Phagwara (;

ISO The International Organization for Standardization (ISO ; ; ) is an independent, non-governmental, international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries. Me ...

: ''Phagawāṛā'') is a city and a municipal corporation in the Kapurthala district of

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

. It is located from the district headquarters of

Kapurthala Kapurthala () is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State, a princely state in British India. The aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent b ...

, from the national capital

New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...

, from State Capital

Chandigarh Chandigarh is a city and union territory in northern India, serving as the shared capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. Situated near the foothills of the Shivalik range of Himalayas, it borders Haryana to the east and Punjab in the ...

, from

Amritsar Amritsar, also known as Ambarsar, is the second-List of cities in Punjab, India by population, largest city in the India, Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab, after Ludhiana. Located in the Majha region, it is a major cultural, transportatio ...

, from

Ludhiana Ludhiana () is the most populous Cities in India, city in the Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab.164.100.161.224 http://164.100.161.224 › filesPDF Ludhiana State: Punjab Business & Industrial Centre, Tier 2 1 ... The city has an estima ...

, and from

Jalandhar Jalandhar () is a city in the state of Punjab, India, Punjab in India. With a considerable population, it ranks as the List of cities in Punjab and Chandigarh by population, third most-populous city in the state and is the largest city in the ...

. Phagwara is known for its production of sugar, glucose, starch, fine fabric textiles, and auto parts, and for the Shri Hanuman Garhi Temple dedicated to the

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

deity,

Hanuman Hanuman (; , ), also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine ''vanara'', and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the ''Ramayana'', Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotio ...

History

Phagwara was initially a market town in the region of Punjab, founded by Chaudhary Phaggu Mal Basra, a Hindu Jatt landlord of the area. In 1635, the

Sikh Guru The Sikh gurus (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ; Hindi: सिख गुरु) are the spiritual masters of Sikhism, who established the religion over the course of about two and a half centuries, beginning in 1469. The year ...

Guru Hargobind Sahib Guru Hargobind (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ, pronunciation: l 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644) was the sixth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. He had become Guru at the young age of eleven, after the execution of his ...

visited the city. Bhai Phaggu was a

Gurmukh Gurmukh ( Punjabi: ਗੁਰਮੁਖ) is a term used within the religion of Sikhism to mean "coming from the persona of the guru", or "to be in the character or personality of the guru", and implies to be God-centred. The higher spiritual mean ...

Masand A masand was a representative, religious preacher, and tithe collector in Sikhism. They were an officially appointed missionary minister representing the Sikh Guru, who baptized conversions to Sikhism, and collected '' dasvandh'' (tithe) as an of ...

, and a Sri Guru Amardas Ji devotee. Guru Amardas sent Bhai Phaggu to

Sasaram Sasaram (), also spelled as Shahasaram, is a historical city and a municipal corporation region in the Rohtas district of Bihar state in eastern India. The city served as the capital of the Sur dynasty during Sher Shah Suri's rule over India in ...

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

to preach

Sikhism Sikhism is an Indian religion and Indian philosophy, philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups, major religio ...

.; He spent the rest of his life in Bihar.

Guru Teg Bahadur Guru Tegh Bahadur ( Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ਼ ਬਹਾਦਰ (Gurmukhi); ; 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) was the ninth of ten gurus who founded the Sikh religion and was the leader of Sikhs from 1665 until his beheading in ...

once visited Bhai Phaggu in Bihar and called him Chacha ji, leading to Bhai Phaggu ji also known as Chacha Phaggu. When

(the sixth Sikh Guru) visited Phagwara in 1635 to see Bhai Phaggu's home, he was not respected by the townspeople, who opposed Bhai Phaggu. According to local legend, the name ''Phagwara'' traces its roots to a famous phrase uttered in the region’s history. It is said that a prominent figure once proclaimed, ''“Phagu Da Warra, Bahron Mitha Andra Khara!”''—a statement that not only carried cultural significance but also ultimately gave the city its name. Over time, the term ''“Phagu Da Warra”'' evolved into ''“Phagwara,”'' becoming an enduring part of the region’s identity. The town's property originally belonged to Bhai Phaggu. From the early Mughal era until 1803, Bhai Phaggu's family was the most powerful chiefly family of the Punjabi region of

Doaba Doaba, also known as Bist Doab or the Jalandhar Doab, is the region of Punjab, India that lies between the Beas River and the Sutlej River. People of this region are given the demonym "Doabia". The dialect of Punjabi spoken in Doaba ...

and controlled approximately 240 villages in Phagwara and Banga

Tehsil A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a Zila (country subdivision), district including the designated populated place that ser ...

