Bathinda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Coordinates: 301348N 745707E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bathinda (previously, Bhatinda), named after the Bhati kings, is one of the oldest cities in Punjab, India
and the current administrative headquarters of Bathinda District. It is in northwestern India in the Malwa
Region, 225 km west of the capital city of Chandigarh. Bathinda is nicknamed the 'City of Lakes', courtesy
to the artificial lakes in the city,[1] and was once known as Tabar-e-Hind (or Tabarhindh),[2] meaning the
Gateway to India. The first empress of India, Razia Sultan was imprisoned in the Qila Mubarak fort in
Bathinda.[3]

Bathinda

The City of Lakes

City

Bathinda is home to two modern thermal power plants, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant and Guru
Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat.[4] The city has a fertilizer plant,[5] a large oil refinery, a
zoo,[4] and a historic Qila Mubarak fort.[6] Bathinda is one of the largest food grain and cotton markets in
northern India; the area around Bathinda is a prolific grape growing area. It is one of the leading cities in
education in Punjab.[7]

Central University of Punjab - City Campus,

Bathinda

1 History

Punjab

2 Demographics
3 Geography and climate
4 Economy
4.1 Railway junction
4.2 Indian Military
4.3 Guru Gobind Singh Refinery
5 Environment
Bathinda

6 Education
7 Places of interest
8 References
9 External links

The etymology of "Bathinda" is uncertain. According to Khalifa Muhammad Hassan, author of History of
Patiala, the ancient name of the city was Bikramgarh. According to Ibn Battuta it was known as Batrind.
It is generally believed that Bathinda was built by Bhati Gurjar kings, who were the rulers of Punjab in 6th
century AD. They called the city Whatinda or Bitunda after their surname which finally become known as
Bhatinda. Bhatinda was changed to Bathinda to conform to the phonetical expression as locally
pronounced.[2] According to Henry George Raverty, Bathinda was known as Tabarhindh (Labbut-Twarikh). The earliest mention of Tabarhindh occurs in the Jami-Ul-Hakayat written about 607 Hijri or
1211 AD.
The city was under the rule of Hindu shahi king Jayapala in 965 AD. Emperor Jayapala was challenged by
the armies of Sultan Sabuktigin and later by his son Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. In 1004, Mahmud of
Ghazni besieged the local fort, which was located on the route from the northwest into the rich Ganges
valley.

Coordinates: 301348N 745707E

Country
State
District

India
Punjab
Bathinda

Government
Body

Municipal Corporation

Elevation

210 m (690 ft)

Population (2011)
Total

285,813

Languages
Official

Punjabi

Time zone

IST (UTC+5:30)

PIN
Telephone code
Vehicle registration

151001
(+91) 164
PB 03

In 1189, Muhammad Ghori attacked and occupied the fort of Bathinda. Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the ruler of this region, managed to recover possession of the fort
thirteen months later in 1191 after the first battle of Tarain.
After the death of Muhammad Ghori, Delhi Sultanate was established. The fourth Emperor - Iltutmish, on his death-bed nominated his daughter Raziya as his
heiress. Raziya became the next and the first Empress of India and was known as Razia Sultan. Her childhood friend named Malik Altunia, the governor of
Bathinda, joined a rebellion by other provincial governors who refused to accept Razia's authority. She was imprisoned at the Bathinda fort in April, 1240. She
was released in August and later died in October 1240. While in prison Razia Sultan was allowed to go to Hajirattan mosque to offer prayers on Fridays in a
special palki.
The city later came under the control of the Sidhu-Brars, who were thrown out of Bathinda during Lodhi's rule but were restored to the area by Babur. A few
years later, Chaudhary Roop Chand Brar, a Jatt Sikh, came into the scene. Chaudhary Phul Brar, the second son of Chaudhary Roop Chand, started the practice
of langar (community kitchen) for the people in the Lakhi jungle area. The city of Bathinda was visited by the tenth Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh. He halted at
the mausoleum of Haji Rattan, a celebrated Muslim saint, which was 2 km outside the city. He visited and surveyed the strategic importance of the Bathinda
Fort.
In circa 1754, the town was conquered by Maharaja Ala Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala and since then it followed the history of erstwhile princely state of
Patiala. With the dawn of independence and merger of Patiala and East Punjab States into a division called PEPSU, Bathinda become a full-fledged district with
headquarters at Bathinda city.[2]

As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Bathinda city in 2011 is 285,813; male and female are 151,782 and 134,031 respectively. The sex ratio

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of Bathinda city is 883 per 1000 males.

