Overview
Reasi district is an administrative district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies in the Jammu region and is best known as the location of the Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta hills near Katra, one of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. The district headquarters is the town of Reasi, situated on the banks of the Chenab river.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Union Territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Region | Jammu |
| Division | Jammu |
| Headquarters | Reasi |
| Major town | Katra |
| Major river | Chenab |
| Notable site | Vaishno Devi shrine, Trikuta hills |
Geography
The district occupies a hilly stretch of the outer and middle Himalayas in the Jammu region. The terrain is dominated by ridges of the Pir Panjal foothills, with the Chenab river cutting deep gorges through the district. The Salal hydroelectric project, one of the earliest large hydropower stations on the Chenab, lies within the district. Forested slopes, terraced agriculture and pilgrimage routes characterise much of the landscape.
Administration
Reasi was carved out as a separate district in 2007, when the then state of Jammu and Kashmir reorganised its administrative units and increased the number of districts in the state. Before this reorganisation, the area formed part of Udhampur district. The district is divided into several tehsils and community development blocks, and sends representatives to the Jammu and Kashmir legislature.
Economy and infrastructure
The economy is shaped by pilgrimage tourism centred on Katra, agriculture and horticulture in the valleys, and hydroelectric generation along the Chenab. The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project passes through the district, and includes the Chenab Bridge, an arch railway bridge built across the Chenab gorge in Reasi district that is among the highest railway bridges in the world. Katra is served by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station, which functions as a major rail terminus for pilgrims.
Religion and culture
The Vaishno Devi shrine, managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, draws several million pilgrims every year, with the traditional trek beginning at Katra. Other religious and historical sites in the district include the Shiv Khori cave shrine, Baba Dhansar and old hilltop temples. The population is religiously mixed, including Hindus, Muslims and a smaller Sikh community, with Dogri, Hindi, Urdu, Gojri and Pahari among the languages in use.
Timeline
- Historical period: Region forms part of the Dogra principalities and later the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Post-1947: Included within Udhampur district of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- 2007: Reasi constituted as a separate district through state-level administrative reorganisation.
- 2014 onwards: Expansion of railway connectivity to Katra boosts pilgrimage traffic.
Significance
Reasi district holds importance as a major pilgrimage destination, a hydropower-generating region on the Chenab, and a node in the strategic rail and road network connecting Jammu with the Kashmir Valley. Engineering works such as the Chenab Bridge and the Salal Dam have given the district national visibility beyond its religious importance.
Related topics
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Jammu division
- Vaishno Devi
- Katra
- Chenab River
- Chenab Bridge
- Salal Dam
- Udhampur district
- Shiv Khori
References
- Wikidata entity: Q2321956
- Government of Jammu and Kashmir, district administration of Reasi.
- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board publications.