s. His descendant, Chaudhary Trilok Chand Basra, was married to Princess Rajinder Kanwar, daughter of Maharaja Ala Singh of Patiala. He was later succeeded by Chaudhary Chuhar Mal Basra, the last chief of the family. He was defeated and ejected from his chieftaincy by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803. A historical Vaar for Phaggu Mal :- ''"ਬੋਲੇ ਤੀਜੇ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ'' ''ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਫੱਗੂ ਮੱਲ ਜੀ ਕਰ ਲਵੋ ਤਿਆਰੀ'' ''ਸੇਵਾ ਲੈਣੀ ਤੁਸੀ ਤੋਂ ਦਿੱਲ ਅਸਾਂ ਨੇ ਧਾਰੀ'' ''ਜਾਵੋ ਸਾਸਾ ਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ'' ''ਸਿੱਖੀ ਦਾ ਧੰਨ ਤੁਸਾਂ ਕੋਲ ਹੈ ਬਰਕਤ ਭਾਰੀ'' ''ਸਫਲ ਕਰੇਗਾ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ਼ ਸੇਵਾ ਬਨਵਾਰੀ"'' Gurudwara Bhai Phaggu Ji

Geography

Phagwara is located in Kapurthala district, in the state of

. The city lies in the Doaba region, situated between the Beas and Satluj rivers. It has an average elevation of .

Demographics

According to provisional data from the 2011 census, the Phagwara urban agglomeration had a population of 117,954, with 62,171 males and 55,783 females, and a literacy rate of 87.43%. The city of Phagwara had a population of 97,864, with 51,386 males and 46,478 females. Phagwara has an average literacy rate of 86%, which is higher than the regional average of 75%;. Male literacy is 89%, and female literacy is 83%. 10% of Phagwara's population is under 6 years of age. The table below shows the population of different religious groups in Phagwara city, as of the 2011 census.

Politics

The city is part of the

Hoshiarpur (Lok Sabha constituency) Hoshiarpur is one of the 13 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Punjab state in northern India. Assembly segments Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency comprises the following nine Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) segments: Members of ...

Transport

Air

The nearest

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport is an international airport serving Amritsar, Punjab, India. It is located at Raja Sansi, northwest from the city centre. It is named after Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru and the founder of Amrits ...

, located away. The airport is connected to other parts of India and has direct international flights. It is the 12th busiest airport in India by international traffic. Another international airport,

Chandigarh Airport Chandigarh Airport , officially Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, is an international airport serving the union territory of Chandigarh, India. The airport is located in Jhiurheri, Mohali, Punjab and shares space with the Indian Air F ...

, is located in the state capital, about away.

Rail

Phagwara Junction railway station Phagwara Junction railway station is located on Ambala–Attari line in Kapurthala district in the Indian state of Punjab and serves the textile town of Phagwara. The railway station Phagwara railway station is at an elevation of and was as ...

is the main station serving the city. It is a major railway station in the Indian state of Punjab and in North India. The

station Station may refer to: Agriculture * Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production * Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle ** Cattle statio ...

provides rail connections to many Indian cities. Additionally,

Jalandhar Cantonment railway station Jalandhar Cantonment Junction railway station (station code: JRC) is located in Jalandhar district in the Indian state of Punjab and serves Jalandhar. The railway station Jalandhar Cantonment railway station is at an elevation of and was assig ...

is located away, and

Ludhiana Junction railway station Ludhiana Junction railway station (station code: LDH) is a railway station located in Ludhiana district in the Indian state of Punjab and serves Ludhiana. It is located in about the centre of the city and is among the busiest railway stations o ...

(the largest in Punjab) is away.

Road

Phagwara is located on the historic

Grand Trunk Road Grand Trunk Road (formerly known as Uttarapath, Sadak-e-Azam, Shah Rah-e-Azam, Badshahi Sadak, and Long Walk) is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For at least 2,500 years it has linked Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. It r ...

(G.T. Road), formerly NH 1 and now renumbered as

National Highway 44 The following highways are numbered 44. Australia * Great Western Highway, Parramatta Road (Sydney) * Captain Cook Highway – Queensland State Route 44 (Regional) * Greensborough Highway Canada * Alberta Highway 44 * Manitoba Highway 44 * O ...

. National Highway 44 is the longest highway in India, connecting

Srinagar Srinagar (; ) is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary ...

Kanyakumari Kanyakumari (Tamil; / kəɳjɑkʊmɑɾiː/; referring to Devi Kanya Kumari, officially known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the ...

Education

; Universities *

Lovely Professional University Lovely Professional University (LPU) is a private university located in Phagwara, Punjab, India. Established under the Lovely Professional University Act, 2005, it commenced operations in 2006. LPU is accredited by the University Grants Commi ...