The number of literate people in Bathinda city are 211,318 of which 118,888 are males while 92,430 are females. Average literacy rate of the city is 98.84
percent of which male and female literacy was 87.86 and 77.16 percent.
Total children (ages 0 to 6) in Bathinda city are 30,713: 16,472 boys and 14,241 girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 865 per 1000 boys.[8]

Bathinda is in the northwestern region of India and is a part of the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. The exact cartographic co-ordinates of Bathinda are 30.20N
74.95E.[9] It has an average elevation of 201 metres (660 ft).
Bathinda's climate correspond to semi arid with high variation between summer and winter temperatures.
Average annual rainfall is in a range of 20 mm to 40 mm.[10]

Bathinda
Climate chart (explanation)

F)[11] and

F)[12]

In recent times, Summer temperaures of 49 C (120

winter temperatures of 1 C (about 33
were not unknown in Bathinda, lowest being -1.4 C (29.48 F) in the winter of 2013[13] The weather is
generally dry but is very humid from mid-May to the end of August. Rainfall is primarily from the south-west
due to monsoon weather and is concentrated in the period July to mid-September.

A
37

41

41

37

36

36

30
20

The region is very dusty and dust-laden winds often interrupt the normal life during the hot summer evenings.
The vegetation is scanty and, due to improper planning and lopsided growth, traffic jams often take the most of
ones evening time. The surrounding districts are of sri Muktsar sahib, Faridkot, Mansa, Moga and Barnala in
Punjab and Sirsa in Haryana. The boundary of the state of Rajasthan is also under an hour's drive from
Bathinda.

26

28

28

27

21

10

23
25
19
13

10

19

7.9

9.8

20

38

90

84

52

9.4

Average max. and min. temperatures in C

Bathinda cantonment is said to be the largest in Asia. Bathinda has one of the biggest food-grain and cotton
markets in India. The Multinational CorporationBathinda processes horticultural products grown in Bathinda.

Source: MSN World Weather

(http://weather.in.msn.com
/local.aspx?&wealocations=wc%3a3821&
q=Bhatinda%2c+Punjab&setunit=C)

As part of a massive development programme to make Bathinda a model city of Punjab, the government has
proposed to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) for textile, a flying school, an international cricket stadium
and academy, Bathinda Airport and an air-conditioned bus stand within three years. Besides, private players are
also building new Shopping malls and a five star hotel in the city.

1.4

3.6

Precipitation totals in mm

Imperial conversion
J

A
99

106 106

99

97

97

86
68

79

82

82

81

70
45

O
93

84

75

73
77
66

59

Bathinda is also an Educational Hub of this region, especially for competitive exams preparations, which in turn
is a source of income for the local residents.

34

Bathinda is surrounded by 14 small and medium towns, making the city a hub of most industrial activities in the
region.

Major industries in Bathinda include National Fertilizers Plant, two power plants (Guru Nanak Dev Thermal
Plant and Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant) (Lehra Mohabbat), Petrochemical Plants, Yarn & Textiles Plants,
Citrus Fruit Belts and Sugar Mills. HMEL is building a Grassroots oil refinery [14] in Bathinda.

29

24

15
7

55

50

46

Tourism sector in the region has also grown manifold, as Bathinda has some of the oldest monuments, some of
them even dating back to 3,000 B.C. to the Harappan period.
0.4

Railway junction
Bathinda railway station is located on the Delhi-Fazilka line of Northern Railway. Six rail routes extend from it.
Rewari is the only other railway junction in India with six routes extending from it. Mathura junction has seven
lines extending from it and is the largest junction on the Indian Railway network.

