[7] According to the Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak, it is named after Ananta, the great serpent of Vishnu and the emblem of eternity.

The locals continue to use the name Islamabad, even though the Indian security forces deployed in the area from 1998 onwards frown on its use.

[4][9][11] During the Dogra rule, Anantnag/Islamabad was the headquarters of one of Kashmir Valley's three districts, which was referred to as the "Anantnag wazarat".

[19] Masjid Baba Dawood Khaki is among the oldest mosques in the city, being built around 1400 CE.

This famous Sun Temple was destroyed by Ruler namely Sikander Buthshikan of Shahmiri Dynasty.

Anantnag has a strategic position lying on the main North-South Corridor Road and with the highest number of tourist destinations it an economic hub of Kashmir Valley.

The city suffered heavily during conflict times of the 1990s; many roads, bridges, and government buildings were reduced to ash.

Anantnag (ANT) is a station on the 119 km (74 mi) long Banihal-Baramulla line that started in October 2009 and connects Baramulla (BRML) and Srinagar to Banihal (BAHL), Qazigund.