SAS Nagar district General information
S.A.S. Nagar District has been carved out of areas falling in Ropar and Patiala District as 18th District of Punjab on 14th April 2006. Because of its contiguous with the union territory of Chandigarh. The district has been formed to achieve growth of development as this area is emerging as major I.T.hub of Nothern India. The district includes Mohali, Kharar and Dera Bassi Teshils. It is located in the north east part of Pb.. And is part of Patiala division The District includes 414 villages. The important township in the district are Kharar, Kurali, Mohali, Zirakpur & Dera Bassi. Kharar tehsil is the largest administrative unit of the New district with 154 villages followed by Dera Bassi Tehsil with 44 villages.
HISTORY
Mohali, a satellite town of Chandigarh, has been renamed as Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Mohali (SAS Nagar Mohali) in the memory of Sahibzada Ajit Singh. It is located in the newest district of the state, which is also called Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Mohali.
Sahibzada Ajit Singh (1687 - 1705) was the eldest of Guru Gobind Singh's four sons. His younger brothers were Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. With his three brothers, Sahibzada Ajit Singh carried on a great family tradition: that of attaining the status of one of the most hallowed martyrs in Sikh history. Before him and his brothers, their grandfather, the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur and great-great grandfather, the fifth Sikh Guru, the Mughals had also executed Guru Arjan Dev.
Ajit Singh was born to Mata Sundari and Guru Gobind Singh at Paonta Sahib on 26 January 1687. The following year, Guru Gobind Singh returned with the family to Anandpur where Ajit Singh was brought up in the approved Sikh style. He was taught religious texts, philosophy and history, and had training in the manly arts such as riding, swordsmanship and archery. He grew up into a handsome young man, strong intelligent and a natural leader of men.
Soon after the creation of the Khalsa on 30 March 1699, he had his first test of skill. A Sikh Congregation ('Sangat') coming from the Pothohar region of northwest Punjab was attacked and looted on the way by the Ranghars (a Muslim tribe) of Nuh, a short distance from Anandpur across the River Satluj. Guru Gobind sent Sahibzada Ajit Singh, then barely 12 years old, to that village. Ajit Singh along with a 100 men reached the spot on 23 May 1699, punished the Ranghars and recovered the looted property.
A harder task was entrusted to Sahibzada Ajit the following year when the hill chiefs supported by imperial Mughal troops from Lahore and Sirhind attacked Anandpur. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was made responsible for the defence of the Taragarh Fort, which became the first target of attack. This happened on 29 August 1700. Ajit Singh assisted by Bhai Udai Singh, a seasoned soldier, repulsed the attack. He also fought valiantly in the battle of Nirmohgarh in October 1700. On 15 March 1701, a Sikh Sangat coming from the Darap area (near Sialkot) was waylaid by Gujjars and Ranghars. Sahibzada Ajit Singh led a successful expedition against them.
In 1691, Mata Sundari gave birth to another boy who was named Jujhar Singh. Sahibzada Jujhar Singh was four years younger than Ajit Singh. Sahibzada Ajit Singh became a model for him. Jujhar Singh also was entrusted with several engagements around Anandpur and on hills. Both Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh led hundreds of successful expeditions, helping the needy who would come to Guru Gobind Singh asking to get them justice.
When Mughal forces besieged Anandpur in 1705, Sahibzada Ajit Singh again displayed his qualities of courage and steadfastness. After a long stalemate, the Mughal Faujdar gave his assurances that he only wanted the fort of Anandpur and would let the population of the town go unharmed. Anandpur was vacated on the night of 3-4 December 1705. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was given the command of the rearguard. As the besiegers, violating their solemn promises, attacked the column, he stoutly engaged them on a hill-feature called Shahi Tibbi until Bhai Udai Singh relieved him. Ajit Singh crossed the Sarsa, then in spate, along with his father, younger brother, Jujhar Singh, and some fifty men. Further reduced in numbers by casualties at the hands of pursuing troops from Ropar, the column reached Chamkaur on the evening of 6 December 1705, and took up position in a garhi(a stockade) and prepared for a fight to the finish. The host, since swelled by reinforcements from Malerkotla and Sirhind and from among the local Ranghars and Gujjars, soon caught up with them and threw a tight ring around Chamkaur. An unequal but grim battle commenced with the sunrise on 7 December 1705 - in the words of Guru Gobind Singh's Zafarnamah, a mere forty defying thousands. The besieged, after they had exhausted the meagre stock of ammunitions and arrows, made sallies in batches of five each to engage the encircling host with sword and spear.
