Nestled amidst the foothills of the Himalayas, the town of Thathri in Jammu and Kashmir holds a story woven in wood and water. Its very name, "Thathri," whispers of a bygone era, echoing the rhythmic clanging of axes and the steady flow of the Chenab River.
According to local lore, Thathri derives its identity from the word "thath," meaning a heap of timber. In ancient times, the banks of the Chenab witnessed a bustling activity - the collection and transportation of wood. Men from Thathri, alongside those from nearby villages like Tipri and Phagsoo, toiled diligently, building towering stacks of wood along the river. These "thaths" served as crucial hubs, where timber harvested from the vast forests of Kishtwar found its way to Jammu, carried by both government and private agencies.
For generations, this arduous yet essential work sustained the livelihoods of Thathri's residents. The murmur of their labor resonates even today, preserved in the records of forest and revenue departments. With the construction of the Dool Hasti power project dam, however, the curtain fell on this chapter. Timber transportation shifted to land routes, trucks replacing the rhythm of the river.
Yet, Thathri's historical and commercial significance endures. As a vital town in the Thathri subdivision, it remains strategically positioned on the left bank of the Chenab, with National Highway 244 coursing through it.