Rajouri district

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Rajouri district | settlement_type = District of Jammu and Kashmir administered by India<ref name=tertiary-kashmir/> | total_type = Total | native_name = | image_skyline = Rajouri city skyline photo.jpg | image_caption = Aerial view of Rajouri city | image_map1 = File:Jammu and Kashmir Rajouri district.svg | map_alt = | map_caption1 = Rajouri district is in the Jammu division (shown with neon blue boundary) of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (shaded in tan in the disputed Kashmir region<ref name=tertiary-kashmir/> | image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=300|frame-height=170|frame-align=center|zoom=4|type=point|title=Rajouri|marker=district|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080}} | map_caption = Interactive map of Rajouri district | coordinates = {{Coord|33.38|N|74.31|E|display=inline,title|region:IN_type:adm2nd_source:GNS-enwiki}} | coor_pinpoint = Rajouri | subdivision_type = Administering country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = Union Territory | subdivision_name1 = Jammu and Kashmir | subdivision_type2 = Division | subdivision_name2 = Jammu | established_title = Established | established_date = | seat_type = Headquarters | seat = Rajouri | parts_type = Tehsils | parts_style = para | p1 = 1.Rajouri 2.Manjakote 3.Darhal 4.Qila Darhal 5.Thana Mandi 6.Kotranka 7.Khawas 8.Teryath 9.Kalakote 10.Beri Pattan 11.Sunderbani 12.Nowshera 13.Siot | area_total_km2 = 2,630 | area_footnotes = | population_as_of = 2011 | population_total = 642,415 | population_footnotes = | population_urban = 8.1% | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Demographics | demographics1_title1 = Literacy | demographics1_info1 = 68.17% | demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio | demographics1_info2 = 860 | demographics_type2 = Languages | demographics2_title1 = Official | demographics2_info1 = Gujari, Pahari, English, Hindi, Kashmiri, Urdu | demographics2_footnotes = | demographics2_title2 = Spoken | demographics2_info2 =Pahari, Gujari, Kashmiri | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = Vidhan Sabha constituencies | leader_name2 = 5 seats | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +05:30 | registration_plate = JK-11 | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 = | blank_name_sec2 = | blank_info_sec2 = | website = {{URL|https://rajouri.nic.in/|rajouri.nic.in}} }}

'''Rajouri district''' is a district in the Jammu division of Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in the larger disputed Kashmir region.<ref name=tertiary-kashmir> The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary sources (a) through (d), reflecting due weight in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (f) through (h) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (i) below). (a) {{citation|title=Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent |accessdate=15 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories."; (b) {{citation|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|title=Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Aksai-Chin |accessdate=16 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state."; (c) {{citation|chapter=Kashmir|title=Encyclopedia Americana|publisher=Scholastic Library Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l_cWAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA328|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7172-0139-6|page=328}} C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947"; (d) {{citation|last1=Osmańczyk|first1=Edmund Jan|title=Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSIMXHMdfkkC&pg=PA1191|year=2003|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-93922-5|pages=1191–}} Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute betw een India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China." (e) {{citation|last=Talbot|first=Ian|title=A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNg_CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|year=2016|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-19694-8|pages=28–29}} Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir."; (f) {{citation|title=Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent |accessdate=15 August 2019}} (subscription required) Quote: "... China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962."; (g) {{citation|last=Bose|first=Sumantra|title=Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ACMe9WBdNAC&pg=PA294|year=2009|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-02855-5|pages=294, 291, 293}} Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million. AJK has six districts: Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Kodi, Rawalakot, and Poonch. Its capital is the town of Muzaffarabad. AJK has its own institutions, but its political life is heavily controlled by Pakistani authorities, especially the military), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control." (h) {{citation|last=Fisher|first=Michael H.|title=An Environmental History of India: From Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kZVuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166|year=2018|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-11162-2|page=166}} Quote: "Kashmir’s identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised “Line of Control” still separating Pakistani-held Azad (“Free”) Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir."; (i) {{citation|last=Snedden|first=Christopher|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5amKCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-1-84904-621-3|page=10}} Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'." </ref> The Line of Control, between the Indian- and Pakistani-administered Jammu and Kashmir, lies to its west, Poonch to its north, the Reasi district to the east and the Jammu district to its south. Rajouri is famous for its "Kalari" (made from milk).<ref name=districtcensus/> Representing an ancient principality, Rajouri was a joint district, along with Reasi, at the time of princely state's accession to India in 1947. The two tehsils were separated and Rajouri was merged with the Poonch district. Rajouri again became a separate district along with Reasi in 1968 till 2006 when both were separated again. The Rajouri district comprises 13 tehsils (boroughs).

