Kathua district is one of 22 administrative districts that comprise the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is surrounded by Jammu to the northwest, the Doda and Udhampur districts to the north, the state of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Punjab to the south, and Pakistan's working boundary to the west. Its terrain is diverse, consisting of rich agricultural areas along the Punjab and Kashmir border, plains sweeping eastward to the foothills of the Himalaya, and a mountainous Pahari region in the east.

Kathua district is divided into 8 blocks: Bani, Barnoti, Basholi, Billawar, Duggan, Ghagwal, Hiranagar, Kathua and Lohai Malhar. It has approximately 587 villages. The traditional language of Kathua is Dogri. The Pahari languages are prevalent in the mountainous area of the east. The principal media of education are English, Hindi, and Urdu. A relatively safe regional pocket, Kathua was spared the decade-long insurrection sparked by the Khalistan separatist movement in Punjab that ended in the early 1990s, just to its south, and the ongoing Terrorism in Kashmir Valley further to the north, beginning in the 1980s. Dogri & Pahari are the main languages spoken. Hindi, English and Urdu are the main medium of education. Official language is Urdu.

Kathua History

It is believed that Jodh Singh, a famous Rajput of Andotra clan migrated from hastinapur to kathua nearly 2000 years ago and settled here. His three sons Viz. Teju, Kindal and Bhaju established the three villages of Taraf Tajwal, Taraf Manjali and Taraf Bhajwal. Their descendent are now called as Tajwalia, Bhajwalia and Khanwalia Rajputs of Andotra sub-caste. The collection of these three villages was loosely called kathai in ancient, which was subsequently modified to be called as kathua.
 
The existence of two powerful empires of Abhisara and kathaioi, at the time of invasion of India by Alexandera, was recorded by the Greek historians. Kathaioi is described as a mighty republic of that era located in the foot hills along river Ravi by Strabo. The present day kathua resembles the topography of kathaioi. The people of the republic are described as synonymous to bravery and courage by Starbo. He also states that they gave a tough fight to the army of Alexender.

Kathua Climate

The climate of Kathua is sub tropical. General Hindu belief accounts for the existence of six seasons in the region. The temperature rises up to 48 degrees in summers whereas it may dip to zero in winters.  Heavy rainfall is experienced in the rainy season and winters due to western disturbances. The average annual rainfall recorded is 700 cm. There is no snowfall experienced in Kathua city. Sometimes the upper parts of the district like Bani tehsil may observe snowfall. Heavy hailstorms with loads of hail can be experienced in February and March.

Kathua Culture

Border, Kandi and Hilly are the three zones of the district. The hilly area comprises of Billawar, Bani, Basohli and Lohai Malhar Blocks . It resembles the Pahari culture of Himachal Pradesh. Dogra culture is found in the other parts of the district. All important religious festivals like Lohri, Maha Shivratri, Id-ul-Fitr, Holi, Ramnavmi, Baisakhi, Basantpanchami, Martyr's day of Guru Arjun Dev, Raksha Bandhan, Janam Ashtami, Mahanavami, Dussehra, Diwali, id-ul-zuha, Guru Ravi Dass's birthday, Mahatama Gandhi's bday, Guru Govind Singh's birthday, Chacha Nehru's birthday are celebrated with great fervor in the district.

People perform pilgrimage to holy places  during the holy Navratras, which conclude with the organizing of big to small fairs. Ram Lilas are also organized in every town as well as villages of the district. The Ram Lila os Basholi is very famous. The important temples and shrines of the district include Mata Baal-kanya temple,  Mata Ashapurni Temple in Down Town bazaar, Mata Jasrota temple, Peer Chattar Shaw on Nagri road, Peer Lakhdata ji in Jawahar nagar etc.

Kathua Tourism

Tourist places in Kathua

BANI
Banjal
Chandel
Panyalag 
Dullangal
Chhatargalla
Sarthal
Duggan
Jodia di mata 
 dhoula wali mata
BASOHLI
Dhar mahanpur
Sanan ghat
Ranjit sagar dam
Sewa hydel project
Chamunda devi
BILLAWAR
Machhedi
Bhaddu
Mankote 
Sukrala mata 
Shiv temple billawar 
Shiv temple, mooni
KATHUA
Dream, the recreation park, kathua
Ujh barrage
Fort of jasrota & jasrota temple
Mata   sundrikote
Mata bala sundri  
Airwan temple  
Asha purani mandhir, kathua
Sapt sarober mandhir
Peer chattershah
Gurdwara singh sabha, kathua 
Narsingh ji temple, ghagwal
Shree anand asharam, suba chak, hiranagar

TREKKING ROUTES
Bani - sarthal - bhaderwah  trek
Bani - dhaggan - machhedi trek
Bani - dhaggar - kailash trek
Bani - khajar - bani
Bani-chattar galla - baskund trek
Siara-banjal-khajar-bani trek