Kathua District

Kathua District

Known as Gateway of Jammu & Kashmir State, Kathua district lies in South-East of the State. It is located 32.17' to 32.55' north latitude and 75.32' to 75.76' east longitude. Spread over an area of 2651 sq.Kms constituting 1.9 per cent of the total area of the State, the district has a population of over 4.92 lakh as per 1991 estimates. The sex ratio as per 1981 census was 917 females per 1000 males and density of population 1.86 persons per Sq.kms as per 1991 estimates. The district has literacy percentage of 31.90. 

For administrative, the district has been divided into four tehsils namely Kathua,Hiranagar,Basholi and Billawar. District broadly comprises three distinct zones. These can be described as border, kandi and hilly areas.The two main rivers of the district are Ravi and Ujh which are major contributors to the prestigious Ravi-Tawi Irrigation Complex. 

As regards the main ethnic groups,hindus constitutes 91% of the district while Muslims form 7% and Sikh 2% of the population.The most important minerals in the district are cement grade lime stone in Basholi.

Dogri is the main language spoken by the people of the district. There are a number of Monuments in the district like towering forts and magnificent places at kathua, Lakhanpur, Jasmergarh (Hiranagar),Jasrota,Ramkote,Bhadu and Basholi.