Rajouri District Rajouri at a Glance "The Land of Kings"

The districts of Rajouri fall in the Pir Panchal belt of Jammu province. This is an important mountainous range which separates the valley of Kashmir. The Pir Panchal track as a region located between the rivers Jehlum and Chenab in the southern and south-western slopes of this region, which starts from Banihal Pass and comprises Rajouri, Budhal, and Poonch on the Indian side of the LoC and Kotli, Rawalakote and Bagh on the other side of the LoC. 

Rajouri district is located in the Jammu Province flanked by the Poonch district in the north, Jammu district in the south, Reasi district in the east and POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Mirpur) in the West Rajouri.

Rajouri area has great importance in ancient times. In Mahabharata there was a Kingdom known as Panchal Desa. The King of this state was Panchal Naresh whose daughter Dropadi was married to Pandavas. The historians identify Panchal Desa as the Panchal range of mountains. Rajouri was also a part of this kingdom of Panchal Naresh.

The district has four assembly constituencies: Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote, and 14 district development council constituencies: Budhal New, Budhal Old-A, Budhal Old-B, Darhal, Dhangri, Doongi, Kalakote, Manjakote, Moughla, Nowshera, Rajouri, Seri, Sunderbani and Thanamandi. Rajouri District comes under Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch Lok Sabha Constituency. Rajouri Assembly constituency is one of the 87 constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir a north state of India.

According to the 2011 census Rajouri district has a population of 642,415. This gives it a ranking of 518th in India (out of a total of 640)

Rajouri town remained the favourite haunt of Mughal rulers on their way to Kashmir. After 1846 Rajouri became a part of the kingdom of Maharaja Gulab singh that consisted of undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh. Rajouri Fort at Dhannidhar near Rajouri town still stands in its ruins as proud relic of the rich historical part of this town.

Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir Built in Mughal architectural style, mangla devi Fort holds two apartments. Well planned, this fort comprises a residential complex and an open yard. There are separate passages to enter both apartments. However, from inside, both of them are connected. The residential complex within mangla devi Fort is surrounded by walled enclosure. There are arched cells that open towards the courtyard.

There’s a central chamber at the entrance in the western wall with arched roof and a small guard's room on either side. On the outside, there are shops on both the sides. The fort is constructed of rubbles, large pebbles and lakhauri bricks in lime surkhi mortar.

Rajouri, then known as Rajapuri – ‘the land of Kings’ – finds its mention in the travelogue of Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang who visited the town in 632 A.D. and described it as a part of Kashmiri dominion. Still earlier in the Buddhist period it formed a part of Gandharterritory (Afghanistan, Gandhar and Tashkent) and later was included in the domain called Darabhisanga which comprised the hilly stretch from Poonch to Kashmir. Those days Laharkote in Poonch district and Rajouri had emerged as two powerful states of the area.

According to F.E.Pargitor, second branch of Aryan emigrants crossed Himalayas in the north and west and settled in Rajouri and Poonch area. Rajouri, Bhimber and Naushera were included within the territory of Abhisar, which was one of the hill states of Punjab Kingdom. Early records of fragmentary nature show that in 4th century B.C. there existed in the north west of India a federal type of political set up in which Abhisar with its capital Rajouri was also included. At the time of Alexander’s invasion, Rajouri was at the height of its glory. In Mauryan period, the town of Rajouri was a great trade centre. During the Mughal rule, the rulers of Rajouri have embraced Islam though they retained the title of Raja. 

Albaurni visited Rajouri with Sultan Masud (Son of Sultan Mehmud) in 1036 A.D. In his book “India” he wrote name of Rajouri as Raja Vari. Srivar, the writer of ‘Raj Tirangini’ written during the regime of Sultan Zain-Ul-Abdin, also named this area as Raja Vari. It appears that Raja Vari is the changed shape of Raj Puri. Praja Bhat another writer of Raj Tirangini of 16th century A.D. wrote this place as Raj-Vare in his book. Mirza Zafarulla Khan writer of ‘Tarikh Rajgan-E-Rajour’ described in his book that this place was originally known as Raj-Avar and then changed from Rajour to Rajouri. But the old people in the villages still call the place as Rajour. With the passage of time the name changed from Raja’s Raj Avar to Raja Puri, Rajpuri to Raj Vari, Raj Vari to Raj Vara, Raj Vara to Raj Avar, Raj Avar to Rajour and then Rajour to Rajouri. As per Rajtirangini of Kalhan, Rajouri emerged as principality in about 1003 A.D. The first ruler of this kingdom was Raja Prithvi Paul. From 1033 A.D. to 1194 A.D. these Pauls ruled this state. They were Raja Prithvipaul, Raja JankiPaul (1035 A.D.), Raja Sangram Paul (1063 A.D.), Raja Som Paul (1101 A.D.), Bahu Paul (1113 A.D.) and AmnaPaul (1194 A.D.). Raja Prithvi Paul defeated Pir PanchalPass at the time of invasion of Sultan Mehmud in1021 A.D. Raja Sangram Paul defended his Principality Rajouri when Raja Harash of Kashmir assaulted his country in 1089 A.D. Sangram Paul fought so bravely that Raja Harash was compelled to return from Prithvi Paul fort without capturing Rajouri.