Sahibzada Ajit Singh led one of the sallies and laid down his life fighting in the thick of the battle. Gurdwara Qatalgarh now marks the spot where he fell, followed by Sahibzada Jhujhar Singh who led the next sally. An annual fair is held in the commemoration of their martyrdoms in December - January.
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
The district is spread over geographical area of 1092.64 sq. kms. The rural area constitues 1021.77 sq.kms. as compared to urban area of 70.87 sq.kms.
POPULATION
As per statistical abstract of the Punjab 2001 the population of the districtis 698317 out of which the rural population is 454787 & population of urban area is 243530. The male population of the district is 379533 out of which rural male population is 247696 whereas urban male population is 134837. The total female population of the district is 318784 out of which the rural female population is 207091 whereas urban females are 111693. The S.C. population of the district is 155309 out of which rural S.C. population is 123113 & S.C. in urban area is 32196.
EDUCATION INTITUTIONS
Mohali District has emerged as a major center of technical education. There are 8 engineering colleges which offer variety of technical course. The Punjab School Education Board is also operating in the district.
NIPER: A pioneer institute of pharmaceutical & education research is situated at Mohali.
HEALTH SERVICES
There are number of renowed hospitals in the district which are equipped with latest technical know how. The FORTIS Hospital is one of its kinds with multi specialty facilities.
SPORTS
World class CRICKET STADIUM of international fame is situated at Mohali International tournaments are held from time to time and the people get an opportunity to watch the international cricket in action.
MISCELLANEOUS
District Mohali is emerging as a I.T Hub of North India. Some big companies like QUARCKS DELL & TCS is already in business and having its establishments whereas others are in the process for opening their offices.
CLIMATE
SAS Nagar Mohali has a sub-tropical continental monsoon climate characterized by a seasonal rhythm: hot summers, slightly cold winters, unreliable rainfall and great variation in temperature (0 °C to 44 °C). In winter, frost sometimes occurs during December and January. The average annual rainfall is recorded at 617 mm. The city also receives occasional winter rains from the west.
Average temperature
Summer: The temperature in summer may rise to a maximum of 44°C. Temperatures generally remain between 35°C to 42°C.
Autumn
In autumn, the temperature may rise to a maximum of 36°C. Temperatures usually remain between 16° to 27° in autumn. The minimum temperature is around 13°C.
Winter
Winters are quite cool and it can sometimes get quite chilly in Mohali. Average temperatures in winter (November to February) remain at (max) 7°C to 15 °C and (min) 0°C to 5°C.
Spring
The climate remains quite pleasant during the spring season. Temperatures vary between (max) 16°C to 25°C and (min) 9°C to 18°C.
TOURIST PLACE
Sukhna Lake - Chandigarh
The manmade picturesque Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, India at the foothills of Shivalik hills is an idyllic place for quiet communion with nature, and for offering water sports activities such as boating, yachting, water skating, etc. The evenings see Sukhna again coming alive with tourists, and families thronging the promenade, the Chef Lakeview, Citco's fast food joint, shops and of course the jetty for a boat ride. For children there are a number of joy rides and a mini train. As night descends, the lights from the hill resort of Kasauli reflect in the lake and present a bewitching sight.
Sukhna has a membership based Lake Club with open lawns, a gym, indoor games, swimming pool and tennis courts with both synthetic and grass courts. Boating, rowing, sculling, sailing, kayaking and water skiing can be enjoyed throughout the year. The Lake, which was the venue for the Asian Rowing Championships, has the longest channel for rowing and yachting events in Asia. It also has facilities for other water sports like water surfing, skiing and sculling.
Sukhna is a sanctuary for many exotic migratory birds like the Siberian duck, Storks and Cranes, during the winter months. The Government of India has declared the Lake as a protected national wetland. During summers, there are streams of men, women and children from all walks of life offering voluntary service to de silt the lakebed for about three months. This annual ritual has been a regular feature since long.
