Anantnag District

Lawrence in his book ‘The Valley of Kashmir’ states that these divisions were later on divided into thirty four sub-divisions which after 1871 were again reduced to five Zilas or districts.. No significant ancient building or archaeological site is found in the district today except the Martand temple. What must have once been magnificent architectural show pieces like the Martand complex of temples situated at a distance of nine kilometers from the district headquarters or the palaces of Laltaditya and Awantivarman at Awantipora lying midway between Srinagar and Anantnag town are now in grand ruins. The majestic Martand temple is one of the important archaeological sites of the country. Its impressive architecture reveals the glorious past of the area. Martand temple is the clear expression of Kashmir’s pristine glory.

Anantnag is one of the six districts of the Kashmir Valley situated in its south and south western direction. Geographically the district lies between 33o-20' to 34o-15' north latitude and 74o-30' to 75o-35' east longitude, bounded in the north and north-west by Srinagar and Pulwama districts respectively and in the north east by Kargil district. It is also bounded by Doda and Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district in the east and south east and bordered by tehsil Gool Gulab Garh of Udhampur district, Ramban Tehsil of Doda district and tehsil Budhal of Rajauri district in the south and south-west.