== History == === Ancient history === According to some historians, a second branch of Aryan emigrants crossed the Himalayas in the north and west and settled in Rajouri and Poonch area. Rajouri, Bhimber Gali and Naushera were integrated within the territory of Abhisar, which was one of the hill states of the Punjab Kingdom. Early records of incomplete nature show that in the 4th century B.C.E., there existed in the northwest of India a federal political setup, in which Abhisar, with its capital Rajouri, was also incorporated. At the time of Alexander's invasion, Rajouri was at the summit of its splendour. In the Mauryan period, the town of Rajouri was a great trade centre.

=== Kashmir Sultanate === Rajouri came under the suzerainty of the Kashmir Sultanate during the 15th century through the military campaigns of General Malik Tazi Bhat. In 1475, he led conquests that brought Rajouri, along with Poonch, Jammu, Bhimber, Jhelum, Sialkot, and Gujrat, under the administrative control of the Kashmiri Sultan. Local rulers retained limited autonomy but were required to acknowledge the Sultan’s authority and provide tribute and military support. This vassal arrangement continued until the late 16th century, when Mughal Emperor Akbar annexed Kashmir in 1586, ending Kashmir’s control over Rajouri.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parmu |first=R. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qko_AAAAMAAJ&q=tazi+bhat+chiefs |title=A History of Muslim Rule in Kashmir, 1320-1819 |date=1969 |publisher=People's Publishing House |language=en}}</ref>

=== Modern history === In 1813, Gulab Singh of Jammu captured Rajouri for the Sikh Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by defeating Raja Agar Ullah Khan.{{sfn|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|p=31}} After this, Rajouri became part of the Sikh Empire. Parts of it were given as jagirs to Rahim Ullah Khan (a half-brother of Agar Ullah Khan) and other parts to Gulab Singh.{{sfn|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930|p=40}}

Following the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Amritsar (1846), all the territories between the Ravi River and Indus were transferred to Gulab Singh, and he was recognised as an independent Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Thus Rajouri became a part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.<ref name=SATP>Sudhir S. Bloeria, [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume1/Fault1-Bloeriatext.htm Militancy in Rajouri and Poonch], South Asia Terrorism Portal, 2001.</ref> Gulab Singh changed the name of Rajouri to Rampur. He appointed Mian Hathu as Governor of Rajouri, who remained in Rajouri up to 1856.<ref name="Bloeria2000">{{citation|last=Bloeria|first=Sudhir S.|title=Pakistan's Insurgency Vs India's Security: Tackling Militancy in Kashmir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-jBuAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=Manas Publications|isbn=978-81-7049-116-3 |page=37}}</ref> Mian Hathu constructed a stunning temple in between Thanna Nallah in close proximity to Rajouri city. He also built Rajouri Fort at Dhannidhar village.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

After Mian Hathu, Rajouri was transformed into a tehsil and affiliated with Bhimber district. In 1904, this tehsil was separated from Bhimber and affiliated with the Reasi district.<ref name=SATP/>

=== Partition === {{Further|1947-1948 Rajouri Massacre}} After the Partition of India and the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in October 1947, there followed the First Kashmir War between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani raiders, along with the rebels and deserters from the western districts of the state, captured Rajauri on 7 November 1947. The 30,000 Hindus and Sikhs living in Rajauri were reportedly killed, wounded or abducted.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBwNAAAAIAAJ|title=Operations in Jammu & Kashmir, 1947-48|last1=Prasad|first1=Sri Nandan|last2=Pal|first2=Dharm|date=1987-01-01|publisher=History Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of India|pages=49–50|language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|V. K. Singh, Leadership in the Indian Army|2005|p=160}}{{sfn|Ramachandran, Empire's First Soldiers|2008|p=171}} Rajauri was recaptured on 12 April 1948 by the 19 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army under the command of Second Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane. Rane, despite being wounded, launched a bold tank assault by conveying the tanks over the Tawi river bed in order to avoid the road blocks along the main road.{{refn|Rama Raghoba Rane received a Param Vir Chakra for his gallantry.}} When the Indian Army entered the town, the captors had fled, having destroyed most of the town and killing all its inhabitants. After the arrival of the Army, some 1,500 refugees that had fled to the hills, including women and children, returned to the town.{{sfn|Sarkar, Outstanding Victories of the Indian Army|2016|pp=37–40}}

The ceasefire line at the end of the war ran to the west of the Rajouri district.

