About Kishtwar District
Known historically as the 'Land of Saffron, Sapphire & Shrines', Kishtwar is one of the most mountainous and scenic districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Geography & Mountain Valleys
Kishtwar District was carved out from the erstwhile Doda district in 2007. Bordered by Ladakh to the east and Himachal Pradesh to the south, the district is characterized by rugged mountainous ranges, alpine pastures, and fast-flowing rivers like the **Chenab (Chandrabhaga)**. The terrain is divided into highly isolated yet stunning sub-valleys: **Warwan Valley**, **Marwah Valley**, **Dachhan Valley**, **Chatroo**, and the sapphire-rich **Paddar Valley**.
A large part of the district is covered under the **Kishtwar High Altitude National Park**, which is home to rare Himalayan fauna such as the snow leopard, musk deer, and brown bear.
Historical Milestones & Rulers
Kishtwar finds mention in Kalhana's epic Sanskrit chronicle **Rajatarangini** as *Kashthavata*. In the medieval period, it was ruled by independent Hindu Rajas until Raja Kirat Singh converted to Islam in 1664 under the influence of the Sufi saint Syed Shah Farid-ud-Din. In 1821, Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Dogra General **Zorawar Singh** annexed Kishtwar, making it a pivotal base for Dogra military campaigns into Ladakh and Tibet.
This synthesis of history gave birth to the harmonious, multi-ethnic society of Kishtwar today, where Kashmiri, Kishtwari, and Dogri languages are spoken in peace.
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