Kanals / 165 Acres
Hectares of Land
Year Old Chinars
Altitude (ASL)
Open All Year
🌿 A Poem in Praise of Chowgan by Rajesh Chander Sharma
किश्तवाड़ की जान कहूं या कहूं मैं उस की शान ।
हर उत्सव का केंद्र बना है, सब का यह चौगान ।
जहाँ छोटे बालक खेलें खेल, बिना भेदभाव, बिना बेर ।
जहाँ मखमल जैसी हरी घास पर नंगे पैर करते सब सैर ।
जड़ी-बूटियां, सब्जगास, देवदार, चिनार वृक्ष आस-पास ।
दिन भर चारा चरते पशु हैं, उसे धार कहूं या मैं मैदान ।
किश्तवाड़ की जान कहूं या कहूं मैं उस की शान ।
Chowgan is not merely a ground — it is the beating heart of Kishtwar, a natural treasure of 65 hectares standing at the centre of the city, celebrated since time immemorial as the gathering place of generations. Foreign traveller G. T. Vinge once described it as the “Replica of Bagdad” and the “Heaven of Kishtwar.”
What is Chowgan? — An Ancient Natural Wonder
At the very centre of Kishtwar town lies Chowgan — a vast, lush-green natural ground spanning approximately 520 Kanals (165 Acres) of pristine Himalayan meadow. Operated by the Kishtwar Development Authority (KDA) and open throughout the year, it is surrounded by towering Chinar, Deodar, and Pine trees that frame it with a natural grandeur few places in India can match.
Its ancient name is Goverdhansar — for in ancient times, this very land was a beautiful lake. Over centuries, the waters receded through natural causes, gradually transforming the lakebed into the magnificent flat meadow that stands today. The area between the TRC and village Sangrambhata is still called Gudhansar — Sar in Sanskrit meaning ‘lake’ — a living reminder of its watery origins.
Today, the Chowgan has been developed into a modern ground with electric lights, flower beds, a tiled trekking route along its sides, and eco-friendly infrastructure by the KDA — while retaining all of its natural Himalayan charm and rich cultural heritage.
Location & Surrounding Landmarks
Situated approximately 1,500 metres from the main bus stand of Kishtwar, the Chowgan is easily accessible from all directions. It touches NH1B towards the East and other link roads towards the West, and serves as a natural interchange connecting several important areas of the district.
🛕 North — Gori Shanker Mandir
A major Hindu temple to the north of Chowgan — one of the most prominent religious landmarks in Kishtwar town.
🕌 South — Shrine of Asrar-Ud-Din Baghdadi
The revered Sufi shrine of Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi — a celebrated saint said to have been a born Wali who performed miracles — lies to the south.
✈️ North — Helipad / Airstrip
A small helipad and airstrip on the northern edge is used by helicopters and light aircraft — and earmarked for a full airport by the Airport Authority of India.
🌳 NW Corner — Char Chinar
Four majestic Chinar trees — some over 200 years old — enclose this historically significant corner of the Chowgan known as ‘Char Chinar’.
🗺️ Areas Connected to Chowgan
🌿 Kuleed
🌿 Bun Astan
🌿 Matta
🌿 Sarkoot
🌿 NH1B (Batote–Kishtwar)
A Centre of Culture, Sport & Communal Harmony
From time immemorial, Chowgan has been the beating cultural heart of Kishtwar — a hub of social activity, sports, and community life. It is here that the energies of Kishtwar’s youth have been channelled through cricket, football, lawn tennis, and other sports, building in them the values of team spirit, fellow-feeling, brotherhood, and communal harmony.
The ground is used for Eid and Muslim funeral prayers, and by the Hindus of Kishtwar town for Dussehra and Rama Navami — a living testament to interfaith harmony. Every year, cricket tournaments are organised on the ground, and games like football, lawn tennis, and baseball are played throughout the year. This spirit of shared cultural space is what has made Kishtwar a beacon of peace.
