Kotli

Coordinates: 33°30′20″N 73°53′57″E / 33.50556°N 73.89917°E / 33.50556; 73.89917
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Kotli
کوٹلی
City
Kotli is located in Azad Kashmir
Kotli
Kotli
Coordinates: 33°30′20″N 73°53′57″E / 33.50556°N 73.89917°E / 33.50556; 73.89917
Administering countryPakistan
TerritoryAzad Kashmir
DistrictKotli
ConstructedMid 15th Century
Union Councils18
Population
 • Total46,907
Languages
 • OfficialUrdu[2]
 • Spoken
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Postal Code
11100
Area code0092-58264
WebsiteDistrict Website

Kotli (Urdu: کوٹلی) is a city in Kotli District of Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. 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.[3] As per the 2017 Census of Pakistan, Kotli had a population of 46,907.[4][5]

History[edit]

The city of Kotli dates back to the fifteenth century, when it was settled by a branch of the Royal Jarral family of Kashmir, Raja Aghar Khan. Back then it was known by the name of Kohtali, meaning "under mountain". Kotli remained independent as a small Muslim Rajput kingdom until it was finally subdued by Ranjit Singh in 1819.[6]

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"[7] 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.[8] It has been under Pakistani control ever since.

Education[edit]

Kotil is home to the University of Kotli (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.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Azad Jammu and Kashmir". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. ^ Rahman, Tariq (1996). Language and politics in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-19-577692-8.
  3. ^ Google (1 February 2020). "Kotli" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Azad Jammu and Kashmir". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  5. ^ Maqbool, Atif. "Kotli: 10 dead and many injured as roof of house collapses". Azadi Times - Latest Kashmir News. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "University of Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir". www.uokajk.edu.pk. Retrieved 28 January 2021.