Kapurthala
District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 1633.0 Km2
Population in Kapurthala (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 8,17,668
Male : 4,27,659
Female : 3,90,009
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 12386
In seeing : 4958
In speech : 721
In hearing : 446
In movement : 4226
Mental : 2035
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 414
Sex Ratio Rank : 126
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 -2006)
Disability : 494 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 139 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Brief About Kapurthala District
Kapurthala, the capital of the former Princely State of
the same name, was in its day, known as a city of Palaces, Mosques,
Temples, Gurudwara and gardens. The extent of the French influence
in the architecture of the main Palace, and some of the other buildings,
its wide streets, the Indo-Saracenic influence in the other prominent
buildings and the well co-ordinated aesthetic layout of most dwellings,
being set amidst a front of an acre of lawn and gardens, earned
this small Principality the sobriquet of the "Paris of the
Punjab".
The former Kapurthala State also had the unique
distinction of being located adjacent to the historic township
of Sultanpur Lodhi. The sanctity of this holy township, rivals
that of Nankana Sahib. It was at Sultanpur Lodhi that Guru Nanak
Dev Ji, the First Guru of the Sikh Faith, spent 14 years of his
life. The Guru attained enlightenment whilst bathing in the small
rivulet, the Bein, that flowed near the township. The Sikh "Mool
Mantra" or "Sacred Word or Revelation", which to this day, forms
the commencement of the Sikh daily Prayer or "Japuji" and features
at the commencement of the sacred "Granth Sahib", was uttered
by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, under the Ber (Zizyohus Jujuba) tree, which
is still extant in the precincts of the Gurudwara that bears this
name, at Sultanpur Lodhi. There can be no greater evocation to
the Sikh psyche, than this sacred site.
The present District of Kapurthala, derives its
name from the Town of Kapurthala, which was the capital of the
former Princely State of the same name. The town is said to have
been founded in the early part of the 11th century by Rana Kapur,
a scion of the ruling house of Jaisalmer (Rajasthan).
Prior to 1947, Kapurthala was a unique example
of true secularism. Ruled by a Sikh Ruler, sixty percent of the
population of the former State, comprised Muslims, both of the
Shia and Sunni persuasion. The State gave full representation
to the Muslim community, who held honoured places of distinction
and merit in all walks of life in the State and its administration.
A unique place of worship, a Mosque, built on
the architectural lines of the Grand Mosque in Marakesh, Morocco,
by a French architect, Monsieur M Manteaux, was commenced in 1927
and completed in 1930 at a cost of some four lakhs of rupees.
It was consecrated in the presence of the late Nawab of Bhawalpur.
The inner dome was decorated by artists of the Mayo School of
Art, Lahore. This unique example of practical secularism and the
only Mosque of this architectural style in South East Asia, still
exists. The Mosque is a National Monument under the Archeological
Survey of India and some restoration work is being undertaken.
This unique spirit of true secularism and tolerance has been the
hallmark of the people of Kapurthala, through the ages. It has
been exemplified through all the periods of trial and other vicissitudes,
that the Punjab has witnessed ever since 1947.
Location
Kapurthala District is situated in the Jalandhar
Doab and comprises two non-contiguous parts, separated by some
32 kilometers. Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi and Bholath Tehsils
form one part and Phagwara Tehsil, the second separated portion.
The former area lies between North latitude 31 degree 07 minutes
and 31 Degrees 22 minutes, and East longitude 75 degrees 36 minutes.
Phagwara Tehsil falls between North latitude
31 degrees 22 minutes and East longitude 75 degrees 40 minutes
and 75 degrees 55 minutes. The Kapurthala-Sultanpur Lodhi and
Bholath segment is approximately 32 kilometers long and varies
between 11 to 32 kilometers in width. Kapurthala District is bounded
partly in the North and wholly in the West by the Beas River,
famed as the Hydaspes River, or the eastern limit of the Greek
conquest in 326 BC, by the army of Alexander the Great, whose
advance was checked on this river line by King Porus. Even though
the army of King Porus was defeated, the battle exhausted the
hitherto invincible Greek army, and the great march back to Greece
was commenced from here.
The River Beas, separates Kapurthala District
from the adjacent District of Gurdaspur in the North, and from
the District of Amritsar in the West. In the North, Kapurthala
District also abuts partially on the District of Hoshiarpur. The
River Satluj, separates Kapurthala District from Firozepur District
in the South, and on the Eastern flank, this District is also
bounded by Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar Districts.
The smaller portion of Kapurthala District, namely
Phagwara Tehsil, is bounded by the Districts of Jalandhar and
Hoshiarpur. It is surrounded on three sides, the North West, West
and South West by Jalandhar District, on the North East and East
by Hoshiarpur District and by Nawan Shehar in the South. The entire
District of Kapurthala is situated in the Bist Doab area, which
is the tract between the Rivers Satluj and the Beas, referred
to generally as the Doab. Kapurthala District is administratively
divided into four Tehsils, namely Kapurthala, Phagwara, Sultanpur
and Bholath.