Sukhna Lake is also the venue for many festive celebrations too. The most popular is the Mango Festival held during the monsoons when scores of varieties of mangoes are on display. From time-to-time other food festivals, featuring specialties from different Indian States, are also held here, along with cultural performances.
Rock Garden- Chandigarh
The Rock Garden is a sculpture garden in Chandigarh. Spread over an area of forty-acre, it is completely built of industrial & home waste and thrown-away items.The Rock Garden project was secretly initiated by Nek Chand around 1957. It was discovered by the authorities in 1975, by which time it had grown into a twelve-acre complex of interlinked courtyards, each filled with hundreds of pottery-covered concrete sculptures of dancers, musicians, and animals. The authorities took over, and the garden was inaugurated as a public space in 1976. The Rock Garden Society presently runs it.
The Rock Garden is still made out of recycled materials. It is situated near Sukhna Lake. It consists of man-made interlinked waterfalls and many other sculptures that have been made of scrap & other kinds of wastes (bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks, electrical waste, etc), which are placed in walled paths.
This creation has even appeared on the Indian stamp in the year 1983. This magic garden is another attraction for travelers built by Nekchand, with multicolored pieces of useless stones and other throwaway. In summer it is open from 9-13.00 hrs and 15-19.00 hrs. From October to March, they are open from 9-13.00 hrs and 14-18.00 hrs Location: This strange and whimsical garden is located in Sector 1 and is a premier tourist attraction.
Vatika Gardens and Musical fountains- Panchkula
The name is true in spirit for Nirjhar Vatika in the city center of Panchkula is indeed a watery haunt, what with an artificial lake into which a waterfall cascades down along pebbled path. Visualize swans sliding along the water and children as well as adults enjoying the Cassandra crossing.
The bridge created on the lake is with boulders and it is a treat to watch the little ones as well as elders crosses with apprehension, though for the little grown-ups it is adventure in its own way. Summer evenings, Vatika is packed with families as children have a rollicking time in the waterfall. You can even see some mothers waiting with towels and dresses for their `naughty dolphins' to come out of water. Given a chance, even elders will not mind a splash during the hot evenings. Vatika with its clean air and beautifully landscaped green beckons people from the city as well as Mohali.
Pinjore gardens- Pinjore
Pinjore Gardens, also called Yadavindra Gardens are 20 km from Chandigarh, 15 km from Panchkula, on the Chandigarh Shimla road. Taxis and buses ply regularly between Pinjore, Kalka, Panchkula and Chandigarh. Pinjore lies on the foothills of the lower Shivalik ranges. The fascinating Mughal Gardens one of the most popular picnic spots. A mini zoo, plants nursery, a Japanese garden, historic palaces and picnic lawns await tourists. Especially at weekends, fountains are switched on and after dusk, lights pick up the beauty of the palaces by night.
Special programs are arranged at the Yadavindra Gardens for the Baisakhi (spring) festival in April and for the Mango Festival in June and July. A range of accommodation is available at Chandigarh, but a taste of royalty can be savored at Pinjore itself by a stay at the Yadavindra Gardens Budgerigar Motel, run by Haryana Tourism. A Bhima Devi Temple and an old baoli in the Pinjore town have legendary connection with Pandavs and Mahabharat.
The gardens have cool, shady walks and flagged pathways which run to the outer reaches of the creeper-covered walls. The end structure of the doorway has recently been made into a disc-like open-air theatre. The stiff outer wall of the garden is reminiscent of the fort walls, which has now all around dieter pavilions housing the zoo. Palm trees, shapely cypresses, Mango and dense groves of trees add a touch of mystery to the Yadavindra Gardens of Pinjore. A watercourse traipsing from level to level sparkles in the sunlight, its pools reflecting white shining pavilions and balconies etched high against a blue sky. The graceful arched balconies and tinkling fountains, luxuriant green lawns and murmuring watercourse, limpid pools, shady walks and colorful flowerbeds, unusual descending terraces and monumental gateways—all were carefully planned to create a special effect.
Unlike other Mughal gardens, the seven terraces at Pinjore, instead of ascending, descend into the distance and achieve an almost magical effect. In the near distance, the purple-green Himalayas seem to rise up sheer over the battlements of the old garden walls and the white buildings of the little hill station of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, glow in the setting sun. From the stately Sheesh Mahal built in the Rajasthani–Mughal style, the watercourse with its never-ending bubbling music cascades from terrace to terrace, flowing under the towering Rang Mahal, and then playing around the Jal Mahal. The structures date to the 17th century AD.
