurant, conference room, billiards and library. Temporary membership is available with the management.

Shopping :: Pahalgam, originally a shepherds' village, is naturally known for products made of wool. Gabbas and Namdas can be purchased from local shops.

Tourist Information :: The J&K Govt. Tourist Office is located at the head of the main bazaar, where the tourist coaches stop. Tourists are urged to visit the office for all kinds of information and assistance, and for the latest information on trekking, hiking and other recreational activities in Pahalgam. They should make it a point to enquire from the Tourist Office whether one should proceed on a particular trek or not.

What to do

Horse Riding :: Ponies can be hired directly or through the Tourist Office. Tariff boards are displayed at all important locations. Golf Pahalgam Club has a 9-hole golf course, which can be used by tourists. Golf sets can be hired from the Tourist Office.
Fishing :: The Lidder River has excellent fishing beats for brown trout. The fishing season stretches from April to September. Permits are issued, for a maximum of three days at a time, on a first-come - first-served basis and are charged on a per day per rod basis. Fishing equipment can be hired in Srinagar. Live baits and spinning are not allowed. For permits contact the Directorate of Fisheries, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar.
Trekking :: The environs of Pahalgam offer exciting trekking opportunities, the best known being: Pahalgam - Chandanwari- Sheshnag- Panchtarni- Amarnath Cave Temple- Sonamarg. Prior arrangements can be had from JKTDC at Srinagar or various tour operators in the valley. Trekking can also be undertaken to Kolahoi Glacier which is very beautiful via Aru village.