These Muslim Rajas were very liberal and accommodating. Raja Azmat Ullahwas having Hindu Minister of Mehta family of Rajouri. Hindu Rajputs were given preference at the time of employment in armed forces.

The successive Rulers were also responsible for the proper upkeep of Mughal route from Gujarat to Kashmir, dotted by a dozen stations in between. The town also called Rampur as per the revenue document, gained popularity during the Mughal period as the Mughal Ruler, during their movement from Delhi to Kashmir and back, used to stay at the station for some time.

After taking the charge of Rajouri from Raja Faqir Ullah in 1846, Maharaja Gulab Singh changed the name of Rajouri to Rampur. He appointed Mian Hathu as Governor of Rajouri. Mian Hathu remained in Rajouri upto 1846 A.D. He constructed a beautiful temple in between ThannaNallah near Rajouri city. He also built Rajouri Fort at Dhannidhar village. After Mian Hathu, Rajouri was converted into a Tehsil and affiliated with Bhimber District. In 1904 A.D., this Tehsil was bifurcated from Bhimber and affiliated with Reasi District. After Independence, Rajouri became part of the newly constituted Poonch-Rajouri District. On Ist January 1968, Rajouri emerged as a new District on the map of the State.

Shahdra Sharief Shrine

One of the most popular Muslim shrines in Jammu, Shahdra-Sharif is situated in Rajouri district and is approximately 177 km from Jammu. The shrine is dedicated to Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah and dates back to the 19th century. Standing atop a beautiful hillock in Thanna Mandi area, 29 km from Rajouri town, Shahdra Sharif has quite a story attached to it. It is believed that Gulab Singh, once the army general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, got this shrine constructed.

Mangla Mata Temple

Mangla Mata Dev Asthan is located about 70kms from Rajouri in village Bhawani of Tehsil Nowshera. It was originally located in Hamirpur as Mangal Mai (now in Pakistan). A dam has been constructed by Pakistan under the name of Mangla Dam and it is believed that when the work of Mangla Dam in 1965 AD, in Hamirpur was started by Pakistan and the Dev astan of Mangal Mai came inside the dam, a Brahman of Bhawani village namely Late Pandit Nihal Chand had a dream in which Mangla Mata had given him darshan and asked that She has shifted her asthan from Hamirpur to the forests of Bhawani. After some days, the Brahman came to this place and foud the pindies(a shape of Goddess made by natural rock) of Mangal Mai in the cave. 

Gurudwara Chatti Patshahi

Bangla Sahib is one of the significant religious spots of Rajouri town. This is a 4-storey building comprising 15 rooms and a pathshala, with 8 rooms. This gurudwara is dedicated to the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. He is said to have stayed here for a small.

The Manma Mata

Temple is situated on Rajauri Road, 8 km away from Kalakote. This temple is dedicated to Mata Devi. A cave is also located near this shrine which is believed to have been used by Lord Shiva for travelling to Kashmir. It is also believed that Manma Mata Devi herself came to this.

Ziarat Sain Ganji Sahib

Also known as the shrine of Sain Ganji Sahib Qadri, is situated 10 km away from the town of Rajauri and overlooks the Darhal Nala of Jammu and Kashmir. This shrine is dedicated to Sain Ganji Sahib, who was born in a Gujjar family at Fatehpur. Below it is famous Shifa Pani for curing skin diseases.

Peer Badesar

The Peer Badesar is also known as “Veer Vadweshwar”, a templeconstructed by King Kanishka in 142 A.D in memory of Veer Vadweshavar, who was the Son of Lord Shiva and bornwhen Lord Shiva threw open His tangled hair (Jata) angrily when Goddess Sati did self-immolation in burning “Kund” in response to the humiliating words said by her father King Daksh against Her husband Lord Shiva in a Havan ceremony. History has it that after taking avenge of humiliation of his mother from king Dakasha, Veer Vadweshavar stayed at Veer Vadweshar village. The place is about 60 kms away from Rajouri town on the border between Rajouri and Pakistan. 

Why Rajouri Day is Celebrated on April ?

‘Rajouri Day’ is celebrated on April 13 every year to commemorate the bravery and valour of the Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri district from rebels and Pakistan Army.

On 26 October 1947, soon after Maharaja Harisingh singed Instrument of Accession , the Indian army landed in J&K to save Kashmir from the crisis. The Pakistani raiders, along with the rebels and deserters from proceeded from Rajpur to Rajouri, captured the district on 7 November 1947.

After this, the dance of death continued in Rajouri for six months. More than 30 thousand Hindus and Sikhs were killed on the streets in Rajouri, one of the most horrific Indian history. Women jumped into the well to save their lives or died by consuming poison.

The same trend continued till the night of 12 April 1948, and on the morning of 13 April, a new dawn came and when the Indian Army got Rajouri free from terror. Thousands of sacrifices may have been lost by the country, but today the Army celebrates it as Shaurya Day and pays homage to the martyrs.