Hiranagar

Hiranagar is a town and a notified area committee in Kathua district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a tehsil headquarters. It is named after Raja Hira Singh, son of Raja Dhyan Singh and nephew of Raja Gulab Singh.HistoryRaja Hira Singh, nephew of Maharaja Gulab Singh, is believed to have founded the town after his name when he was bestowed with the jagir of Jasrota by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab (1834-44 AD). He also renovated the Jasmergarh Fort situated between Tarnah and Bein Nallahs. The fort also housed the tehsil and other government offices prior to 1947. Later the offices were moved to Hiranagar.The town has a fast-developing industrial estate and a modern industrial training institute.GeographyHiranagar is located at. It has an average elevation of 308 metres (1010 feet).DemographicsIndia census, Hiranagar had a population of 7879. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Hiranagar has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 65%. In Hiranagar, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.Famous residentsGirdhari Lal Dogra, Former Finance Minister of J&K and also an MP