Kathua, widely recognized as the "Gateway to Jammu and Kashmir," is the southernmost district of the region. Bordered by Punjab to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the east, Kathua has historically served as the primary entry point, defense post, and transit corridor linking the Kashmir and Jammu hills with the plains of mainland India.
​The historical context of Kathua is defined by the rule of independent Rajput clans, the legendary Basohli art movement, and its evolution into a strategic border stronghold.