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]
Kotli کوٹلی | |
|---|---|
City | |
 | |
| Administering country | Pakistan |
| Territory | Azad Kashmir |
| District | Kotli |
| Constructed | Mid 15th Century |
| Union Councils | 18 |
| Population | |
| • Total | 46,907 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Urdu[2] |
| • Spoken | |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Postal Code | 11100 |
| Area code | 0092-58264 |
| Website | District Website |
History
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
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]