Reasi District: Demographics, Tehsils, Geography & Infrastructure
Reasi is a strategically vital mountainous district in the Jammu Division of Jammu & Kashmir. Carved out of Udhampur district in 2007, it encompasses the spiritual capital of Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi), the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River, the 690 MW Salal Hydroelectric Project, and the nationally significant Salal-Haimana lithium deposits.
District Reasi: Data-Driven Fact Card (Census & LGD)
| Administrative Headquarters | Reasi Town (Elevation: 466 m / 1,529 ft) |
|---|---|
| Total Geographical Area | 1,719 sq km (District Census Handbook 2011) |
| Total Population (Census 2011) | 314,667 (Male: 166,461 | Female: 148,206) |
| Population Density | 183 persons per sq km |
| Sex Ratio | 890 females per 1,000 males (Child Sex Ratio: 791) |
| Overall Literacy Rate | 58.15% (Male: 68.38% | Female: 46.59%) |
| Notified Tehsils (LGD / Revenue Dept) | 9 Tehsils (Reasi, Katra, Pouni, Mahore, Arnas, Thakrakote, Chassana, Bhomag, Jij Bagli) |
| Community Development (CD) Blocks | 12 Blocks (Reasi, Pouni, Katra, Panthal, Arnas, Mahore, Gulabgarh, Chassana, Thakrakote, Jij Bagli, Bhomag, Thuroo) |
| Revenue Villages | 258 Villages (Inhabited: 247 | Uninhabited: 11) |
| Major Drainage & Rivers | Chenab River (Chandrabhaga), Anji Khad, Ans River |
| District Boundary Environs | North: Kulgam & Shopian | East: Udhampur & Ramban | South: Jammu | West: Rajouri |
Administrative Roster: The 9 Notified Tehsils of Reasi
Under the Local Government Directory (LGD) and J&K Revenue Department notifications, District Reasi is structured into 9 administrative sub-units (tehsils):
| Tehsil Name | Cadre Category | Headquarters | Primary Geographic Role & Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasi | Sub-Division HQ | Reasi Town | District administrative seat, Bhimgarh Fort, Salal Hydroelectric project command |
| Katra | Sub-Division HQ | Katra Municipality | Base camp for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, SVDK major railway terminal |
| Pouni | Tehsil Unit | Pouni Town | Transit route for Shiv Khori shrine at Ransoo; agricultural valley plain |
| Mahore | Sub-Division HQ | Mahore | Upper Pir Panjal mountain tehsil; high altitude terrain connecting to Gool/Ramban |
| Arnas | Tehsil Unit | Arnas | Chenab River riverine crossing; connects southern Reasi to northern hill reaches |
| Thakrakote | Tehsil Unit | Thakrakote | Rugged hill tracts between Arnas and Mahore; rural agro-pastoral economy |
| Chassana | Tehsil Unit | Chassana | Far western border tehsil flanking Rajouri district; alpine meadows and passes |
| Bhomag | Tehsil Unit | Bhomag (Suhanda) | Interior Chenab river canyon tehsil; mountainous terrain with terraced orchards |
| Jij Bagli | Tehsil Unit | Jij | Sub-Himalayan forest ridge tehsil carved to improve rural administrative delivery |
Engineering Marvel: The Chenab Rail Arch Bridge (USBRL)
Constructed under the national Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project by Northern Railway and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), the Chenab Rail Arch Bridge spans between Bakkal and Kauri in District Reasi:
- Elevation & Height: Towering 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the Chenab riverbed, it is the highest railway arch bridge in the world. For scale, it stands exactly 29 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris (~330 meters including its broadcast antenna).
- Total Span: 1,315 meters overall bridge length, featuring a central steel arch span of 467 meters.
- Engineering Tolerances: Designed to withstand wind speeds up to 266 km/h, Zone-V seismic accelerations (maximum seismic risk zone), and blast pressures. Constructed using 28,000 tonnes of specialized high-grade structural steel (10B grade).
- Anji Khad Bridge: Also located within Reasi district, the Anji Khad Bridge is Indian Railways' first cable-stayed railway bridge, featuring a single asymmetrical pylon standing 331 meters above the riverbed.
