Quite a handful of towns and cities have flourished in the soils of India. In the state of Jammu and Kashmir also quite a few towns can be located. Kishtwar is one such significant place. It is a town and also a notified area committee. Lying 216 km northeast of Jammu Kishtwar falls under the jurisdiction of the district of Doda of Jammu and Kashmir state. Strategically, Kishtwar lies approximately at 33.32° N 75.77° E. It has an average height of approximately 1638 meters or 5374 feet.
In order to get a thorough knowledge about any town in India first it is essential to gain information about the demography of that particular town. To achieve such goal , several demographers have organized numerous surveys and research works in Kishtwar and thus prepared extensive reports accordingly. In this regard, the Census report of a particular year is noteworthy. Being published in the year 2001 , this report enlightens people about certain important data on Kishtwar . These include population status , literacy rate etc.
According to this report, the total population of Kishtwar has been enumerated to be 15,806. Delving deep into this report also helps one to get to know about the status of males, female and s also children who are residing in Kishtwar. In Kishtwar males are more in number than its female counterpart. Individual population status of both males and females supports this fact. To be specific, male populace of Kishtwar constitutes 61 %. The total population of females constitutes 39 %. In Kishtwar, 11 % of the population is below six years of age.
How much development has occurred in a town can be inferred from its literacy condition. In other words, literacy is an important indicator for measuring a town`s progress and development. Since Kishtwar`s average literacy rate is 74 %, which is even higher than that of India, it led one to be convinced of Kishtwar town`s development. 59.5 % is India`s average literacy rate. Out of it, male literacy rate is 82 %. Female literacy rate is less constituting 62 %.
Kishtwar lies in the lapse of nature surrounded with lofty mountains and forests. Wonderful tracking sites of Kishtwar attract tourists from all over India. Himalayan peaks like Sickle Moon (6574 m), Eiger (6001 m), Cathedral (5370 m), Charcha (6065 m), Namtse (6000 m) and Lhalung (Durung Glacier) become the special attractions of tourists. Devotees throng some of the consecrated places that have developed here.
Shrine of Farid-ud-Din Sahib, Ziarat Zain-Shah-Sahib, Athra Buja Devi Temple, Chandi Mata Temple and Bhandarkote Cave (12 km) are significant. In the adjoining areas, Paddar, Dacchan and Marwah also are widely visited by people.
To facilitate accessibility, Kishwat is well connected by rails, airports and also roads. One has to go to Jammu for getting availability of flights and also rails. NH 1B also passes through Kishtwar.
