Ambala district General information
Ambala district is one of the districts of the state of Haryana with its headquarters at Ambala city. Other towns are Ambala Cantt., Barara, Naggal, Mulana, Saha and Shahzadpur. The total area of Ambala district is 1569 sq kms and its population is 11,06,000. It is famous for its big army cantonment, air force base and a very busy railway junction. Ambala district is famous for its industries, especially that of scientific instruments, metal casting, kitchen mixer grinders and submersible motor pumps.
The district Ambala lies on the North-Eastern edge of Haryana between 27-39"-45' North latitude and 74-33"-53' to 76-36"-52' East longitude. It is bounded by the district Yamunanagar to the South-East. To its South lies Kurukshetra district while in its west is situated Patiala and Ropar districts of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The Shivalik Range of Solan and Sirmaur districts of Himachal Pradesh bounds the Ambala district in the North and North-East. The height from the sea level is 900feet
There are a number of stories regarding the name 'Ambala'. According to one, Ambala District has been founded by Amba Rajput during the 14th century AD. Another version is that the name is a corruption of Amba Wala or the mango-village judging from mango groves that existed in its immediate neighborhood. Still another version is that the District has taken its name after goddess "Bhawani Amba" whose Temple still exist in Ambala city.
HISTORY
The earliest inhabitants of district were a primitive people using stone tools of lower palacolithic Age. These tools were found at various sites in the district like Tarlokpur etc. Unfortunately this district has not yielded any pre Harappan or mature Harappan site. However there has been some satisfactory evidence in kins of late Harappan. The Various evidence specially that of painted Grey ware pottery support the fact that the Aryans also inhabited the region. The Ambala region was included in the Kingdom of Pandava and there successors.The Edicts of Ashoka Chiefly Topara edicts and stupas at Singh and Chaneti associate this district with Maurayan Empire which further add to the district with Mauryan Empire which further add to the importance of place. The discovering of Sunga Terralottas suggests that they held this area. Several coins of menander have alsobeen recovered from the area. The district has also yielded Coins of Indo Parthian Gondophernes and a coin of Mahakshtrapa Rajuvala (from Ambala and Nariangarh). At some places Kushan Bricks have also been found which justify the conclusion that this district was included in the Kushana empire. According to Dr.R.C. Majumdar the region between Lahore and Karnal formed a part of Samudra Gupta empire . This evidence is supported by Mehrauli Pillar Inscription and silver coins found at various places.The region formed an integral part of nearly all the premier ruling dynasties of India. In 7th Century is was a part of Sukantha Janpada of puspabhuti of Thanesar. Some foreign sources specially those of Chinese pilgrimage Hiven Tsang who visited during Harsha regime show that this District was also under some influence of Buddhism . The district further Witnessed the Imperial ambition of Yaso Verman of Kanauj and laladitya. After the invasion of Mohammed Ghaznavi charuhaus brought it under their control the Topara pillar stands Testimony of this fact. Finally the Muslims under took the district after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan in the second Battle of Terrain 1192. Between 9th to12th century this district retained its importance as a centre of religious pilgrimage. The discovery of image of lords at several places suggest existence of beautiful temples which were probably destroyed during Muslim invasions.
The advent of British Rule Marked the growth of Sikh Power in this region and the consequent destruction by British in 1805. The British in order to increase their sway beyond Yamuna look the Chiefs in Ambala under their protection. The British Controlled the affairs of all states in the region in a most effective manner through the political agency at Ambala . In 1845, the Sikh chief showed passive obstruction or open hostility to the British. The result was the police jurisdiction of most of the chief as well as transit and custom duty were abolished and a commutation was accepted for the personal service of the chief of his contingent. The political agency of Ambala was transformed into Commissionership under the commissioner of the cis-Satluj states. By 1846 several chiefships had lapsed owing to their failure to have male heirs and the so called break down of administrative machinery. The British acquired strips of territory around Ambala district in 1847. In 1849, Punjab was annexed and then it was declared that expect Buria and Kalsia all chiefs would cease to hold sovereign powers.
The Ambala district played a significant role in uprising of 1857. Ambala was a military depot of great Importance then. Sham Singh ,a sepoy of the 5th Native infantry told Forsyth, the then Deputy Commissioner Ambala in the end of April 1857 that a general rising of the Sepoys would take place in the beginning of May. He was proved Correct at approximately 9 A.M.on Sunday 10th May 1857 an Indian regiment the 60th Native Infantry rose in open revolt at Ambala followed by 5th native infantry at 12 noon but the Britsh were too alert and suppressed the revolt. Like the sepoys, the civil population was also badly disaffected.