=== Inside India === Soon after the war, the Rajouri and Reasi tehsils were separated. The Rajouri tehsil was merged with the Indian-administered Poonch district to form the Poonch-Rajouri district.<ref name=SATP/> The Reasi tehsil was merged with the Udhampur district. On 1 January 1968, the two tehsils were reunited and the resulting district was named the Rajouri district.<ref name=SATP/>

The Reasi tehsil was also separated out in 2006 into a separate Reasi district. The present Rajouri district comprises the 1947 Rajouri tehsil.

===Pakistan Air Force airstrike=== {{Main|2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes}} On 27 February 2019, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crossed the Line of Control and carried out airstrikes against multiple targets in Rajouri district. Pakistan Air Force officials asserted that their target was the Indian military's supply depot and had struck 6 locations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. PAF officials claimed that they successfully achieved their targets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/global/2019/02/india-says-it-doesnt-want-further-escalation-after-pakistan-air-strikes/|title=India say it doesn't want to further escalation after Pakistan air strike|work=Samaa Tv|date=27 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/pakistan-claims-it-has-captured-two-indian-pilots-after-shooting-down-two-iaf-jets-in-its-airspace-2050221.html|title=Pakistan Says It Has Captured One Indian Air Force Pilot And Not Two as Claimed Earlier|work=News18|date=28 February 2019}}</ref> Indian military officials confirmed that the airstrike took place and identified Narian, Lam Jhangar and Kerri in Rajouri district, and Hamiphur area in Poonch district as the targets of the attacks. Indian military officials further stated that the bombs landed in deserted area and caused no damage. Indian Army 25 division headquarters and ammunition and supply depot were the intended targets of the airstrikes as per Indian military officials' claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/03/02/stealthy-skydivers.html|title=Inside story of India's airstrike and Pakistan's counter-attack|work=The Week|date=2 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/02/27/pakistan-jets-violate-indian-air-space-kashmir-nowshera-drop-bombs.html|title=Pakistan jets violate Indian airspace in Kashmir's Nowshera, drop bombs|work=The Week|date=27 February 2019}}</ref>

===2023 Rajouri attacks=== {{main|2023 Rajouri attacks}} For over a decade, terrorism had primarily been confined to the tumultuous Kashmir Valley with some isolated incidents in other parts of J&K. But that trend changed in 2023 when militants killed seven people in the border district of Rajouri, the first such major attack in the Jammu division in years. It marked the beginning of a worrying shift in Kashmir’s militancy. On 1 January 2023, some militants broke into three houses in Dhangri village of Rajouri district and opened fire on civilians, resulting into death of four and injuring others. On 2 January 2023, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasted near the same attack site, resulting in the death of a child and injuring five people.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rajouri: Four Killed, Six Injured in 'Indiscriminate Firing' by Militants|url=https://thewire.in/security/rajouri-jammu-toll-security|date=2 January 2023|publisher=The Wire (India)|access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> == Demographics == ===Population=== {{Historical population | source = Census of India<ref name="censusindia1">{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html |title=A-2 Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901 |publisher=Censusindia.gov.in |access-date=9 August 2019 }}</ref> | footnote = † 1951 and 1991 populations are estimated | 1901 | 136281 | 1911 | 146823 | 1921 | 157430 | 1931 | 166126 | 1941 | 184049 | 1951 | 177789 | 1961 | 171529 | 1971 | 217373 | 1981 | 302500 | 1991 | 384435 | 2001 | 483284 | 2011 | 642415 |align = center }}

