Kathua is a town located in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, near its border with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The town serves as the District Headquarter of its namesake district and is divided into 27 wards which constitute the Kathua Municipal Council and its adjoining Outgrowths (M.Cl.+OGs). It is situated along NH-44.
The town has a bustling industrial area and an Army Cantonment adjoining it. Jodh Singh a famous Rajput of Andotra clan migrated from HASTINAPUR to KATHUA nearly 2000 years ago and settled here. The three Hamlets of Taraf Tajwal, Taraf Manjali and Taraf Bhajwal were established by his three sons Viz. Teju, Kindal and Bhaju. Their descendent are now called as Tajwalia, Bhajwalia and Khanwalia Rajputs of Andotra sub-caste. The conglomeration of these three hamlets was loosely called “KATHAI” in earlier times which with the passage of time came to be called as KATHUA.