Nawab Fadai Khan, a great architect and foster brother of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is said to have designed the idyllic gardens. He planned the Gardens on the classical Charbagh pattern, giving the area a central water way. Both sides of this waterway were covered with patches of green bordered with flowers and shaded by trees. He supervised the construction of the stylistic Sheesh Mahal (palace of glass), the Rang Mahal (painted palace), and the cube-like Jal Mahal (palace of water). After Fadai Khan’s departure and the end of Mughal rule, these gardens he had so lovingly designed was overtaken by the wilderness. His Highness Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala (Punjab) is said to have restored Pinjore Garden to its former glory.
Nada Sahib Gurudwara- Nada, Panchkula
The Gurudwara Nada Sahib is in Panchkula on the bank of Ghaggar River in Shivalik foothills. It is a famous religious place of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh halted here while traveling from Paonta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib after the battle of Bharigam in 1688. One Nadu Shah Lubana of the adjoining village served him and his followers with food and milk. The place remained obscure until one Bhai Motha Singh, who belonged to a village near by, discovered the sacred spot and raised a platform to perpetuate the memory of the Guru's visit. Nothing more is known of the devout Motha Singh nor of the date of the establishment of the Manji Sahib, except that the shrine was under the Dharmarth Board of Patiala and East Punjab States Union in 1948 and was taken over by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee after the merger of the state with the Punjab in 1956. Since then several new buildings have been constructed.
The original Manji Sahib has been replaced by a double storeyed domed structure, with a large rectangular meeting hall adjacent to it. A spacious brick paved courtyard separates these buildings from the complex comprising the Guru ka Langar and rooms for pilgrims. The holy flag flies atop a 105feet high staff on one side of the courtyard, near the site of the old shrine. Religious gatherings and community meals take place every day. The full moon day every month is celebrated as a festive occasion attended by a large number of people from the northern region.
Cricket Stadium Mohali
The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium (commonly known as the Mohali Cricket Stadium) in Mohali is widely regarded as the best cricket ground in India for having excellent practice facilities and a spectator friendly environment. In two years, the venue has undergone an astounding metamorphosis from a filthy swamp to a swanky stadium with world-class amenities.
Sector 17 shopping area Chandigarh
Shopping in Chandigarh is more of an urban experience, sans the traffic problems of big cities. With major brand stores, and a central location, sector -17 shopping complex forms the hub of the shopping activity in the City.
Sector -17 provides you with huge selection for clothes, shoes, electronics, sports goods, books and anything an avid shopper seeks. Other than a government store Phulkari, Sector –17 does not hold much in terms of ethnic Indian shopping. Sector 17 is also a major centre for government offices and banks.
Bhakra Nangal Dam
Bhakra Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam across the Sutluj River, near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The dam was part of the larger multipurpose Bhakra Nangal Project whose aims were to prevent floods in the Sutlej-Beas river valley, to provide irrigation to adjoining states and to provide hydro-electricity.
Construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1963. The dam, at 741 ft (226 m), is one of the highest gravity dams in the world (compare Hoover Dam at 732 ft). This dam creates the 166 km² Gobindsagar Reservoir, named after Guru Gobind Singh. The dam provides irrigation to 10 million acres (40,000 km²) of fields in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. Two powerhouses with a total capacity of 1000 MW flank the dam, on either side of the river. A smaller subsidiary dam, called the Nangal Dam is located a little downriver from the Bhakra Dam.
Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib is a city and a municipal council in Rupnagar district in the state of Punjab, India. Known as "the holy City of Bliss," it is a holy city of the Sikhs and is one of their most important sacred places, closely linked with their religious traditions and history. It is located on the lower spurs of the Himalayas surrounded by picturesque natural scenery, with the river Sutlej forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west barely four miles away.
