About Doda District (Jammu & Kashmir)
Historically, Doda has historical importance due to the civilization of Dugha Nagar and Udha Nagar in Bhadarwah. In 1841, Bhadarwah, a town in the district was included in Jammu and Kashmir state. Maharaja Partap Singh gifted it as Jagir to his younger brother Raja Amar Singh. Bhadarwah is called as Naagas ki Bhoomi. The court of the Maharaja’s period is called District Court now. The Doda district comprises areas drawn from the ancient principalities of Kishtwar and Bhadarwah, both of these places were the significant part of the then Udhampur district in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. In the year 1948, the earlier Udhampur district was divided into the present day’s Udhampur district that includes Udhampur and Ramanagar tehsils and the Doda district that contains the Ramban, Bhadarwah and Kishtwar tehsils. Later in 2006, Ramban was declared as an independent district and the hilly area to the east of the present Doda district was separated as the Kishtwar district. The left out regions include the Doda tehsil that carved out of Kistwar and the original Bhadarwah, at present divided into three tehsils.
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, AC, VRC, SM was a soldier of Indian Army. He belonged to the 8th Battalion Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (8 JAK LI). He was killed during a militant flush-out operation in 2007. He was awarded with the Ashoka Chakra for his bravery in the operation. Chain Singh was born on 5th April, 1989. He is an Indian sport shooter. A bronze medal was won by him in the 2014 Asian Games individually. He won three gold medals individually and three gold medals at team levels in the South Asian Games in 2016.
Geographically, the district has a total 2,411 sq km. area and occupies the rank 8th in State and 465th in India on the bases of this size. It lies at 33°15'N latitude, 75°55'E longitude and 701 m altitude. In the year 2021, there was a total 61.66% forest area of total geographical area. It is bounded by Kishtwar district in the North-East, Anantnag district and Ramban district in the North West, Udhampur district in the South West, Kathua district in the South and Himachal Pradesh in the South East. The principal river passes through the district is Chenab River. The National Highway 1A and National Highway 1B pass through this district. The climate of the district remains pleasant almost throughout the year. Most of its rainfall occurs in the monsoon season. The actual rainfall in the district was 1173.2 mm in the year of 2021-22.
Administration wise, the district is divided into 4 sub-districts namely Doda, Bhaderwah, Thatri and Gando. Moreover, it has 2 towns and 402 villages. Urdu is its official language. The district came into existence in the year 2007 with its allotted district code of 16. It has its administrative headquarters located at Doda which is situated at the distance of 270 kms from the state capital.
Demographically, according to the 2011 census, the district has a total 78,620 households with the total population of 4,09,936 out of which 2,13,641 are males and 1,96,295 are females and leads it to the rank 13th in the state and 556th in India. The population density of the district is 46 (persons as per sq km.). The sex ratio is considered 919 (females as per 1000 males) and child ratio is 933 (females as per 1000 males). As per 2011 census the major religions in the district are Muslim at 53.82% and Hindu at 45.77% of the total population. During the period of 2001-2011, the population growth rate was 28.00% persons including 27.64% were males and 28.40% were females. According to the 2011 census, the principal languages of the district are Kashmiri with 55.51% and Hindi with 38.33%. In the year 2020 the number of live births in the district was 7,236 out of which 3,846 were males and 3,390 were females. In the same year the number of deaths in the district was 1,414 out of which 835 were males and 579 were females.
Economically, the district is dependent on industries as a main source of income. Tourism also provides a source of income here. The main agricultural products in the district are maize, wheat, paddy, pulses, etc. The district is rich in mineral resources such as lead, mica, gypsum, manganese, marble, graphite and copper. The district also has Baglihar Dam. It is also famous as Hydroelectric Power Project. The Dam was established in 1992. Doda is receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Program as one of the most backward districts in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gross Domestic Product in the district during the period 2005-06 was Rs. 1,50,654 lakh at Current Price and Rs. 1,13,555 lakh at Constant Prices in the year 1999-2000. The Per Capita Income or NDDP, At Factor Cost in the district during the period 2003-04 was Rs. 12,056 at Current Price and Rs. 6,814 at Constant Prices in the year 1993-1994.
Education wise, according to the 2011 census, the literacy rate of the district is 64.68% including 78.41% are males and 49.69% are females. The literate population of the district is 2,19,083 comprising 1,38,620 are males and 80,463 are females. The district has several educational institutes including schools and colleges.
The district has many historical tourist places to visit. These places are Lal Dhraman, Bhaderwah, Chinta Valley, Padri Dhar, Gupt Ganga and Vasukinag, Kishtwar, Khani Top, Patnitop, Sanasar, Sarthal, Kailash Yatra and Reushra. Lal Draman is a beautiful picnic spot comprised of lofty deodar and fir trees. Red Meadows is the English meaning of it. The place is full of beautiful landscapes, unique mosaic culture, pleasant summer and snow winter. Grameen-cum-Tourism Mela is held here everywhere. Bhadarwah is a town, located in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. It is called Mini Kashmir. It has beautiful forests and small streams flowing in various parts. Padri Dhar is a place, covered with snow. It is rich in natural beauty.