Anantnag

Anantnag is a district in the State of Jammu and Kashmir in India. This district is a part of the Kashmir Valley with its headquarter at Anantnag from which it derives its name. It is located between 33°44′N 75°09′E and 33.73°N 75.15°E at an elevation of 5,400 feet (1,600 m) above sea level. It has an average elevation of 1601 metres (5252 feet).

The town derived its name from the great spring Ananta Naga issuing at the center of the city. Anant Naga literally means countless springs and therefore the area meant a land of the countless springs. The spring is mentioned in the Neelmat Purana as a sacred place for the Hindus.

According to some ancient mythological stories, Lord Shiv during his journey to Amarnath cave left all his valuables on the way and this was the place where he supposedly left countless number of serpents residing on him and afterwards this place became known as Anant Naga.

It was also known as Kashyapteshwara in ancient times, the name which was derived from a sage (Rishi) Kashyapa.

It has two hot water (sulphur) springs and countless fresh water springs.

This district is comprised of the tehsils - Kokernag, Shangus, Anantnag (town), Bijbehara, Doru, Kulgam, Pahalgam, Devsar, Damhal and Qazigund.

This district has 7 blocks namely Breng, Shangus, Achabal, Dachnipora, Qazigund, Khoveripora and Shahabad.

History

This place is known to human civilization from Mythological era and we find its name in some Puranas (Hindu Mythologies). Anantnag is an ancient city which came into existence as a market town around 5000 B.C. It has witnessed many vicissitudes and experienced many upheavals from time to time. Althogh 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 the area were destroyed during rule of Sikander Hyat Khan.

The majestic Martand temple is one of the important archaeological sites of the State.

The Mughal Emperors especially Jehangir developed many beauty spots of the district, but they did not survive and we have little traces of them left.

As per the 2001 census of India, Anantnag had a population of 183,437 (Males 55% and females 45%).

Anantnag city has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 84% of the males and 79% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Politics

There are presently seven assembly constituencies Anantnag, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam. However, there were ten assembly constituency including Noorabad, Kulgam, and Homeshalibug, before the Kulgam district was bifurcated from Anantnag district.

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008
The above Order for the State of Jammu and Kashmir is as per the details given in Order No. 1 of the Delimitation Commission, Jammu and Kashmir notified in the Central and the State Gazettes on 27th April, 1995.

40 Anantnag Vidhan Sabha Constituency - PCs 1-Qasba Bhagat, 2-Khanabal, 3-Roohoo, 4-Kamar, 5-Anchidoora, 6-Hardu- Chichan, 10-Ranbirpora in tehsil Anantnag.

41 Devsar Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Jammu and Kashmir - PCs 27-Devsar, 28-Bona Devsar, 29-Kilam-Buzgam, 30-Hablishi, 31-Nipora, 32-Laram- Ganipora, 33-Chowgam, 35-Razloo, 36-Walterngu, 37-Sopat Tengora, 62-Oral in tehsil Kulgam; and PCs 18-Vesoo, 19-Nasoo-Bandargund, 20-Panzeth, 21-Kurigam, 23-Qazigund with NAC in Doru tehsil.

42 Doru Vidhan Sabha Constituency - PCs 1-Dooru, 2-Bragam, 3-Oibamdooth, 4-Mantpora, 5-Larkipora, 6-Hakura-Badasgam, 7-Batgund, 8-Verinag, 9-Sadiwara, 10-Mundah, 11-Hiller, 12-Nowgam Shahabad, 13- Rain- Chowgund, 14-Thamankoot, 15-Qamar, 16-Hisidar, 17-Kapron, 22-Wangund in tehsil Dooru.

43 Kokernag Vidhan Sabha Constituency - PCs 28-Saagam, 29-Bider-Hayatpora, 30-Bhai, 31-Akingam, 32-Nagam, 33-Soof-Shali, 34-Panzgam, 35-Bindo-Zulangam, 36-Devalgam, 37-Nalla Sund-Brari, 38-Lohar-Sanzi, 39-Ahlan-Gadol, 40-Kharatti, 41-Desoo, 42-Kharapora, 43-Qasba-Nowbugh, 44-Mati Hundoo, 45-Larnoo, 46-Kokernag NAC, 47-Achabal NAC in tehsil Anantnag.

44 Shangus Vidhan Sabha Constituency - PCs 13-Sahibabad, 14-Nowgam, 15-Imoh, 16-Brakapora, 17-Shangus, 18-Uttarsoo, 19-Kreri, 20-Chatergul, 21-Ghikalpora, 22- Ranipora, 23-Detho-Nagnarian, 24- Gopalpora, 25-Telwani, 26-Kwarigam, 27-Ahupaisan in tehsil Anantnag.

45 Bijbehara Vidhan Sabha Constituency - All PCs in tehsil Bijbehara and PCs 7-Macha Bawan, 11-Nanilang, 12-Akora in tehsil Anantnag.

46 Pahalgam Vidhan Sabha Constituency - All PCs in tehsil Pahalgam and PCs 8-Seer-Kanligund, 9-Salia in tehsil Anantnag.