🕊️ A Symbol of Peace — 1947 & Beyond
The Chowgan’s culture of communal harmony meant that Kishtwar’s peace was not disturbed even during the communal frenzy of 1947 — when riots erupted across India during Partition.
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and all communities gather here — for Eid, Dussehra, Baisakhi, Rama Navami and every major celebration.
The forces of peace remain dominant in Kishtwar to this day — and the Chowgan is their living symbol.
Majestic Trees, Herbs & Natural Beauty
The Chowgan is draped in some of the most magnificent trees in the Himalayan region. Its lofty Chinar trees — some of them 100 to 250 years old — add a timeless, regal grandeur to the ground. The Forest Department has planted conifers in a strip all around the perimeter, enhancing both the beauty and the air quality of the Chowgan.
The meadow’s grass is rich with medicinal herbs — highly nutritious for the livestock of Kishtwar that depend greatly on this ground for grazing. This pasture also produces a good quality of mushrooms, adding to its natural richness. In summer, the Chowgan is an ideal place for morning and evening walkers; in winter, the first snowfall transforms it into a skiing and sledging paradise — making Kishtwar no less than a Gulmarg of the Jammu region.
🌱 Natural Features of Chowgan
Surrounding trees include Chinar, Deodar (Cedar), and Pine — with some Chinars estimated to be over 250 years old. The ground is rich in medicinal herbs, produces high-quality mushrooms, and provides nutritious grazing for the livestock of the entire Kishtwar area.
In winter, the snowfall transforms the Chowgan into a pristine white playground — ideal for sledging, skiing, and photography, drawing visitors from across the region.
Sports, Activities & Adventure Tourism Potential
The Chowgan is a year-round venue for sports and outdoor activity. Every year, cricket tournaments are organised on the ground, and other games like football, lawn tennis, and baseball are played here throughout the year. The ground is an ideal place for morning and evening walks, with thousands of Kishtwar residents using it daily.
🏏 Cricket
Annual cricket tournaments are a highlight of the Chowgan calendar, drawing enthusiastic crowds from across the district.
⛷️ Winter Sports
After snowfall, the Chowgan becomes a natural skiing and sledging arena — a stunning Himalayan winter experience right in the heart of the city.
🪂 Paragliding
The Chowgan and the slopes above are ideal for paragliding — offering breathtaking aerial views of the Kishtwar valley and surrounding peaks.
🚶 Walking & Trekking
A tiled trekking route along the sides of the Chowgan has been developed by KDA — perfect for morning and evening walkers amid the Chinar trees.
🚡 Future Tourism Proposal — Gondola / Ropeway
If a Gondola / Ropeway is constructed from Chowgan to Kalam-Sather — a picturesque spot 5 kilometres above Kishtwar town — it can prove to be a great boon for tourists and place Kishtwar firmly on the international adventure tourism map.
Chowgan & the Proposed Kishtwar Airport
A part of the Chowgan is currently used as an air-strip and helipad, where helicopters and light aircraft land — a critical lifeline for Kishtwar, especially in winter when the national highway from Batote becomes blocked due to landslides and heavy snowfall.
The Airport Authority of India is contemplating the construction of a full airport at Chowgan to serve the air-transport needs of Kishtwar and the surrounding region — a development that would be transformative for the district’s connectivity, tourism, and economy.
💡 Did you know? The Chowgan’s ancient name Goverdhansar means a sacred lake — and the area is still called Gudhansar locally. According to tradition, it was the great sage Kashyap Rishi who drained the waters of this lake centuries ago, making Kishtwar habitable — the same legend that gives Kishtwar the name Kashyapwas.
🌿 Chowgan — The Crown & Soul of Kishtwar 🌿
Related Topics
Tourist Places Kishtwar
Goverdhansar Ancient Lake
Char Chinar Kishtwar
Kishtwar Airport
Paragliding Kishtwar
Winter Sports Kishtwar
Kishtwar Development Authority
Kalam-Sather Ropeway
Chinar Trees Kishtwar
Kishtwar Tourism
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· Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
