Anantnag is the main town of the southern Kashmir Valley, about 55 km south of Srinagar on the Jhelum River. Known also as Islamabad in older maps, it serves as the gateway district for some of Kashmir's most visited sights in the surrounding countryside.
The Martand Sun Temple, an 8th-century ruined Hindu temple on a plateau with views across the valley, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Kashmir. Achabal, a Mughal garden with natural spring sources, and Kokernag, a botanical garden built around the largest spring source in the Kashmir Valley, are both within easy reach. The Verinag Garden, at the source of the Jhelum River itself, is another Mughal-era site in the district.
The district is predominantly agricultural — apple orchards, rice fields, and saffron cultivation — and the landscapes around the valley are attractive. Pahalgam, the mountain resort at the head of the Lidder Valley, is within this district and is one of Kashmir's most popular destinations.