Rajouri(ضلع راجوری, राजौरी जिला) is a district of Jammu province in the Indian-administered Kashmir. It is close to the control line and borders with Ponch to the north and Mirpur to the southwest, both of which are in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The District comprises six tehsils (boroughs). The land is mostly fertile and mountainous. Maize 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 Panjaal. Though Urdu and English are the main mediums of instruction, the other dialects such as Gojri, Pahari and Dogri are much spoken at the informal level. Gojri is mainly spoken by the Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes who are known for herding goats, sheep and horses. However, the fine line between Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes is that the former are farmers as they own land while the latter are nomads who herd cattle. The population is officially divided along the religious lines – though religiously diverse masses normally live in peace and harmony. The total population therefore, in accordance with the 2001 census, is 60% Muslim, 37% Hindu, 2% Sikhs and others.
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Rajouri, earlier known as Rajapura, was an area of importance in ancient times. Based on the Mahabharata evidence,[1] and evidence from 7th c Chinese traveler Yuan Chawang,[2] the districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Abhisara had been under the sway of Republican Kambojas during epic times.[3] The epic name of Rajauri was Rajapuram and it was the metropolis of Republican Kambojas e.g. Karna-Rajapuram-gatva-Kambojah-nirjitastava.[4]
The district comprises the tehsils of Rajouri, Darhal, Koteranka, Nowshera, Thannamandi, and Kalakot.
There are nine blocks: Rajouri, Darhal, Sunderbani, Doonji, Nowshera, Kalakote, Manjakote, Thanamandi and Budhal.[5] Each block consists of a number of panchayats.
Rajouri District has four assembly constituencies: Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote.[6]
According to the 2011 census Rajouri district has a population of 619,266 ,[7] roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands[8] or the US state of Vermont.[9] This gives it a ranking of 518th in India (out of a total of 640).[7] The district has a population density of 235 inhabitants per square kilometre (610 /sq mi) .[7] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 28.14 %.[7] Rajouri has a sex ratio of 863 females for every 1000 males,[7] and a literacy rate of 68.54 %.[7]
| Poonch district | Kulgam district | |||
| Disputed region | Reasi district | |||
| Rajouri district | ||||
| Jammu district |