Energy Infrastructure & Mineral Geology
Reasi occupies a pivotal role in national energy generation and strategic critical mineral exploration:
1. Salal Hydroelectric Project (690 MW)
Commissioned by NHPC on the Chenab River near Reasi town, the Salal Hydel Project is a run-of-the-river power station with an installed generation capacity of 690 MW (Stage-I & Stage-II). It provides baseload electricity across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
2. Salal-Haimana Lithium Deposit (UNFC G3 Inferred Resource)
In February 2023, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) published a mineral exploration report indicating an inferred mineral resource (UNFC Stage G3) of approximately 5.9 million tonnes of lithium-bearing bauxite/clay deposits in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi.
Scientific Classification Note: In accordance with United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) standards, G3 represents preliminary geological confidence (inferred resource), not a proven commercial reserve (G1/E1). Detailed G2 (general exploration) and G1 (detailed feasibility) core drilling and chemical extraction metallurgy are underway to establish commercial viability.
Historical Heritage: Bhimgarh Fort & General Zorawar Singh
The town of Reasi traces its royal lineage back to Raja Bhim Dev of the 8th century CE, who founded the initial citadel atop a hillock overlooking the Anji River. In the 1820s, Maharaja Gulab Singh entrusted Reasi Fort (Bhimgarh Fort) to his legendary military commander, General Zorawar Singh, who fortified the perimeter using stone masonry, built armories, and used Reasi as his primary administrative base prior to his historic Himalayan campaigns into Ladakh and Western Tibet.
Regional Road & Rail Connectivity
| Route Corridor | Distance | Highway Type | Travel Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jammu City to Katra | 45 km | National Highway 144 (4-lane) | 1 hr 15 min drive via Domel; regular deluxe buses and private taxis available. |
| Katra to Reasi Town | 25 km | State Highway 7 (Paved 2-lane) | 35 to 45 min drive crossing scenic Anji Khad gorge; regular shared sumos. |
| Jammu City to Reasi (Direct) | 64 km | NH-144 to Katra junction, then SH-7 | Approx. 1 hr 45 min total driving time. |
| Railway Terminal (SVDK) | At Katra | Northern Railway Broad Gauge | Vande Bharat Express, Shri Shakti Express, and direct trains across India. |
Official Sources & Governance Citations
All statistical data, administrative divisions, and engineering metrics in this dossier are cross-referenced against authoritative government gazettes and statutory publications:
- Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Reasi: Official District Portal (reasi.nic.in).
- Census of India: District Census Handbook (DCHB) Reasi, Series 02, Part XII-A & B (Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir).
- Ministry of Panchayati Raj: Local Government Directory (LGD) administrative code registry (lgd.gov.in).
- Geological Survey of India (GSI) & Ministry of Mines: 62nd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) Report on Salal-Haimana Lithium Inferred Resources (February 2023).
- Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) & Northern Railway: USBRL Project Engineering Specifications & Chenab Bridge Technical Dossier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tehsils are in Reasi district?
Reasi district comprises 9 notified tehsils under the Local Government Directory (LGD): Reasi, Katra, Pouni, Mahore, Arnas, Thakrakote, Chassana, Bhomag, and Jij Bagli.
What is the height of the Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi?
The Chenab Rail Bridge stands at 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the riverbed, making it the highest railway arch bridge in the world and 29 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris (~330 m).
What is the population and literacy rate of Reasi district?
According to the 2011 Census of India, Reasi district has a total population of 314,667 (166,461 males and 148,206 females) with an overall literacy rate of 58.15% (male literacy: 68.38%, female literacy: 46.59%).
What is the scientific status of the lithium discovery in Reasi?
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) identified an inferred mineral resource (UNFC Stage G3) of approximately 5.9 million tonnes of lithium-bearing ore in Salal-Haimana. It is classified as an inferred resource requiring further G2/G1 exploration, not a proven commercial reserve.
How far is Katra and Reasi town from Jammu city?
Katra is 45 km from Jammu city via the 4-lane National Highway 144 (approx. 1 hr 15 min). Reasi town is situated 25 km further northwest from Katra via State Highway 7 (total distance from Jammu to Reasi: 64 km).