Anantnag district of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, is one of the six districts of the Kashmir valley situated in its south and south western direction. Geographically the district lies between 33o-20' to 34o-15' north latitude and 74o-30' to 75o-35' east longitude, bounded in the north and north-west by Srinagar and Pulwama districts respectively and in the north east by Kargil district. It is also bounded by Doda and Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district in the east and south east and bordered by tehsil Gool Gulab Garh of Udhampur district, Ramban Tehsil of Doda district and tehsil Budhal of Rajouri district in the south and south-west. However, its western portion is contiguous with Mendhar tehsil.

The entire southern sector and major part of the eastern region of Anantnag district is strewn with thick forests and mountains. The height of these mountains in the east, south and west of the district ranges between 2438 meters to 3048 meters and in some areas, the peaks even soar to a height of 4572 meters. On the west the district is bounded by mighty Pir Panchal range mountains, through which passes the world famous Jawahar Tunnel.

Situated at a distance of 55 km of the south east of Srinagar, Anantnag is spread over an area of 3,984 sq km, with a population of 11.70 lacs as it stood in 2001. Anantnag is gateway of the Kashmir valley and is called the granary of the Kashmir valley as it is agriculturally very fertile. The district is predominantly rural and situated at an average height of 1700 meters above sea level. The people of the district are mostly engaged in agriculture, principal crops being Rice and Maize. The district comprises of 5 Tehsils and 12 community development blocks.