Anantnag district is in the southern sector of the Jhelum Valley. The district Kulgam was carved out of this in 2007. The entire Southern sector of the district, which is contiguous with districts of Reasi, Ramban, and Kishtwar of Jammu province, and the Eastern sector is contiguous with the tehsil Kargil of Ladakh division. The Northern and Western sides of this district are bounded by Ganderbal and Pulwama districts, while Kulgam district falls in its west. Anantnag is located at a distance of about 54 km from Srinagar and about 254 km from Jammu.
BRIEF HISTORY
The name of Anantnag, according to a well-known archaeologist, Sir A. Stein, is from the great spring Ananta Naga discharging at the southern end of the Anantnag town. This is also corroborated by almost all local historians, including Kalha, who said the town has got its name from the spring of Cesha or Ananta Naga, “land of countless springs”. The spring is mentioned in the Nilmat Purana as a sacred place for the Hindus. The most famous spring is located at Verinag at the foothills of Pir-Panjal Range & is the origin of the Jhelum river.
GEOGRAPHY, POLITY, CULTURE & POPULAR PLACES
The total area of the Anantnag district is 3,574 sq. km, while the population as per the 2011 census was 10.79 lacs.
Anantnag has 7 Assembly Constituencies as per the Delimitation Commission Report, 2022 (Dooru, Kokernag, Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus – Anantnag East, Pahalgam).
Anantnag is divided into 4 Subdivisions: Bijbehara, Kokernag, Dooru, and Pahalgam.
Anantnag is divided into 12 Tehsils: Anantnag, Anantnag East, Mattan, Bijbehara, Shangas, Kokernag, Larnoo, Dooru, Shahbad Balla, Qazigund, Pahalgam, Saller, Srigufwara.
It is also divided into 16 Blocks: Achabal, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Breng, Chittergul, Dachnipora, Hiller Shahabad, Khoveripora, Larnoo, Pahalgam, Qazigund, Sagam, Shahabad, Shangus, Verinag, and Vessu.
Anantnag has approximately 395 villages. There are 355 Panchayats in the district.
• Major Physiographic units: High Karewa Plateau lands • Sharp ridges of hard rock • Intervening valleys & River Terraces
• Geology: Anantnag district is hilly and mountainous towards the northeast and southwest with a broad mid-mountain valley. The altitude of the hill ranges is up to 3000 m amsl. The valley area in the central part of the district has flat to mildly undulating topography, ranging in altitude between about 1700 m amsl, and has an area of about 900 sq. km. The master slope in the area is towards the northwest.
Predominant Geological Formations: • Quaternary Alluvium • Karewa formations • Older Metamorphic.
• Soil Types: Soil has developed on Karewa tops and uplands is medium to fine textured and known as Hapluids; Soils on plains are clay loam in nature and are dark brown. Soil is poor in hilly areas, and in central regions is fertile. Productivity in high ranges is poor, while in central regions it is fertile.
• Climate: The climate of the district is a Temperate cum Mediterranean type. The higher the temperature remains throughout the year. Average minimum and maximum temperatures vary from –11°C to 33°C. The winter season starts from the middle of November and severe winter conditions continue till the middle of February / March. The annual rainfall recorded in the district for about 70 days is 1100mm approx. The rainfall is generally excessive in Spring, moderate in Summer, deficient in Autumn, and receives snowfall during the winter season (Chillai Kalan, Chillai Khurd, and Chillai Bacha).
• Drainage: The district forms part of the Jhelum sub-basin of the Indus basin. The major river of the Kashmir valley is the Jhelum River, which has its origin in Verinag district, Anantnag, with its tributaries viz., Lidder, Vishav, and Sandran rivers draining the area. The most important among the nallahs is the Lidder Nallah, which takes off from Sheshnag & Tarsar lakes and irrigates not only the maximum area of the district but also is one of the main tributaries of the River Jhelum. The district has some important springs like Sheshnag (Lake), Tarsar, Nagabal Anantnag, Kokernag, Achabal, and a true representative of its name, Anantnag (land of many springs).
• Crops: Called the “granary of the Kashmir valley”, Anantnag is known as the home of rice and maize agriculture. Agriculture occupies an important place in the economy of the district. The importance of agriculture in the district economy can be gauged from the fact that during the year 2019–20, 64.56% of the reporting area was under agricultural activities in one way or the other. Anantnag boasts of a rich agricultural set-up with lush green fields.
