Anantnag/Islamabad (Kashmir) ‘Eternal City’ City, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: anant, ‘eternal’, ‘infinite; and nagar, ‘town’, ‘city’ Local legends suggest a connexion with Ananta, a name for Vishnu and also for the sepent Sesha on which he is often...
Badgam (Kashmir) ‘Large Village’ [Badgom, Budgam] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: bṛhat, ‘large’, ‘great’; and grāma, ‘village’. There are two other possibilities: (i) Buddhagrama [from Buddha and Skt: grāma, ‘village’]. (ii) ‘Windy...
‘Enclosed Village’ [Bandipore, Bandipor] City, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: bandh, ‘enclosed’ or ‘bordered’ area; and pur, ‘town’, ‘city’. The name suggests an area bounded by mountains and water. Another, less likely , suggestion is that the...
‘Boar Town’ [Varahakshetra, Varmul] City, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: varaha, ‘boar’; and mūla, ‘place’, ‘foundation’ This ancient town developed around a shrine dedicated to Varaha the boar, the third avatara or incarnation of Vishnu....
‘Boar Town’ [Vijbor, Vijbror, Vejibror ] City, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: vijaya, ‘conquest’, ‘victory’; īśvara, ‘lord, ‘(supreme) god’ The name Bijbehara derives from Vijayeshwara, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Over time, the name evolved...
(Confluence of the) Chandra and Bhaga Rivers’ [Asikni, Chandrabhaga] Himachal Pradesh (Him), Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) The Chenab River flows through Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and into Punjab, Pakistan. Asiniki, its original name, probably...
‘Curve’ City/District , Jammu & Kashmir From Ksh: dod, ‘curve’, ‘bend’. The name Doda is believed to have originated from a local Kashmiri dialect word meaning a curve or bend. Doda is situated on one of the many prominent curves on the Chenab River...
‘Celestial Place’ [Ganderbhavan, Gandhavana] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Ksh: bal, ‘(of a) place’ ‘place (with)’: a place name suffix; Ksh: gandarv/gandur, celestial; gand/gānd, ‘stinky’. smelly’,...
Kathua [Kathai] City/District , Jammu & Kashmir The name has a tale: Jodh Singh, a famous Rajput of Hastinapur, had three sons, Kindal, Teju, and Bhaju. They settled their separate hamlets and named them as Taraf Tajwal, Taraj Bhajwal, and Taraf Manjali. These...
‘Wooden Enclosure’ [Kashthavata] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: kāṣṭha, ‘(piece of) wood’; vāṭa, ‘enclosure’ Kishtwar first appears as Kashthavata in the 12th century Rajatarangini, Kalhana’s legendary and...
‘River Village’ [Kolgom] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Ksh: kol/kul, ‘stream’, ‘river’; gam, ‘village’ Kulgam is situated on the Vishaw river in the foothills of the Pir Panjal range. It is surrounded by...
Spring Village [Kopwor] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Ksh: kol/kul, ‘stream’, ‘river’, ‘spring’ ; and Skt: pura→wara, ‘fortified settlement’ Kupwara is a scenic town in the northernmost district of Jammu and...
Five (Rivers) City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: pañca, ‘five’ Poonch is located at the point where the Poonch river meets the Belar, Darungli, Rangun and Mandi. Poonch is bounded by the Line of Control (boundary between Indian and Pakistan administered...
‘Bridge Village’ [Panwangam] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Per/Urd: pul, ‘bridge’, ’embankment’; gama, ‘village’ Known for its lush saffron fields, picturesque landscapes, and rich cultural history, Pulwama is...
‘King’s Settlemenrt’ [Raj Vari] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: rāj, ‘king’; and pura, ‘(fortified) settlement’, ‘town’ Rajouri is a historically significant town located in the Pir Panjal range with ancient...
‘Ram Street’ [Nashband] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Ram(a) and Ksh: Band(ar), ‘street’, ‘harbour’; gam, ‘village’ Untill the 1840s this was just a line of houses stanging alongside the right bank of the...
‘Suyya’s Town’ [Suyyapur] City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Suyya and Skt: pur, ‘(fortified) town, ‘settlement’ Sopore was founded by King Avantivarman of the Utpala dynasty in the 9th century CE. His minister, Suyya, was...
(Hin): श्रीनगर śrīnagar ‘Auspicious City’ City, Capital, Jammu & Kashmir From Skt: śrī, ‘auspicious’, ‘radiant’, ‘prosperous’; and nagar ‘city’ Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is known...
‘Udham’s City’ City/District, Jammu & Kashmir From Raja Udham Singh and Skt: pur, ‘(fortified) town, ‘settlement’ Udhampur is named after Raja Udham Singh, eldest son of Gulab Singh, the founder of the Dogra dynasty, which...
