Udhampur is a district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The place is named after Raja Udham Singh, the eldest son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Dogra rule in Jammu and Kashmir. The town Udhampur is the headquarters of the district. It covers an area of 4,550 square kilometres in the Himalayan Mountains. It is the home to Vaishno Devi.
Location of Udhampur District
District Udhampur 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 3000 meters Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL). The District is located in the South-Eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir State and is surrounded 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.
Geography of Udhampur District
Udhampur district has a diverse topography. It is inter-woven with Shivalik hills. There are very few inhabited areas above the height of 1,112 meters or so which experience snow fall and severe cold in the winter. Due to latitudinal deviation 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 rarely goes below 1.5 degree Celsius in low altitude areas. May, June and July are the hottest months when the temperature rises to 42 degree Celsius. December, January and February are the coldest months when the temperature in some areas goes below 1.5 degree Celsius. Rainfall usually takes place during July, August and September in summer and in January and February in winter.
Administration of Udhampur District
The duty of General Administration of the District lies with the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner is the Chief Revenue Officer and is responsible for collection of Revenue and other Government dues recoverable as arrears of Land Revenue. The District Magistrate is responsible for the safeguarding of Law and Order within the District. He is bestowed with very extensive powers by the law, which if used discreetly can be very effective in maintaining peace and harmony.
Revenue Administration involves collection and fixing of land revenue, registration, mutation and overall management in regard to land - private and public. Apart from Revenue matters, District Development is one of very important objective of the District Administration. As head of the District Administration, DC is in charge for all round developmental activities in the district.
People of Udhampur District
The majority of the population of the district practice Hinduism. Greater parts of the population are of Dogras in this district. There are a large number of nomadic Gujjar`s and Bakarwal`s present in the district as well. The chief languages spoken in the district are Dogri, Hindi, Urdu, and Kashmiri. Udhampur is the fifth most populous district of the Jammu and Kashmir State which comprises 7.34 percent of total population of the state. Out of total population of 7.38 lakhs, the total male population is about 3.94 lakh i.e. 53.45 percent of total population as compared to 3.44 lakh female. The Sex ratio of the District is 871 females per 1000 males in the District Udhampur as per 2001 census, against the 900 females per 1000 males for the whole State. The Literacy rate for the District Udhampur is 54.16 percent as per the 2001 census against the 54.46 percent of the State.
Culture of Udhampur District
Udhampur District has a rich cultural heritage. The most important languages spoken in the district are Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri. Dogri, the mother tongue of Dogras, has rich tradition of folk literature. The rich literature of Dogri consists of folk tales, riddles and proverbs. Many word of the Dogri language are derivative from the Hindi and Sanskrit words. Folk songs and dances are an integral part of the culture of this district. Folk songs are sung in different occasions such as marriages, and festival. These songs are divided into different categories. Popular folk songs of the district are Bhakh, Bhar, Gwatri, and Karak. The folk dances of the district Udhampur are Kudd, Fumenie, Surma etc.
Education of Udhampur District
The Literacy rate for the District Udhampur is 54.16 percent as per the 2001 census against the 54.46 percent of the State. The rank of district is seventh in the state in terms of Literacy. Literacy rate among female is 39.89 percent against the state average of 41.82 percent. Education is free from 1st class to University level in the District. There are about 991 Primary, 197 Middle, 98 higher secondary schools and two colleges in the District.
Tourism in Udhampur District
Tourism in Udhampur District offers a wide array of places of tourist interest. The most famous among the historical places and monuments are the Babore Temples, Kiramchi Temples, Shankari Devtaa Mandir in Pancheri, shrines of Chountra Devi and Pingla Devi. Tourist spots include Patnitop, Sanasar, and Latti. This district has several places for the Pilgrim tourist, leisure tourists, adventure tourist and the nature lovers. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is one of the oldest shrines of India, situated at a height of 5300 feet on the sacred Trikuta Hills of the Shivalik Range.
Visiting Information of Udhampur District
District Headquarters Udhampur is well connected by road. Udhampur is about 155 kilometres by road to Srinagar, Jammu (Capital of Jammu and Kashmir). Some of the rail way stations of district are Udhampur, Ram Nagar which connects most of the towns and villages in the District. Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transportation (JKSRTC) runs Busses from Major cities to Towns and Villages in this District.
