Anantnag finds its place in the Bhagavadgita that says “I am Ananta Naga” It is also well mentioned in ancient Naga and Pichash cronicals of ancient aboriginals of the valley. Anantnag is an ancient city which came into existence as a market town around 5000 B.C. making it of the oldest urban human settlements in the whole world.

Anantnag was also known by the name of Kashyapteshwara in ancient times linking it to the mythology of Rishi Kashyapa. It has one spring called Inder Spring Hydro sphere. Anantnag has two Sulphur springs and countless fresh water springs. There are about 7 temples in Anantnag (Anantnag Bhawan Complex): two Shiva Temples, one Radha Krishna Mandir, one Durga Temple, one Ganesh Temple, Sita Ram Temple, Hanuman Temple, four Dharmshallas and one school building. Outside the complex in the town are three temples - Ancient temples - Devibal, Shiva Temple at Nai Basti, and third at Hara Mohalla.

All three temples outside the complex were burnt and damaged by Muslim fundamentalists during riots against Kashmiri Hindus in February 1986, and rebuilt with assistance of the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Jag Mohan. Now both the Shivala temples outside complex are reported to have been again damaged and partially burnt by Kashmiri Militants.

Anantnag like the rest of the Kashmir Valley has witnessed many vicissitudes and experienced many upheavals from time to time. Hugel found here some monuments of the Mughal period in ruins when he visited Kashmir in 1835. No significant ancient building or archaeological site is found in the district today except the Martand temple.

What must have once been magnificent architectural show pieces like the Martand complex of temples situated at a distance of nine kilometers from the district headquarters or the palaces of Laltaditya and Awantivarman at Awantipora lying midway between Srinagar and Anantnag town are now in grand ruins. The majestic Martand temple is one of the important archaeological sites of the country. Its impressive architecture reveals the glorious past of the area.

Martand temple is the clear expression of Kashmir’s pristine glory. The Mughal Emperors especially Jehangir developed many beauty spots of the district, but of their noble and magnificent edifices only fainted traces survive. All the same, even in their present ruinous conditions, these monuments do not fail to feast the eye or excite the imagination of admirers at large.