Kotli

For other uses, see Kotli (disambiguation).
Kotli
کوٹلی
City
Administering countryPakistan
TerritoryAzad Kashmir
DistrictKotli
ConstructedMid 15th Century
Union Councils18
Population
 (2017 Census)
 • Total
46,907
Languages
 • OfficialUrdu[1]
 • Spoken
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Postal Code
11100
Area code0092-58264
WebsiteDistrict Website

Kotli (Pahari-Pothwari / Urdu: کوٹلی; pronounced [koːʈ.liː]) is a city in Kotli District of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. It lies on the Poonch River, and the river contains several waterfalls, including the Lala Waterfall near the town of Kotli, and the Gulpur Waterfalls at the village of Gulpur to the southwest.[2] As per the 2017 Census of Pakistan, Kotli had a population of 46,907.[3]

History

The city of Kotli dates back to the twelfth century, when it was settled by a branch of the Royal Mangral family of Kashmir, descendants of Raja Mangar Pal. Originally known as Kohtali, literally meaning "under mountain" due to the surrounding landscape. Kotli remained as a semi-auntonomous state until it was finally subdued by Ranjit Singh in 1819 and incorporated into the Sikh Empire.[4]

After the independence of Pakistan and India from the British rule, "bands of deserters from the State Army, some serving soldiers of the Pakistan Army on leave, ex-servicemen, and other volunteers who had risen spontaneously"[5] reached Kotli in November 1947. They expelled the Dogra garrison at the town. India then sent its armed forces to Kashmir where they attacked Kotli in an attempt to recapture it. The Pakistan Army counter-attacked with the aid of the native tribesmen, winning a decisive victory in the Battle of Kotli.[6] It has been under Pakistani control ever since.

Education

Kotil is home to the University of Kotli (Urdu:کوٹلی یونیورسٹی) (UoK), formerly a constituent college of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It became a university as a result of Presidential Ordinance VIII passed in 2014.[7]

References

  1. ^ Rahman, Tariq (1996). Language and politics in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-19-577692-8.
  2. ^ "Kotli" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. ^ Maqbool, Atif. "Kotli: 10 dead and many injured as roof of house collapses". Azadi Times - Latest Kashmir News. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  4. ^ Hutchison, J. (John) (1994). History of the Panjab hill states. Vogel, J. Ph. (Jean Philippe), 1871-1958. New Delhi, India: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0942-5. OCLC 34186922.
  5. ^ Ẓahīr, Ḥasan; Zaheer, Hasan (1998). The times and trial of the Rawalpindi conspiracy 1951: the first coup attempt in Pakistan. Karachi Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-577892-2.
  6. ^ Effendi, M. Y. (2007). Punjab cavalry : evolution, role, organisation, and tactical doctrine : 11 Cavalry (Frontier Force), 1849-1971. Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-547203-5. OCLC 212908145.
  7. ^ "University of Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir". www.uokajk.edu.pk. Retrieved 28 January 2021.