Access
The city of Kapurthala is situated approximately
19 kilometers South West of Jalandhar, and is connected to it
by Road and Railway. Jalandhar is an important road and railway
junction. A pair of high speed Shatabadi Express and a number
of other trains from Delhi to Amritsar or Jammu Tawi and vice
versa, all pass through Jalandhar. Kapurthala city is about 66
kilometers from Amritsar along the famous Grand Trunk road known
as Sher Shah Shuri Marg. (National Highway No. 1).
Accommodation
There is a well appointed Civil Rest House in
the city, where accommodation is available through the Office
of the Deputy Commissioner. Some middle level accommodation is
also available with local guest houses, the Sainik Rest House
and Panchayat Ghar. Good hotel accommodation with appropriate
"Star" ratings, is available at Jalandhar(19 kilometers).
Climate
The climate of Kapurthala District is characterized
by its dry and arid nature (except for the monsoon months). It
experiences a very hot summer and enjoys a bracing winter season.
The year can be divided into four seasons. The most pleasant is
the winter season from November to March. Then follows the hot
season from April to the end of June, when temperatures can touch
45 degrees Celsius and more. The South West Monsoon season lasts
from July to mid September and from mid September to November,
can be called the post-monsoon or autumn season. The Monsoon season
is the most dramatic, with dark rain laden clouds scudding across
leaden, lightning streaked skies. Cool winds break the stranglehold
of the oppressive heat of summer, but in turn, the weather can
also become humid, sultry and oppressive. The passage of the rejuvenating
monsoon rains, yields to the cool of the autumn and declining
temperatures. January and February are the coldest months. Cold
waves affect the District, when ground fog, hoar frost and passing
western disturbances can cause temperatures to plummet to a degree
or so below freezing point.
Kapurthala District generally experiences increasing
rainfall from the South West to the North East of the District.
Almost 70 % of the annual rainfall is received during the monsoon
months (July to September), with July usually being the wettest
month. Some rainfall, though scanty, is experienced from December
to March, which amounts to about 12 % of the total annual rainfall.
There usually is a large variation in the rainfall pattern from
year to year.
District Profile
Formerly a princely state , the Kapurthala District
is one of the sub-Districts forming the Jalandhar Division .This
is the only District in the state which is split in to two parts
some 32 Kilometers apart. Between the two parts is the territory
of Jalandhar District. It is the smallest District in terms of
area and population. the District has a area of 1,633 Kilometers
and is inhabited by 6,46,647 persons as per the 1991census.
Geographical Situation:
The District which lies between the latitudes
of 30 degree07 minutes 30 second and 31 degree 39 minutes 30 seconds
North and longitudes of 75 degree 58 minutes 30 seconds and 75
degree 54 minutes 60 seconds East forms a part of Bist Doab in
central Punjab. In the north, it is bound by the District of Hoshiarpur
and Gurdaspur, in the west., by the river Beas and District Amritsar
In the south by the river Sutlej and Jalandhar and Ferozepur and
in the east by Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur Districts. The Phagwara
sub-division is surrounded on all sides by Jalandhar District
except in the NorthEast where it joins the District of Hoshiarpur.
Historical background:
The District takes it's name from Kapurthala
town which is its headquarters and was formerly the capital of
the princely state. The ruling Ahluwalia family of the erstwhile
princely state of Kapurthala traces its origin to the Rajput House
of Jaisalmer. The family derives its title of Ahluwalia from village
Ahlu near Lahore (now in Pakistan) founded by Sadhu Singh , an
enterprising member of this family.
However , the real founder of the Family was
Nawab Jassa Singh who took a leading part in the Sikh struggle
against the Mughal governor in Punjab. In 1748, he killed the
governor of Amritsar seizing a large portion of the District .He
then extended his conquest to the Beas and defeated the governor
of Jalandhar doab. His subsequent victorious march was halted
in 1762. After the return of Ahmed Shah to Kabul, the Sikhs chiefs
under the leadership of Jassa Singh defeated Zain Khan in 1764
whom Ahmed Shah appointed as governor . He contributed most to
consolidate the position of the Sikhs before Maharaja Ranjit Singh
came on the scene. Jassa Singh died in 1783 . He had made Kapurthala
his capital. His illustrious successor Fateh Singh was responsible
for including the areas of Phagwara and Banga in his territory.
The last ruler of the family was Jagatjit Singh.
His contribution in the field of industry was particularly noteworthy
and many institutions and industries installed in his time bear
his name . During the post-independence period , Banga Subtehsil
was transferred to Hoshiarpur District and four Bastis, Basti
Nau, Basti Sheikh, Basti Kotlaan and Kot Sadiq were transferred
to Jalandhar District in June ,1950. as a result of the merger
of PEPSU with Punjab in 1965. The District has been transferred
to Jalandhar division for convenience of administration.
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