GEOGRAPHY
District Ambala lies on the North-Eastern edge of Haryana between 27-39"-45' North latitude and 74-33"-53' to 76-36"-52' East longitude. It is bounded by the district Yamuna Nagar in the South-East. To its South lies Kurukshetra District, while in its west are situated Patiala and Ropar districts of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The Shivalik Range of Solan and Sirmaur districts of Himachal Pradesh bound the Ambala district in the North and North-East. The average altitude from the sea level is 900 feet approximately.
AREA
Ambala District is comprised in 1568.85 sq.kms.
CLIMATE
The climate of Ambala over most of the year is a pronounced continental in character.It is very hot in summers and markedly cold in winters.May and June can be really hot with the temperature soaring to over 48°C,while in winter it can be as low as -1°C.
Ambala has a semi-arid as well as tropical climate.Being far away from the coasts and close to the Thar desert,it does not get the full share of the Monsoon current seen mostly across central and east of the country.
Around 70% rainfall is received during the month of July to September and the remaining rainfall is received during December to February.Ambala is the maximum rain-hit area in Haryana with average rainfall being 47.16 inches per annum.
River System & Water Resources
The district is mainly drained by non-perennial streams and the drainage system of the district comprises of the following:
1. The Markanda & its tributaries
2. The Dangri (Tangri) & its tributaries
3. The Ghagghar & its tributaries
The Markanda and the Dangri streams ultimately drain into the Ghagghar river beyond the territory of the district. The Ghagghar along with its tributaries however constitutes an inland drainage system.
The Markanda
The Markanda which drains the southern slopes of Dharti Dhar range (Himachal Pradesh) , cuts through the shivalik range and enters the plains and the district. The river channel which is broad between Kala Amb and Mullana becomes narrow to the south of Mullana. During the rainy season, the river carries enormous water which causes flooding in its lower course.
The Dangri
The Tangri streams rises in the Morni Hills and flows in a southerly direction upto village Chajju Majra where it is joined by the Baliali Nadi. It further flows a southerly course running on the eastern side of Ambala Cantonment. After crossing the Ambala Cantonment Ambala-Jagadhari railway line it takes south-westerly direction . Near the villages of Segta & Segti the torrent of Omla and Amri join the Dangri. It is here that the Narwana branch of Bhakhra main canal crosses the Dangri stream. Thereafter the Dangri takes a westerly course upto village Niharsi where it turns towards south and leaves the district to enter the Patiala district of Punjab.
The Dangri rising from Morni Hills , used to flow on a southerly direction upto Panjokhra, a village in the North-East of Ambala from where it was separated into two main channels. These two channels still kept a southerly course running on either side of Ambala cantonment. The Dangri seems to have changed its course towards the close of 19th century when the drainage was confined to the eastern channel.The Baliali Nadi rises in the southern slopes of the Morni Hills and joins the Dangri stream near village Chajju Majra. The Amri ( also known as Shahzadpur wali or Dadri) is formed of water collected in plains during the rainy season. It starts near Rataur and flows south-west and takes the torrent of the Omla and joins the Dangri between the villages of Segta and Segti.
The Ghaggar
The Ghagghar, another important river also traverses the district for some distance in the north west. The river originates in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh and enters the district. It traverses the district near Ambala City for a very short distance and then flows parallel to the district boundary outside the district .While in its-upper course , the river contains some water throughout the year, in its lower course it is generally dry in summer and carries water only during the rainy season.The two tiny lakes at an elevation of 620 metre above mean sea level near village Masiyun in the Morni hill tract are of little importance as these lakes neither feed any major stream nor are these being fed by any major river. Only a small stream from one of these lakes joins the Dangri (Tangri) nadi. Despite the large number of drainage lines passing through the district, the area suffers from inadequate water resources. Canal irrigation, which is limited to a few small pockets in the south-western tip of Ambala tehsil, does not have much scope for extension because of undulating topography in a large part of the district. Thus, wells and tubewells remain the major source of irrigation in the district.
Places of Interest
There are many shrines in and around Ambala City. There is a temple, Bhawani Amba, named after the goddess Bhawani. The Badshahi Bag Gurdwara, Sis Ganj Gurdwara, Manji Sahib Gurdwara, Sangat Sahib Gurdwara are the historical gurdwaras here. These are associated with Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Hargobind respectively. Besides there are the popular Muslim shrines of Lakhi Shah and Taqwal Shah, Saint Pauls Church and an old British Christian cemetery. Patel Park in Ambala Cantt and City Park in Ambala City are two beautiful gardens.
Rang Mahal, at nearby place Buria, is a well crafted palace with stone arches and pillars with beautiful carvings, erected during Shah Jahans reign. Haryana Tourism has the Kingfisher resort on the national highway just outside the cantonment.