Billawar
Billawar | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Billawar Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India  Billawar Billawar (India) | |
| Coordinates: 32°37′N 75°37′E / 32.62°N 75.62°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Kathua |
| Government | |
| • MLA | Vacant |
| Elevation | 844 m (2,769 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 11,916 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 184204 |
| Vehicle registration | JK08 |
Billawar is a town and a notified area committee in Kathua district of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Billawar was founded by Raja Bhog Pal in the 7th century A.D.,[1] it was a kingdom and its capital was Basohli until the 11th century.[2]
Geography
[edit]Billawar is located at 32°37′N 75°37′E / 32.62°N 75.62°E.[3] It has an average elevation of 844 m (2,769 ft). Billawar town is situated in the lap of the Shivalik mountains between the banks of the Naz and Bheeni rivulets, approximately 70 km from Dayala Chak on Delhi-Jammu NH-1A.
Billawar tehsil
[edit]The Billawar tehsil (1 of 8 tehsils) of Kathua district has 46 panchayat villages.[4]
History
[edit]Raja Bhog Pal, a son of the king of Kullu Valley, founded Basohli and established Billawar as the capital in 765 A.D. after subduing Rana Billo, a feudal chief who once ruled the area. The ruling house was subsequently known as Balouria, deriving from Balor.[5] The old name of Billawar is "Bilawara".
Demographics
[edit]As of the 2011 India census,[7] Billawar had a population of 11,916. Billawar has two boroughs - old Billawar town and Phinter area. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Billawar has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy rate of 78% and female literacy rate of 58%. 12% of the population is under six years of age. The major religions in Billawar are Hinduism (88.2%) and Islam (9.7%).
Places of interest
[edit]Billawar is known for temple of Goddess Sukrala Devi who is regarded as manifestation of Goddess Sharada Devi of Kashmir. Sukrala Mata Mandir is a major attraction of this region and several devotees throng the shrine during Navaratri.[8]
Places of Interest
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kumar, Raj (2006) [2006]. Paintings and Lifestyles of Jammu Region: From 17th to 19th Century A.D (Reprint ed.). New Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. p. 57. ISBN 9788178355771.
- ^ Kumar, Raj, 1960- (2006). Paintings and lifestyles of Jammu Region : from 17th to 19th century A.D. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 8178354411. OCLC 74991379.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Billawar
- ^ "Reports of National Panchayat Directory: Village Panchayat Names of Billawar, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir". Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013.
- ^ Kumar, Raj, 1960- (2006). Paintings and lifestyles of Jammu Region : from 17th to 19th century A.D. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 8178354411. OCLC 74991379.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Billawar City Population". Census India. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ "Sukrala Mata | District Kathua, Government of Jammu & Kashmir | India". Retrieved 15 August 2024.
The Most famous shrine dedicated to mother goddess is Sukrala Devi Shrine at a distance of 9.60 Kms from Billawar and about 75 Kms from Kathua.