According to the 2011 census Rajouri district has a population of 642,415.<ref name=districtcensus>{{Cite book |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/516/download/1712/DH_2011_0106_PART_A_DCHB_RAJOURI.pdf |title=District Census Handbook 2011: Rajouri |publisher=Census of India |year=2016}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 518th in India (out of a total of 640).<ref name=districtcensus /> The district has a population density of {{convert| 235 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name=districtcensus /> Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 28.14%.<ref name=districtcensus /> Rajouri has a sex ratio of 863 females for every 1000 males<ref name=districtcensus /> (which varies with religion), and a literacy rate of 68.54%. 8.14% of the population lives in urban areas. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes account for 7.5% and 36.2% of the population of the district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajouri District Population, Jammu & Kashmir, List of Tehsils in Rajouri |url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/jammu-kashmir/rajouri-population.html |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Censusindia2011.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Social groups=== Gurjar is a major ethnic group along with Bakarwal of the Rajouri district they make up around 50% of the district's total population.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bose |first=Sumantra |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kashmir/3ACMe9WBdNAC?hl=en |title=Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace |date=2009-07-01 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-02855-5 |pages=148 |language=en |quote=''Gujjars make up 48 percent of the population in Poonch and 50 percent in Rajouri (districts).''}}</ref> Other groups in the district are Paharis, Kashmiris and Dogras.

===Language=== {{Pie chart |thumb = left | caption= Languages of Rajouri district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C16">{{cite report |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0100.XLSX |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> |label1 = Pahari |value1 = 55.42 |color1 = lightpink |label2 = Gujari |value2 = 35.17 |color2 = tomato |label3 = Hindi |value3 = 2.94 |color3 = orange |label4 = Kashmiri |value4 = 2.22 |color4 = lightgreen |label5 = Dogri |value5 = 1.69 |color5 = palevioletred |other = y |other-label = Others |other-color = grey }}

Pahari and Gujari are two major languages spoken in Rajouri. Pahari is mainly spoken by the Pahari community (both Muslim and Hindu) and Gujjars. Gujari is mainly spoken by the Muslim Gujjars and Bakarwal which contribute as largest group of Rajouri district. Kashmiri and Dogri are both spoken by small minorities. Though Urdu and English are the main mediums of instruction.

===Religion=== {{Bar box |title=Religion in Rajouri district (2011)<ref name="census2011-C01"/> |titlebar=#Fcd116 |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |bars= {{Bar percent|Islam|green|62.71}} {{Bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|34.54}} {{Bar percent|Sikhism|darkkhaki|2.41}} {{Bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.34}} }}

{| class="wikitable" !Tehsil ! align="right" |Muslim ! align="right" |Hindu ! align="right" |Sikh !Others |- |Thanamandi |style="background:green;color:white" align="right" |99.1 | align="right" |0.65 | align="right" |0.02 |0.23 |- |Darhal |style="background:green;color:white" align="right" |99.21 | align="right" |0.39 | align="right" |0.00 |0.40 |- |Rajauri |style="background:green;color:white" align="right" |70.24 | align="right" |27.88 | align="right" |1.58 |0.30 |- |Budhal |style="background:green;color:white" align="right" |83.68 | align="right" |15.92 | align="right" |0.19 |0.21 |- |Kalakote |style="background:green;color:white" align="right" |51.6 | align="right" |48.03 | align="right" |0.26 |0.11 |- |Nowshehra | align="right" |21.69 |style="background:darkorange" align="right" |65.99 | align="right" |11.52 |0.80 |- |Sunderbani | align="right" |11.11 |style="background:darkorange" align="right" |85.79 | align="right" |2.77 |0.33 |}

{{bar box |title=Sex Ratio in Rajouri District in 2011 Census.<ref name="census2011-C01"/> (no. females per 1,000 males) |float=left |width=360px |left1=Religion (and population) |right1=Sex Ratio |bars= {{bar pixel|Muslim (pop 402,879)|green|92.261||923 }} {{bar pixel|Hindu (pop 221,880)|darkorange|77.611||776 }} {{bar pixel|Sikh (pop 15,513)|yellow|64.577||646 }} {{bar pixel|Other (pop 2,143)|grey|47.590||476 }} {{bar pixel|Total (pop 642,415)|black|86.018||860 }} }}