The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, founded Anandpur Sahib in the year 1665 near the ruins of an ancient place, Makhowal. On May 13,1665, Guru Tegh Bahadur went to Bilaspur to attend the mourning for Raja Dip Chand of Bilaspur State. The Dowager Rani Champa of Bilaspur offered to give the Guru a piece of land in her state. The Guru bought the site on payment of five hundred rupees. The land consisted of the villages of Lodhipur, Mianpur and Sahota. Here on the mound of Makhowal, Guru Tegh Bahadur raised a new habitation. Baba Gurditta Randhawa broke the ground on June 19, 1665. The new village was named Chakk Nanaki after the Guru's mother, Nanaki. The place later came to be known as Anandpur Sahib.
Anandpur Sahib comes to life every year on the occasion of Hola Mohalla. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru decreed that the occasion of the festival of Holi be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people and he gave this festival of Holi the Sikh name of 'Hola Mohalla'. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of up to 100,000 devotees from all over the country for a festival of colour and gaiety.
Baisakhi in 1999, at Anandpur Sahib marked the completion of 300 years of the birth of the Khalsa. It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Sri Guru Gobind Singh baptised the Panj Pyaras at the place where Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib stands.
Gurudwara Amb Sahib, Phase - 8
Gurdwara Amb Sahib is the historic place at Mohali (Punjab), across from Gurdwara Sant Mandal Angitha Sahib, which has the blessings of The Great Guru Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. Here at this place, Guru Ji blessed his Gursikh who felt contented. Amb in Punjabi means mangoe.
Bhai Kuram Singh, a lobana by caste, and a resident of Village Lambian traveled to Amritsar to have a glimpse of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. It was season of mangoes and the court of the great Guru Arjun Dev Ji was in place. The followers were giving their offerings. Followers from Kabul came with ripe mangoes. Bhagat Kuram Singh felt sorry that he had came from the land of mangoes but had not thought to bring any to the Guru.
When the darbar ended that night the mangoes were distributed among the devotees as Parshad. All the followers went to their deras to retire.Kuram Singh did not eat the mango given to him as parshad. Next day he got up in the morning, took his bath and carried the mango he had received as parshad and offered the same in darbar.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji called to Bhai Kuram ji and said, "This mango was given to you as parshad but you have offered the same here". Bhai Kuram Singh very humby bowed before the Guru and answered, "Your Highness, I have come from the land of mangoes but have not brought any for offering to You, so I retained this one for offering to you." Guru Ji ordered him to eat the fruit and promised that his offering shall one day be taken.
On the first day of Poh (mid-December), keeping his father's the previous Guru's promise, the Great Guru Sri Har Rai Ji came here from Kurukshetra, enquired about his follower and came to know that he was deeply engrossed in meditation in the garden. Guru Ji came to him and ordered Bhai Kuram Singh to fulfill his promise of giving a mango. He, very politely, responded to Guru Ji that he was unable to offer any fruit because mangoes were not in season. You can't do what ever you feel like.
Upon listening to his reply Guru Ji asked him to look up and notice that the mangoe tree, under which he had been sitting in meditation, was now full of ripe fruits. Bhai Kuram Singh bowed to touch the feet of The great Guru in astonishment. Guru Ji told him to offer mangoes to the sangat. Obeying the orders of Guru Ji Bhai Kuram Singh served mangoes to the Holy Guru and the whole sangat.
Gurudwara Angitha Sahib (Mohali)
Gurudwara Sant Mandal Angitha Sahib, is a famous Gurdwara in sector 62 of Mohali in the district of sas nagar (Punjab). The three storey Gurdwara is clearly visible from the front of Gurudwara Amb Sahib.This gurdwara is revered as a meditation place of two great religious personalities—Bhai Kuram Ji, the follower of Shri Guru Har Rai and Sant Baba Ishar Singh, the follower of Sant Baba Atar Singh ji. These two great men meditated here for a long time. During their visit they worked, consistently, to woo the minds of the Sikh Community towards linking their Hearts and Souls with the Gurbani. There is a sacred memorial place for sants here as well as a memorial to Bhai Kuram Ji.
Gurudwara Singh Saheedan - Sohana
Gurudwara Singh Shaeedan is situated in Village Sohana in Sas Nagar District. This gurudwara was made in the remembrance of martyers of Anglo Sikh wars. Its history is related to English - sikh war. Jathedaar Hanumaan singh with 500 singhs were martyered here. The old building of gurudwara is now destroyed and new building is under constuction. The gurudwara is famous for Kirtan Samagams of Baba Hansali Waley, Ranjit Singh Dhadrian Waley.