POST BY ADNAN KARIM AWAN
Kotli (Urdu: کوٹلی, Pahari-Potohari/Hindko/Pashto: کوٹلی) or Cotly, as known in Britain, is the chief town of Kotli District, in the Pakistani-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Kotli is linked with Mirpur by two metalled roads, one via Rajdhani, (90 km) and the other via Charhoi. It is also directly linked with Rawalakot via Trarkhal (82 km) and a double road which links Kotli with the rest of Pakistan via Sehnsa, another major town in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Kotli is roughly a three hours drive from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, at a distance of 117 km via Sehnsa.Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Ranjit Singh and the Dogras
2 Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48
3 Modern Kotli
4 Communications
5 Friendship cities
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
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History
As stated in History of the Punjab Hill States by J.Hutchinson and J.P. Vogel: "Kotli was founded about the fifteenth century by a branch of the royal family of Kashmir. Kotli and Poonch remained independent until subdued by Ranjit Singh in 1815 and 1819 respectively."
The royal family of Kashmir Hutchinson and Vogel are referring to is the family of Raja Mangar Pal. Before its name was Kohtali mean (under mountain) after that people changed its name to Kotli. Kotli was historically known as Kotli.
There is a famous saying in Azad Kashmir: "Kotli Mangrallan da, Rajouri Jarrallan da, Bhimber Chiban da, Mirpur Gakharan da"
Translation:
• Kotli is ruled by the Mangral Rajputs, Rajouri is ruled by the Jarral Rajputs, Bhimber is ruled by the Chib Rajputs and Mirpur[disambiguation needed] is ruled by the Gakhar Rajputs
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Ranjit Singh and the Dogras
History of the Punjab Tribes by J. Hutchinson and J.P. Vogel lists a total of 22 states, 16 Hindu and 6 Muhammadan (Muslim) that formed the State of Jammu following the conquest of Raja Ranjit Singh in 1820. Of these 6 Muhammadan States two (Kotli and Poonch) were ruled by Mangrals, two (Bhimber and Khari-Khariyala) by Chibs one (Rajouri) by the Jarrals and one (Khashtwar) by the Khashtwaria. Of these 22 states 21 formed a pact with Ranjit Singh and formed the State of Jammu. Only Poonch ruled by the Mangrals retained a state of semi-autonomy. Following the War of 1947 Poonch was divided and is now split between Pakistan Administered Kashmir Poonch District (AJK) and Indian Administered Kashmir Poonch
The Mangral Rajput ruled Kotli state for several centuries until they were defeated by the army of the Sikh leader Ranjit Singh. Following two endless battles the Sikh army returned in 1815 with 30,000 soldiers and a final battle ensued. Having lost many fighters the Mangrals were defeated by the Sikhs and regions held under the leadership of the Mangral Rajputs of Jammu and Kashmir was handed over to the Sikhs to stop further bloodshed.
The Panjab Hill States were merged by Ranjit Singh into the state of Jammu which was passed into the control of Kishore Singh the father of Gulab Singh and a distant relative of Jit Singh the Raja of Jammu. Gulab Singh had joined the army of Ranjit Singh in 1812 and had risen through the ranks and found favour with Ranjit Singh. The granting of Jammu was a reward for the services of Gulab Singh and family.
The 27 years of Sikh rule followed by the 100 years of Dogra rule were a period considered to be the most stable in Kashmir. Kotli was populated by Sikhs imported by Ranjit Singh from the Punjab. In particular, they set up in Kotli Sikh Blacksmiths workshops which supplied the Sikh army with weaponry.
Following the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839 the Sikh Empire went into slow decline. Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his eldest son Kharak Singh who was in power for only a few months before being removed and replaced by his son Nau Nihal Singh. Kharak Singh the eldest legitimate son of Ranjit Singh was imprisoned by the Sikhs and suffered a painful death through slow torturing. Whilst returning from the funeral of his father, Nau Nihal Singh was injured when the archway of a wall was made to collapse on him. Nau Nihal Singh was replaced by another son of Ranjit Singh, namely Sher Singh. Sher Singh was himself killed only two years later in 1841 as he reached for a new shotgun held by his cousin Ajit Singh Sandhawalia, who pulled the trigger. Sher Singh only had time to utter the words "what treachery" before Ajit Singh removed his head with a single blow from his sword.
The British replaced Pratap Singh (the grandson of Gulab Singh) with his brother Amar Singh[disambiguation needed] who in turn was succeeded by his own son Hari Singh. There the line of Dogra rulers would end as the heir apparent Karan Singh never took the throne.
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Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48
In November 1947, the Indian Army reached Kotli and evacuated the garrisons of the town. The Pakistani Army along with the Rajputs and Jats of Azad Kashmir aided by the tribesmen of the North West Frontier Province arrived and counter-attacked, forcing the Indian Army to abandon it. Kotli has been under Pakistani rule since.
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Modern Kotli This section does not cite any references or sources. (February 2011)
Today Kotli is a winter town. Notable places in Kotli fist of all main kotli best place to visit is sarda point, near river gori park, roli hills, butt fire and many other today kotli shaping it self and it look like a mini islamabad the hill views river views and many more are Khuiratta, Chowki Tinda, Kurti, Roli, Brali and Dhamol. The town has become a vision of three-storey mansions that have taken over the once-barren roads between the outer ring villages and the ever-expanding city sitting on the brim of the Poonch River. The most famous and notable buildings are the three Khan-Wali fortresses: Khan-Wali House, Khan-Wali Palace, Khan-Wali Towers,Jame Masjid Gulhar Sharif,Jame Masjid Ghosia Balyah and Tehsil Guest House (Some Great people stayed there since it was built by Dogra rulers).
The mass emigration that took over the country in the 1960s has now created a steady boom of summer holiday makers from Britain and beyond who seek to reconnect their European-born children to the old country. Kotli has international links throughout Western Europe and North America. Like many Azad Kashmiris (Poonch valley - a region found in the Jammu part of Jammu and Kashmir) living in the fringes of the Mangla Dam in Mirpur, emigration fever took hold of the surrounding country from the mid 1950s onwards.
Kotli has ties with many European cities such as Amsterdam, Hamburg and especially the larger industrial cities of northern and central England. Many Kotli city residents have ties to British nationals in the city of Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Luton, Bedford, Watford and Birmingham. Kotli is also known as the city of mosques due to the fact that there are more than three hundred mosques in Kotli.
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Communications
Four privately owned cable Television systems: Family Cable Network, Kashmir Cable Network, Kehkashan Cable Network and Janjora Cable Network, are available in Kotli, which transmit Pakistani and international television programs.
A local FM radio station also broadcasts at FM 96.5.
Cell phone service is available through six private cell phone operators: Paktel, Mobilink, Ufone, Warid, Telenor and SCOM. PTCL Wireless is also available (Also Under The Authority of PTA Supervisor Adrees Adil).
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Friendship cities
- Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
- Luton, Luton/Dunstable Urban Area, England, United Kingdom
- Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
- Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom
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