Jalandhar is a city in the state of Punjab in India. With a considerable population, it ranks as the third most-populous city in the state and is the largest city in the Doaba region. Jalandhar lies alongside the historical Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected junction for both rail and road networks.
The city is located 148 km (92 mi) northwest of the state capital Chandigarh, 83.5 km (51.9 mi) southeast of the city of Amritsar, and 61.3 km (38.1 mi) north of Ludhiana. The national capital, Delhi, is approximately 381 km (237 mi).
The National Highway 1 (NH1), crosses Jalandhar, further enhancing its connectivity.
The history of Jalandhar District comprises three periods — ancient, medieval and modern.
Ancient
The city may be named after Jalandhara, a Nath Guru who was from here.[citation needed] The city was founded by Devasya Verma as mentioned in the Vedas. Other possibilities include that it was the capital of the kingdom of Lava, son of Rama or that the name derives from the vernacular term Jalandhar, meaning area inside the water, i.e., tract lying between the two rivers Satluj and Beas.[4] The whole of Punjab and the area of present Jalandhar District was part of the Indus Valley Civilization. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are the sites where remains of the Indus Valley civilisation have been found extensively. The archaeological explorations made during recent years have pushed the ancient times of Jalandhar District of the Harappa period. Jalandhar was known as Prasthala during the Vedic period and it was the capital of the Trigarta Kingdom.[5]
In 1849, following the annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company, the city of Jalandhar, written in English as Jullundur by company officials, became the headquarters of the division and District of the same name. In 1858, company rule in India ended and the city became part of the British Raj. In the mid to late 19th century, the Punjab administration regarded Jullundur as too densely populated and farmed to capacity. This led to the district being a chief recruitment area for settlers to colonise the newly irrigated Punjab Canal Colonies, in western Punjab.[9]
Modern
The Khilafat Movement started in the district in the early 1920s to bring pressure on the government to change their policy towards Turkey. Mahatma Gandhi extended sympathy and support to this movement, however in response, the District was declared a 'Proclaimed Area' under the Seditious Meetings Act. In 1924, Pakistani general and military dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was born in the city.
Prior to the partition of India, Muslims were in plurality in Jalandhar district. According to the 1941 census, Muslims made up 45.2% of the population, compared to Hindus and Sikhs being 27.6% and 26.5% respectively.[10] Within a period of 10 years, from 1941 to 1951, the Muslim population in Jalandhar district reduced from 45.2% to 0.2%.[10]
Geography
Climate
The city has a hot semi-arid climate with cool winters and long, hot summers. Summers last from April to June and winters from November to February. Temperatures in the summer vary from average highs of around 41 °C or 105.8 °F to average lows of around 25 °C or 77 °F. Winter temperatures have highs of 19 °C or 66.2 °F to lows of 6 °C (43 °F). The climate is dry, except during the brief southwest monsoon season during July and August. The average annual rainfall is about 70 centimetres or 28 inches. In 2018, Jalandhar witnessed unusually heavy rainfall, with an over 20% increase from average rainfall levels.[11] Since it is located in the northern plains, the area feels quite cold during winters and very hot during summers.
Rainfall
The city receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 700 millimetres (28 in). However, fluctuations are not uncommon, as observed in 2018 when Jalandhar experienced a significant increase in precipitation. The city registered over a 20% increase from its average rainfall that year, which marked it as a year of heavy rainfall.
Despite the variations in climate across seasons, one thing remains constant: the extremity of temperatures, with winters feeling notably cold, and summers, feelings markedly hot due to Jalandhar's location in the northern plains.
As per the 2011 census, Jalandhar had a population of 868,929, of which 460,811 were male, and 408,118 female. The literacy rate is 86.20%: for males are 88.81% and females 83.26%. Children of 0-6 years are 90,044 (10.36%), with a sex ratio of 867 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes are 27.26% of the population.[14]
At the time of the 2011 census, 81.48% of the population spoke Punjabi and 15.63% Hindi as their first language.[25]
Economy
Jalandhar is notable for its sports goods industry. With an employment of 60,000 to 70,000 people, it is estimated to be ₹1,700 crore industry, with ₹400 crore export and ₹1,300 crore domestic supply.[26] In 2022, the Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association in Jalandhar, with collaboration from local self-help groups, started an initiative to train 1,500 women in stitching soccer balls, ensuring financial development and welfare in the district.[27]
Another significant contributor to Jalandhar's economy is its leather industry, having a turn over of ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 crore, and ₹400 crore export.[28][29]
The nearest airport is Adampur Airport, northwest of Jalandhar, which currently only handles scheduled operation on maiden flights of the private carrier Spicejet, to Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur. The nearest fully-fledged International Airport is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, in Amritsar. It is the second busiest airport in North India, and is connected to other parts of the country by regular flights. Several airlines operate flights from abroad, including London Stansted, Birmingham, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Doha. The airport handles as many as 48 flights every week up from the occasional, intermittent ones some years ago.
Jalandhar City Railway Station is well-connected to other parts of the country. Jalandhar City is a major stop between the Amritsar-Delhi rail link, which is serviced by Shatabdi Express, Intercity Express, among others.
The Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar claims that the city has over 800 hospitals,
[40] making it the city with the highest number of hospitals per capita in Asia. Three new Health Centres were set up in Jalandhar on 9 September 2020.[41]
Cricket is very popular in the grounds and streets of Jalandhar. There is an international-standard stadium at Gandhi Stadium, formerly known as Burlton Park. The Indian cricket team played a Test Match against the Pakistan cricket team on this ground on 24 September 1983.[42]
Guru Gobind Singh Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Jalandhar. It is usually used for football matches and served as the home stadium of JCT Mills FC.[43] People can be seen jogging, playing soccer, weight-lifting, etc. in the stadium most of the time. The Punjab government has started new projects at the stadium.
^Parminder Singh Grover Moga, Davinderjit Singh, Discover Punjab: Attractions of Punjab, Parminder Singh Grover, 20 May 2011
^Tom G. Kessinger, University of California, Berkeley. Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies, Vilyatpur, 1848-1968: Social and Economic Change in a North Indian Village, University of California Press, 1 January 1974, p.16
^Bhattal, Amardeep (11 February 2000). "Mahindras trounce JCT 3–0". tribuneindia.com. Ludhiana, Punjab: The Tribune Online. Tribune News Service. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
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