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |- ! colspan=10 | Rajouri district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.<ref name="census2011-C01">{{cite report |title=C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir |url = https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW01C-01%20MDDS.XLS |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> |- style="vertical-align:top;" !| !| Hindu !| Muslim !| Christian !| Sikh !| Buddhist !| Jain !| Other !| Not stated !| Total |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Total || 221,880 || 402,879 || 983 || 15,513 || 189 || 26 || 3 || 942 || 642,415 |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" || 34.54% || 62.71% || 0.15% || 2.41% || 0.03% || 0.00% || 0.00% || 0.15% || 100.00% |- | colspan=10| |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | style="text-align:left;" | Male || 124,925 || 209,548 || 730 || 9,426 || 165 || 18 || 2 || 537 || 345,351 |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | style="text-align:left;" | Female || 96,955 || 193,331 || 253 || 6,087 || 24 || 8 || 1 || 405 || 297,064 |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | style="text-align:left;" | Gender ratio (% female) || 43.7% || 48.0% || 25.7% || 39.2% || 12.7% || 30.8% || 33.3% || 43.0% || 46.2% |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:center;" | style="text-align:left;"| Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males) || 776 || 923 || 347 || 646 || – || – || – || 754 || 860 |- | colspan=10| |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | style="text-align:left;" | Urban || 31,243 || 17,244 || 278 || 3,452 || 32 || 7 || 1 || 57 || 52,314 |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | style="text-align:left;" | Rural || 190,637 || 385,635 || 705 || 12,061 || 157 || 19 || 2 || 885 || 590,101 |- style="vertical-align:top;text-align:right;" | style="text-align:left;" | % Urban || 14.1% || 4.3% || 28.3% || 22.3% || 16.9% || 26.9% || 33.3% || 6.1% || 8.1% |- |} {{Clear|left}} == Geography == {{OSM Location map | coord = {{coord|33.3|74.4}}  | float = left | zoom = 9 | width = 350 | height = 350 | caption = {{center|Rajouri district}} | nolabels = 1 | map-data = Q544279  | mark-coord1 = {{coord|33.539|74.369}} | mark1 = Red pog.svg | mark-size1 = 10 | label1 = Thanamandi | label-size1 = 12 | label-color1 = hard red | label-pos1 = top | label-offset-x1 = 0 | label-offset-y1 = 0 | mark-title1 = Thanamandi | mark-image1 = | mark-description1 = tehsil headquarters  | mark-coord2 = {{coord|33.484|74.411}} | mark2 = Red pog.svg | mark-size2 = 8 | label2 = Darhal | label-size2 = 12 | label-color2 = hard red | label-pos2 = right |label-offset-x2 = 0 |label-offset-y2 = 0 | mark-title2 = Darhal | mark-image2 = | mark-description2 = tehsil headquarters  | mark-coord3 = {{coord|33.382|74.325}} | mark3 = Red pog.svg | mark-size3 = 8 | label3 = Rajouri | label-size3 = 12 | label-color3 = hard red | 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The Rajouri district is bordered on the west by Pakistan-controlled Azad Kashmir's Kotli district, on the north by the Indian-controlled part of Poonch district, on the east by the Reasi district and on the south by Jammu district.

The northern parts of the Rajouri district are in the Pir Panjal range, especially the Thanamandi and Darhal tehsils. However, The Rajouri Tawi River (also called Naushera Tawi) and its many tributaries flow through the mountain valleys, making them habitable. The Ansi River similarly waters the Budhal tehsil.

In the south, there is a wide valley between the '''Tain Dhar''' and '''Kali Dhar''' ranges (part of the Outer Hills of the Himalayas), which is called either Naushera Valley or Lam-Khuiratta Valley. In between these two ranges, there is a lower range called '''Koti Dhar''', which divides the valley into two parts.{{sfn|Cheema, Crimson Chinar|2015|pp=75–77}} The Line of Control between the Indian-administered and Pakistani-administered Kashmir regions runs along the southern Kali Dhar range for part of the way and the Koti Dhar range for the rest. thumb|Rajouri city. The old Mughal Road into the Kashmir Valley used to come up from Bhimber, and pass through the Naushera and Rajouri towns to the Pir Panjal Pass. This is now cut off by the Line of Control. Also cut off is the roadway between Sunderbani and Kotli, which used to run in the Lam-Khuiratta valley.

==Agriculture== The land is mostly fertile and mountainous. Maize, wheat and rice are the main crops of the area and the main source of the irrigation is the river Tawi that originates from the mountains of Pir Panjal.

