Jalandhar is an ancient city in the state of Punjab, India. It’s home to Devi Talab Mandir, a centuries-old Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Durga, with a tank considered sacred by devotees. The whitewashed Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi is a place of worship for Sikhs. To the southeast lies St. Mary’s Cathedral, a modern building with Punjabi architectural elements, 2 domed towers and a pond. Also called Jullundur, the city lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and li 146 km northwest of Chandigarh.
According to legend, the city may have been named after Jalandhara, a demon king, who is named in the Puranas and Mahabharata. The city was founded by Devasya Verma as mentioned in 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. The city and Jalandhar District were part of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Jalandhar was conquered by the Ghaznavids during the reign of Ibrahim of Ghazni between 1058 and 1089. Later it formed part of the province of Lahore during Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. In 18th century Jalandhar saw power struggles involving Persians, Afghans and Sikhs. It was captured by the Faizullahpuria Misl in 1766, and in 1811, Maharaja Ranjit Singh incorporated it within the Sikh Empire, in 1849,the British annexed it. The city played a crucial role in India’s independence, and The Khilafat Movement started in the district in early 1920s.
The Partition of India in 1947 saw Jalandhar become part of the new dominion of India. The resulting rioting and violence caused by Partition led to major demographic change in the area. Well connected by rail, road and air, the city is a major pilgrimage centre with devotees thronging to places like Devi talab mandir Nakodar Baba Marad Shah Samadhi, Cantonment Church, Gurudwara sahib, and Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar in large numbers. The city enjoys mild climate throughout the year, as such attracts large number of tourist.
A major education hub Jalandhar is also known as a sports hub with hockey, cricket and kabaddi being the major sports, that has helped a large sporting-goods industry grow. Sports equipment manufactured in Jalandhar have been used in many international sporting events including Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, among others. The third largest city in the state, it is an important trade centre for agricultural products as well as other industries including manufacturing, tanning, weaving, and carpentry.
The former capital of Punjab, there are numerous places worth visiting in and around the city such as Rangla Punjab, Devi Talab Mandir, Sodal Mandir, Pushpa Gujral Science Centre, Wonderland Theme Park, Gurudwara Shahid Baba Nihal Singh, Harleen Water park, Nehru garden, Swaminarayan temple, Gurudwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, Buriton park, Jung e Azadi Memorial, Jama Masjid Dargah Imam Nasir, Tulsi Mandir, Kartarpur Gurudwara, Saint Mary’s Cathedral Church, Nikku park, and Shiva Mandir. Kartarpur Gurudwara, which is just over the border in Pakistan can be accessed through the recently opened Kartarpur corridor.
On clear sky day Dhauladhar range are visible from Jalandhar. There are numerous hotels, resorts, guest houses in the city that provide luxurious, mid range and budget accommodation. The restaurants serve delicious Punjabi food at reasonable prices. The shopping scene is great in Jalandhar with numerous markets and shopping malls selling a variety of local and branded products
