Udhampur

Udhampur is a district in the State of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The district derives its name from its headquarter town Udhampur which is named after Raja Udham Singh, the eldest son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Dogra rule in Jammu and Kashmir. It lies between 32 degree-34 minute to 39 degree-30 minute North Latitude and 74 degree-16 minute to 75 degree-38-minutes East Longitude. The altitude of District Udhampur varies from 600 meters to 3,000 meters Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL). It is situated in the South-Eastern part of Jammu & Kashmir State and is bounded in the West by Rajouri District, in the North by Anantnag District, in the North-East by Doda District, in the South-East by Kathua District and in the South-West by Jammu District.

The District has a varied topography inter-woven with Shivalik range. There are only a few inhabited areas above the height of 1,112 meters mainly because of snow fall and severe cold in the winter. Due to latitudinal variation from 600 meters to 3,000 meters above sea level there is wide variation in temperature in different parts of the district. The temperature rises sometimes as high as 42 degree Celsius and seldom goes below 1.5 degree Celsius in low altitude areas.

As per the 2001 census, the District Udhampur had population of 7.38 lakh.

The total forest area of the district in 2000-2001 was about 2,343 Sq. Km. which was increased from 42.75% to 51.49% over the earlier ten years. The main species of timber available are Deodar, Kail, Fir, Chir at higher altitude and Santha, Kher and other thorny bushes in the lower slopes. The major out-turn of forest are Timber, Firewood, resin, Anardana, Guchhian (a kind of Mushroom), Banafasha (a wild Flower used in Medicines), Dhoop, Kathas etc.

History

The town is said to have been built in place of dense forest where Udham Singh occasionally went on hunting trips till he developed great love for the spot and chose it as site for township.

Politics

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.

57 Gulabgarh Vidhan Sabha Constituency - PCs 2- Mahore, 2- Sarh, 3-Dewal, 4-Gulabgarh, 5-Chasote,6-Bagankote, 7-Shergarhi, 8-Shikari, 9-Kanthi, 10-Tulibana, 13-Shajroo in tehsil Gulabgarh and PC 16-Jij in tehsil Reasi.

58 Reasi Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Tehsil Reasi except following PCs:- 1-Salal, 15-Chinkah, 16-Jij, 17-Thakrakote and following PCs of tehsil Udhampur :- 13- Panjar, 14-Lali, 15-Ladah, 17-Dhandu, 18-Jhandawa, 32-Badhota and 19-Suhal.

59 Gool Arnas Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Following PCs of tehsil Gool Gulabgarh :- 11-Thuru, 12-Bhudhan, 14-Kanthan, 15-Judda, 16-Dhanow, 17-Kali Masta, 18-Gool, 19-Thatharka, 20-Sangaldan, 21-Forest block ; and 1-Salal,15-Chinkah, 17-Thakrakote in tehsil Reasi.

60 Udhampur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - All PCs of tehsil Udhampur except the following PCs :- 13-Panjar, 14-Lali, 15-Ladaha, 17-Dhandu, 18-Jhandawa, 19-Suhal, 20-Ludha, 21-Balian, 27-Sunal, 29-Meer, 30-Kathi, 32-Badhota.

61 Chanani Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - All PCs of tehsil Chenani and following PCs of tehsil Udhampur:- 20-Ladha, 21-Balian, 27-Sunal, 29-Meer, 30-Kati and following PCs of tehsil Ramnagar. 10-Dudu, 11-Latti, 31-Ghordi, 33-Hartarian, 34-Dandal, 35-Barmeen, 36-Nalla Ghoran.

62 Ramnagar Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Jammu and Kashmir - All PCs of tehsil Ramnagar except the following:- 10-Dudu, 11-Latti, 31-Ghordi,33-Hartarin,34-Dhandal, 35-Barmeen, 36-Nala Ghoran.

Places of interest
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Sudh Mahadev, Shiv Khori Shrine, Pingla Mata, Shiv Parvati Cave Shrine at Moungri, Mansar Lake, Patni Top, Sanasar, Kud, Babore Temples, Kirmachi Temples, Bhim Garh Fort, Sheesh Mahal, Ramnagar Fort