== Organisation == The Rajouri district comprises the subdistrict sunderbani, nowshera, Kotranka, kalakote & tehsils are Rajouri, Darhal, Sunderbani, Budhal, kotranka, khawas, Manjakote Nowshera, Thanamandi, and Kalakot.<ref>[http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/jammuandkashmir/tehsil/rajouri.html Rajouri tehsil map], MapsOfIndia, retrieved 26 November 2016.</ref>

There are 19 blocks: Rajouri, Darhal, kotranka Sunderbani, Doongi, Nowshera, Kalakote, Manjakote, Thanamandi and Budhal, Dhangri, khawas, Lamberi, Moghla, Panjgrain,Plangar,Qila darhal,Rajnagar,Seri,Siot,.<ref>[http://jkrd.nic.in/listAllDistricts.pdf Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly Created Districts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910092544/http://jkrd.nic.in/listAllDistricts.pdf |date=10 September 2008 }} dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2008-08-30</ref> Each block consists of a number of panchayats.

During recent reviews conducted by administration. It is planned to construct 400/132kv & 400/220 kv station at Rajori to resolve the electrical power supply to the statved{{typo help inline|reason=similar to statued|date=November 2019}} area of Rajouri, Poonch Mendhar. This Grid station will be based on latest GIS technology of electrical technology.

Rajouri has its own deemed University Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University popularly known as BGSBU which offers various Diploma, UG and PG courses. It also has one Government Medical College GMC Rajouri along with other degree colleges.

== Politics == The district has five assembly constituencies: Nowshera, Budhal, Thannamandi, Rajouri and Kalakote,<ref name="ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP">{{Cite web |url=http://rajouri.nic.in/Adm.htm |title=Administrative Set Up |website=rajouri.nic.in |access-date=21 November 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SEC|url=https://ceojk.nic.in/panchayater/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=ceojk.nic.in}}</ref> Rajouri District (except Kalakote, which falls under the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency), comes under Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha Constituency.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pargal |first=Sanjeev |title=Rajouri-Poonch now part of Anantnag LS seat, Reasi distt goes to Jammu Parl segment |work=Daily excelsior |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/rajouri-poonch-now-part-of-anantnag-ls-seat-reasi-distt-goes-to-jammu-parl-segment/}}</ref>

==Notable people== *Banda Singh Bahadur, a famous sikh warrior and a commander of the Khalsa army *Ravinder Raina, Ex-BJP state president, J&K. *Nadeem Iqbal, a cross country skier. *Shakeel Ahmed, Scientist. *Arjumman Mughal, Indian actress. *Peter Qasim, the longest-serving detainee in Australian immigration detention. *Abdul Samad Farooq, Indian cricketeer *Dr. Shahid Iqbal, IAS. *Chowdhary Mohmmad Hussain, Indian Politician.

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography == * {{citation |last=Cheema |first=Brig Amar |title=The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc25BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51 |date=2015 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-301-4 |ref={{sfnref|Cheema, Crimson Chinar|2015}}}} * {{citation |title=Gulab Singh |first=K. M. |last=Panikkar |author-link=K. M. Panikkar |publisher=Martin Hopkinson Ltd |year=1930 |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/gulabsingh179218031570mbp |ref={{sfnref|Panikkar, Gulab Singh|1930}}}} * {{citation |last=Ramachandran |first=D. P. |title=Empire's First Soldiers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Q7EiZmcMPMC&pg=PA171 |year=2008 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-0-9796174-7-8 |pages=171– |ref={{sfnref|Ramachandran, Empire's First Soldiers|2008}}}} * {{citation |last=Sarkar |first=Col. Bhaskar |title=Outstanding Victories of the Indian Army, 1947-1971 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G2IADAAAQBAJ&pg=PA40 |year=2016 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-1-897829-73-8 |pages=40–|ref={{sfnref|Sarkar, Outstanding Victories of the Indian Army|2016}}}} * {{citation |last=Singh |first=V. K. |title=Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cJDsk_g6tXUC&pg=PA160 |year=2005 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-0-7619-3322-9 |pages=160– |ref={{sfnref|V. K. Singh, Leadership in the Indian Army|2005}}}}

== External links == * [https://rajouri.nic.in/ Official website] * [https://rajouri.in/ Rajouri Social Network] * [https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1944895 Rajouri District marked on OpenStreetMap] * [http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/jammuandkashmir/tehsil/rajouri.html Rajouri Tehsil Map], MapsOfIndia, retrieved 25 November 2016.

{{Geographic location | Centre = Rajouri district | North = Poonch district | Northeast = Kulgam district | East = Reasi district | Southeast = | South = Jammu district | Southwest = | West = ''Disputed region'' | Northwest = }}

Category:Rajouri district Category:Districts of Jammu and Kashmir