History Of Kotli
•As stated in History of the Punjab Hill States by J.Hutchinson and J.P. Vogel: "Kotli was founded about the fifteenth century by a branch of the royal family of Kashmir. Kotli and Poonch remained independent until subdued by Ranjit Singh in 1815 and 1819 respectively.
•The royal family of Kashmir Hutchinson and Vogel are referring to is the family of Raja Mangar Pal. Before its name was Kohtali mean (under mountain) after that people changed its name to Kotli. Kotli was historically known as Kotli.
•There is a famous saying in Azad Kashmir: "Kotli Mangrallan da, Rajouri Jarrallan da, Bhimber Chiban da, Mirpur Gakharan da"
Translation:
•Kotli is ruled by the Mangral Rajputs, Rajouri is ruled by the Jarral Rajputs, Bhimber is ruled by the Chib Rajputs and Mirpur is ruled by the Gakhar Rajputs
Administration:
•The area now comprising district Kotli was a sub-division of Mirpur District up to the year 1975 and was known as Kotli Mangralan. Prior to 1947, it was a part of the Kashmir and Jammu area, it comes under the Jammu section which is part of the greater dispute between India and Pakistan. The district is bounded by the occupying Indian forces of Indian-administered Kashmir in the east, and by Mirpur District in the south and Rawalakot to its north.
The district is divided into five tehsils (sub-divisions).
• Kotli (City).
• Fatehpur Thakiala or Nakyal.
• Sehnsa.
• Charhoi
• Khuiratta.
District Kotli has five seats (Constituencies) in Azad Kashmir assembly,
• Kotli (City, Raj Mahal,goii) LA 08 Kotli 1.
• Fatehpur Thakiala or Nakyal LA 09 Kotli 2.
• Sehnsa LA 10 Kotli 3.
• Charhoi LA 11 Kotli 4.
• Khuiratta LA 12 Kotli 5.
The district covers a total area of 1862 square kilometres. Kotli is now the largest city by population (740,000)..
Geography:
•Kotli is a hilly area rising gradually towards the high mountains of Poonch District.Its climate is more moderate than that of Mirpur due to the sub-mountainous topography.
•The river Poonch passes through Kotli to be joined by a smaller river called the Baan at Brahli, a short distance from Kotli.
•The district headquarters is at a distance of 141 km from Islamabad - the capital of Pakistan.
• It is linked with Mirpur by two metalled roads, one via Gulpur and Rajdhani, and the other via Dhungi and Charohi.
•It is also directly linked with Islamabad and Rawalpindi via Sehnsa and Holar.
•Kotli has basic facilities like a main bazaar, banks, hospitals, colleges, telephone and telegraph office and hotels.
•kotli has a scenic landscape with many mosques. Dahmole is a beautiful village near by Kotli and is a great place to live. At a distance of 26 km from Kotli via a metalled road lies Tattapani, a popular tourist and mythical destination. Thousands of people flock to the sulphur springs each year in the hope to find magical cures for illnesses..
Southeast of Kotli is the town of Khoi Ratta, is famous for its annual Baisakhi festival..
Rivers and Streams:
•The Poonch is the main river in this area, and enters the district from the north at Tata Pani and flows south passing west of Kotli town and finally enters Mirpur district before flowing into Mangla Lake.
•Jhelum rivers makes the western boundary of the district and flows in north-south direction.
•The Rangpur Nala is an important western tributary of the Poonch river while two important streams namely Ban Nala and Mahuli Nala join it from the east.
•The River Poonch passes through Kotli to be joined by a smaller river called the Baan at Brahli, a short distance from Kotli..
Climate:
•Kotli's climate is more moderate than that of Mirpur due to the sub-mountainous topography. The climate of the district is generally hot in summer and cold in winter.
•The Eastern and northern parts are dry and cold. Where as the western areas are a little hot. June is the hottest month with the mean maximum and minimum temperature of about 38 C to 25 C respectively & some time less then 0c.
•January is the coldest in month with the mean maximum and minimum temperatures of about 18C and 5C respectively & some time less then 0c. The mean annual rainfall is about 1300 millimetres, more than half of which occurs during July and August.
Languages:
•The native languages spoken in this district are Gojri, Pahari and Punjabi.
Communications
• Four privately owned cable Television systems: Family Cable Network, Kashmir Cable Network, Media Cable Network, Kehkashan Cable Network and Janjora Cable Network, are available in Kotli, which transmit Pakistani and international television programs.
• A local FM radio station also broadcasts at FM 96.5.
• Cell phone service is available through six private cell phone operators: Zong, Mobilink, Ufone, Warid, Telenor and SCOM. PTCL Wireless is also available.
Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48
•In November 1947, the Indian Army reached Kotli and evacuated the garrisons of the town. The Pakistani Army along with the Rajputs and Jats of Azad Kashmir aided by the tribesmen of the North West Frontier Province arrived and counter-attacked, forcing the Indian Army to abandon it. Kotli has been under Pakistani rule since.
