Kathua / Katra

Kathua , Jammu and Kashmir

Kathua has a very interesting name. One of the largest cities in the Jammu area or Duggardesh, Kathua today is one of the few cities in the state of Jammu and Kashmir which are truly striving for prosperity and modernity. The name is derived from the word “Thuan” which translated to scorpio. Before the Dogras arrived and actually made the city it was filled with scorpions. Thus the name. A place which is linked with great history and mythology, this is a city with equal parts of antural spendour and modern blend. The city is situated along the banks of a khad (river) dividing it into two boroughs namely the Parliwand, meaning the other side and Orliwand, meaning this side. Both parts are connected by three bridges. This makes it quite an interesting city to explore. With an eclectic mixture of the Hilly, Pahari and the Dogra cultures this is a cocktail that is very hard to resisit. It gives us all an insight of cultures that are very alien o most but are still surviving with unchanged traditions. That is something to be surely appreciated. Due to the presence of the Indo Pak border very near, this is also an Army Hub. With the cnnstant terrorist insurgence and the strife that is part of the land, the development here is a slow one. Yet this is a town which is fighting against all odds to catch up with the rest of the country and bring prosperity to the land. A place that is very picturesque and filled with buubling streams and the splendour of the mountains, Kathua is a place that should be on everyones agenda. It will give you a glimpse into a different world.