Kulgam district is an administrative district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Located in the southern part of the Kashmir Valley, the district takes its name from its headquarters town, Kulgam. It was carved out as a separate district in 2007, when the Government of Jammu and Kashmir created several new districts by reorganising existing ones; Kulgam was formed from the southern portion of the erstwhile Anantnag district.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Region | Kashmir Valley |
| Headquarters | Kulgam |
| Formed | 2007 |
| Parent district | Anantnag |
| Official language | Urdu, Kashmiri |
Kulgam district lies in the southern Kashmir Valley, bounded by Anantnag district to the east, Shopian district to the north-west, and the Pir Panjal range to the south and west, which separates it from the Jammu region. The Veshaw (Veshu) river, a tributary of the Jhelum, flows through the district and is an important source of irrigation. The terrain ranges from fertile valley plains, extensively cultivated for paddy, to forested mountain slopes and high-altitude meadows in the upper reaches.
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is divided into a number of tehsils and community development blocks for revenue and developmental purposes. Major towns and notable places in the district include Kulgam, Yaripora, Devsar, Qaimoh, Frisal, Damhal Hanjipora, Pahloo, and Aharbal, the last known for a prominent waterfall on the Veshaw river.
The population of Kulgam is overwhelmingly Kashmiri-speaking and predominantly Muslim, with a small Hindu and Sikh presence. The district has historically been associated with a strong tradition of formal education and a distinct political culture, including a long-standing base of support for left-leaning parties in Kashmir.
Agriculture and horticulture dominate the district's economy. Kulgam is one of the leading rice-producing districts of the Kashmir Valley and is sometimes referred to in regional usage as the "rice bowl" of Kashmir. Apple orchards, walnut cultivation, and saffron-related activities are also significant, alongside handicrafts such as carpet weaving and willow-wicker work.
The area now constituting Kulgam district has been part of the historical region of Kashmir for centuries and shares the broader cultural and political history of the valley, including periods of rule under the Sultans of Kashmir, the Mughals, the Afghans, the Sikhs, and the Dogra rulers of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947. After Indian independence and the accession of the state to India, the area remained part of Anantnag district until the 2007 reorganisation created Kulgam as a separate district.
Kulgam holds importance as an agricultural heartland of the southern Kashmir Valley and as an administrative unit serving a populous rural belt. Its location along the foothills of the Pir Panjal also gives it scenic and tourism value, with sites such as Aharbal and Kousarnag drawing visitors.