•As stated in History of the Punjab Hill States by J.Hutchinson and J.P. Vogel: "Kotli was founded about the fifteenth century by a branch of the royal family of Kashmir. Kotli and Poonch remained independent until subdued by Ranjit Singh in 1815 and 1819 respectively.
•The royal family of Kashmir Hutchinson and Vogel are referring to is the family of Raja Mangar Pal. Before its name was Kohtali mean (under mountain) after that people changed its name to Kotli. Kotli was historically known as Kotli.
•There is a famous saying in Azad Kashmir: "Kotli Mangrallan da, Rajouri Jarrallan da, Bhimber Chiban da, Mirpur Gakharan da"
Translation:
•Kotli is ruled by the Mangral Rajputs, Rajouri is ruled by the Jarral Rajputs, Bhimber is ruled by the Chib Rajputs and Mirpur is ruled by the Gakhar Rajputs
Administration:
•The area now comprising district Kotli was a sub-division of Mirpur District up to the year 1975 and was known as Kotli Mangralan. Prior to 1947, it was a part of the Kashmir and Jammu area, it comes under the Jammu section which is part of the greater dispute between India and Pakistan. The district is bounded by the occupying Indian forces of Indian-administered Kashmir in the east, and by Mirpur District in the south and Rawalakot to its north.
The district is divided into five tehsils (sub-divisions).
• Kotli (City).
• Fatehpur Thakiala or Nakyal.
• Sehnsa.
• Charhoi
• Khuiratta.
District Kotli has five seats (Constituencies) in Azad Kashmir assembly,
• Kotli (City, Raj Mahal,goii) LA 08 Kotli 1.
• Fatehpur Thakiala or Nakyal LA 09 Kotli 2.
• Sehnsa LA 10 Kotli 3.
• Charhoi LA 11 Kotli 4.
• Khuiratta LA 12 Kotli 5.
The district covers a total area of 1862 square kilometres. Kotli is now the largest city by population (740,000)..
Geography:
•Kotli is a hilly area rising gradually towards the high mountains of Poonch District.Its climate is more moderate than that of Mirpur due to the sub-mountainous topography.
•The river Poonch passes through Kotli to be joined by a smaller river called the Baan at Brahli, a short distance from Kotli.
•The district headquarters is at a distance of 141 km from Islamabad - the capital of Pakistan.
• It is linked with Mirpur by two metalled roads, one via Gulpur and Rajdhani, and the other via Dhungi and Charohi.
•It is also directly linked with Islamabad and Rawalpindi via Sehnsa and Holar.
•Kotli has basic facilities like a main bazaar, banks, hospitals, colleges, telephone and telegraph office and hotels.
•kotli has a scenic landscape with many mosques. Dahmole is a beautiful village near by Kotli and is a great place to live. At a distance of 26 km from Kotli via a metalled road lies Tattapani, a popular tourist and mythical destination. Thousands of people flock to the sulphur springs each year in the hope to find magical cures for illnesses..
Southeast of Kotli is the town of Khoi Ratta, is famous for its annual Baisakhi festival..
Rivers and Streams:
•The Poonch is the main river in this area, and enters the district from the north at Tata Pani and flows south passing west of Kotli town and finally enters Mirpur district before flowing into Mangla Lake.
•Jhelum rivers makes the western boundary of the district and flows in north-south direction.
•The Rangpur Nala is an important western tributary of the Poonch river while two important streams namely Ban Nala and Mahuli Nala join it from the east.
•The River Poonch passes through Kotli to be joined by a smaller river called the Baan at Brahli, a short distance from Kotli..
Climate:
•Kotli's climate is more moderate than that of Mirpur due to the sub-mountainous topography. The climate of the district is generally hot in summer and cold in winter.
•The Eastern and northern parts are dry and cold. Where as the western areas are a little hot. June is the hottest month with the mean maximum and minimum temperature of about 38 C to 25 C respectively & some time less then 0c.
•January is the coldest in month with the mean maximum and minimum temperatures of about 18C and 5C respectively & some time less then 0c. The mean annual rainfall is about 1300 millimetres, more than half of which occurs during July and August.
Languages:
•The native languages spoken in this district are Gojri, Pahari and Punjabi.
Communications
• Four privately owned cable Television systems: Family Cable Network, Kashmir Cable Network, Media Cable Network, Kehkashan Cable Network and Janjora Cable Network, are available in Kotli, which transmit Pakistani and international television programs.
• A local FM radio station also broadcasts at FM 96.5.
• Cell phone service is available through six private cell phone operators: Zong, Mobilink, Ufone, Warid, Telenor and SCOM. PTCL Wireless is also available.
Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48
•In November 1947, the Indian Army reached Kotli and evacuated the garrisons of the town. The Pakistani Army along with the Rajputs and Jats of Azad Kashmir aided by the tribesmen of the North West Frontier Province arrived and counter-attacked, forcing the Indian Army to abandon it. Kotli has been under Pakistani rule since.