* GNA University ; Colleges *Guru Nanak College *Pyramid college of business and technology *Kamla Nehru college for women. *Ramgarhia Institute of Engineering & Technology *Ramgarhia Polytechnic College *Ramgarhia College of Education *Ramgarhia College ; Schools *Sant Sarwan Dass Model School Hadiabad, Phagwara *G.D.R convent senior secondary school *Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) *Government Senior Secondary School (Girls) *Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School, Hoshiarpur Road, Phagwara *Aman Public School *Arya model senior secondary school *St. Joseph's Convent School *Kamla Nehru Public School *Swami Sant Dass Public School *Mele Singh Missionary School *Cambridge International School *Saffron Public School *Tagore Public High School *Jain Model Senior Secondary School *Lord Mahavira Jain Public School *St. Sai Ram Sunrise High School *New Sunflower High School *Guru Harkrishan National Model Senior Secondary School *S.D. Model senior secondary School *MAA Ambay girls Senior secondary School *T.W.E.I. Senior Secondary School *Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School *Dehradoon international public school, Bhabiana *Ramgarhia ITI, Rampur Khalyan *Kanya Maha Vidaylaya School * Apple Orchard School

Villages/Estates in Phagwara tehsil

Bhabiana Bhabiana is a village in the Phagwara Tehsil in Kapurthala district of Punjab State, India. It is located from Kapurthala and from Phagwara. The village is administrated by a Sarpanch who is an elected representative of the village, as per th ...

* Nangal Majja * Kotli Khakhian * Madhopur * Indna Kalaske * Manawali *

Kheri Kheri is a town and a Nagar Panchayat in Lakhimpur Kheri district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. History According to the 1908 British publication "The Imperial Gazetteer of India"(volume: XV): '' . H. Butler, Settlement Report (1901) ...

* Bhullarai * Chachoki *

Brahampur, Phagwara Brahampur is a village in Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurthala district, in Punjab, India. It is located away from sub-district headquarter Phagwara, 55 km away from district headquarter Kapurthala and from State capital Chandigarh. The villag ...

Lakhpur Lakhpur is a village near Sahni (Lakhpur-Sahni), Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurthala district, in Punjab (India), Punjab, India. Demographics , Lakhpur had a population of 1,892 people. As per the 2011 Census, the population is 1,895 people. The villag ...

* Maheru * Jagpalpur * Ranipur * Palahi * Mayopatti * Narur * Panchhat, (A Parmar Rajput Estate) * Gandhwan * Athouli *

Nihalgarh Nihalgarh is a village in Kapurthala district of Punjab State, India. It is located from Kapurthala, which is both district and sub-district headquarters of Nihalgarh. The village is administrated by a Sarpanch who is an elected representativ ...

(Nawa Pind) * Jagat Pur Jattan * Thakarki * Pandwa * Sangatpur * Chak Prema * Dhadday *

Dhadoli Dhadoli is a village near Lakhpur, Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurthala district, in Punjab, India. Demographics According to the 2001 Census, Dhadoli has a population of 221 people. Neighbouring villages include Bir Dhadoli, Lakhpur Lakhpur is a ...

Bir Dhadoli Bir Dhadoli is a village near Lakhpur, Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurthala district, in Punjab, India. Demographics According to the 2001 Census, Bir Dhadoli has a population of 246 people. Neighbouring villages include Dhadoli, Lakhpur Lakhpur is ...

Rawalpindi Rawalpindi is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, third-largest city in the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is a commercial and industrial hub, being the list of cities in P ...

* Khatti * Rampur Sunra * Malikhpur *

Domeli Domeli is a village and union council of Sohawa Tehsil, Jhelum District in the Punjab province of Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by ...

Babeli Babeli is a village in Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurthala district, in Punjab, India. Demographics According to the 2001 Census, Babeli has a population of 590. Gurdwara Chounta Sahib According to local tradition, Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh gur ...

* Prem Pura * Khera, Nangal * Bhanoki * Bir Puadh * Rehana Jattan *

Khangura The Khangura (ਖੰਗੂੜਾ in Punjabi) is a gotra of Jat people, Jat community from the Punjab region in India. Khangura community of gotra of Jat people, Jat community are primarily residents of the Kangra State, Princely State of Kangra. ...

* Chak Hakim * Virk * Mouli *

Chaheru Chiheru is a village in the district of Kapurthala, Punjab, India. Nearest cities are Phagwara and Jalandhar. Location Chiheru is located just off to the East side of the National Highway 1 (India) (a.k.a. Grand Trunk Road, GT Road), and the I ...

* Ucha Pind * Hadiabad * Kotrani * Khalwara * Dhak Pandori * Balaloan Pind * Chak Hakim * Drawesh Pind * Balaloan Pind * Thakarki *

Sahni Sahni, Sawhney, Sahani, or Sahney is a Khatri surname found among the Hindus and Sikhs of Punjab,Bihar in India and Nepal. It is also used by people from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Nepal and other parts of Central India. Punjabis Notable people ...

* Rampur Sunran * Sadarpur * Bazindowal * Bir Khurampur

References

{{Kapurthala district Cities and towns in Kapurthala district