Kishtwar District is a newly formed district of the state of Jammu and Kashmir of India.District Kishtwar in the past used to be an independent hill principality the present name, related with "Kishat Rishi" who stayed here, is the modified version of earlier name of Kishaswar.

Kishtwar is first referred to in the Rajatarangini by the ancient name Kashthavata, during the reign of Raja Kalsa of Kashmir (1063–1089), when "Uttamaraja", the ruler of Kashthavata visited the court of the Kashmir King in company with several other hill chiefs to pay their respects to the Raja. The Mehta Family was given the lands of Kishtwar by the King of Kashmir. Their family temple "Hatta Wali Mata" and their heritage can still be tracked back to Kishtwar. The founder of this family was the Commander-in-Chief of the Kashmir Army "Sip-E-Salar Sri Jiya Lal Mehta". Known for his bravery and valour he fought the Mughals and northern raiders who invaded the land.

The current name, Kishtwar, is a combination of the earlier name Kishaswar and "Kishat Rishi", who stayed there.

Kishtwar merged with the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1821, A.D. With the passage of time Kishtwar became a Tehsil of District Udhampur and remained so until 1948, when it became part of the newly created District Doda in the wake of first re-organization of the state during the post-independence period.

Kishtwar

Kishtwar is a town and a notified area committee in Kishtwar District of the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Kishtewar Town

According to population Kishtwar is the biggest town in District Doda.

 

 

Shrine of Shah Asrar

The Second Gous-ul-Azam Hazrat Shah Mohd Asrar –ud-din Is a sleep in a corner of the attractive and charming Chowgan in Kishtwar.

 

Chinar

Called Booune in the Kashmiri language, the Chinar tree is an integral part of Kashmiri culture.

 

 

Chowgan

In the center of the Kishtwar their is a big play ground/ grazing field called Chowgan.