Billawar

Billawar
Town
Billawar Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Billawar Billawar (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 32°37′N75°37′E / 32.62°N 75.62°E / 32.62; 75.62
Country	India
State	Jammu and Kashmir
District	Kathua
Government
• MLA	Dr. Nirmal singh
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

Billawar is located at 32°37′N75°37′E / 32.62°N 75.62°E / 32.62; 75.62 . ^[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

The Billawar tehsil (1 of 8 tehsils) of Kathua district has 46 panchayat villages. ^[4]

History

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".

Religion in Billawar (2011) ^[6]

1. Hinduism (88.21%)
2. Islam (9.68%)
3. Other / Not stated (2.11%)

Demographics

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

Billawar is known for Sukrala Devi, and Sukrala Mata Mandir is a major attraction of this region. Several devotees throng the shrine during Navaratri. ^[8]

Assembly constituency

Main article: Billawar Assembly constituency

References

1. 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.
2. Kumar, Raj, 1960- (2006). Paintings and lifestyles of Jammu Region : from 17th to 19th century A.D. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN   8178354411. OCLC   74991379.
3. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Billawar
4. "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.
5. Kumar, Raj, 1960- (2006). Paintings and lifestyles of Jammu Region : from 17th to 19th century A.D. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN   8178354411. OCLC   74991379.
6. "Billawar City Population". Census India. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
7. "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.
8. "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.