0.8

0.3

0.4

0.8

1.5

3.6

3.3

0.4

0.1

0.1

Average max. and min. temperatures in F

Precipitation totals in inches

Indian Military
It is one of the largest Cantonment of Asia and is also known as Sharjah of Punjab due to sand dunes.

Guru Gobind Singh Refinery

a view of Gurunanak thermal plant

Guru Gobind Singh Refinery (GGSR) is a refinery owned by HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) a joint venture
between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Mittal Energy Limited, a company owned by L N Mittal (HMEL). It is located in village Phulokheri,
Bathinda, Punjab, India.

There has been increasing incidence of various types of cancer in and around Bathinda. It is attributed to the presence of polluting industries and the
indiscriminate use of modern pesticides and other toxic materials in farming. A 2007 epidemiological study found that the surface waters of Bathinda are
contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium and mercury primarily due to the discharge of untreated waste water from surrounding industries.
Unscientific farming practices, that emerged after the introduction of Green Revolution, are also alleged to be a reason for growing incidence of not just cancer
but also, high rates of spontaneous abortions, reproductive aliments, genetic deformities, anaemia, diarrhoea, vomiting, fluorosis and a host of skin ailments
including rashes and boils. Many young couples are also reported to be migrating out to save their children from adverse effects. Hence the government has
completey banned the use of ground water in the city for drinking purposes.[15]

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Central University of Punjab is recently started by Indian government in Bathinda.[16] Government Rajindra College is located in the heart of the city founded by
the Maharaja of Patiala. The city also has a government engineering college named, Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University Campus, S.S.D. Senior
Secondary School (Boys) is one of the oldest educational institutes and many English medium schools have also come up in the city during the last 30 years. The
city also has DAV College which offers various Graduation and Post Graduation Courses.[17] St. Paul's High School is one and only school affiliated to ICSE
board. DAV Public School and Delhi Public School have opened their branches in the city. Many missionary schools are being run in the city including St.
Xavier's Sr. Sec. School,Police Public School, St. Joseph Sr. Sec. School and Delhi Public School.The Government Girls' Senior Secondary School, at Goniana
Mandi is also a well known school of the area and has contributed a lot towards the education of the girls in the area.
Bathinda is often considered to be an educational hub of the region. Many students from the neighboring towns who intend to pursue medical or engineering
come here to prepare for their entrance exams. There are many well known private institutes in the city preparing students for various engineering and medical
entrance examinations. There is one government funded and nearly ten private colleges in the city.
The city has a special school, Mahant Gurbanta Das School for Deaf & Dumb,[18] being run by the District Red Cross Society of Bathinda[19] and affiliated by
the PSEB.[20] It provides education up to 10th class and also computer and vocational courses for deaf and dumb children.

Bathinda has a rich religious and cultural heritage. There are a number of places worth visiting in and around the city. Many of them are deeply associated with
various religious beliefs.
Qila Mubarak - This is one of the oldest and highest small brick monument. It also contains two gurudwaras as the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh visited the
place.
Bahia Fort - This was built in 1930 in front of the main Fort by S. Balwant Singh Sidhu. It belongs to a group of 22
villages, so called Bahia Sahib. It was as official residence of armed forces of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
State. Now it has been converted into a Four Star Hotel.
Lakhi Jungle - This is situated 15 km away from Bathinda and on the way to Muktsar. A forest having old
Gurudwara enjoyed the touches of Shri Guru Nanak Dev who recited one lakh holy Paths of Shri Japuji Sahib.
Therefore it was called Lakhi Jungle. Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh also visited this place.
Rose Garden - This garden boasts of large number of varieties of Roses. It is very near the city and is visited by
large number of people on weekends. The 10-acre (40,000 m2) garden is located close to Thermal Plant. It has a
vast variety of rose plants and is a good picnic spot.
Zoological garden - It is a plant nursery of the forest department located approximately 10 km away from the
Cantonment and is a popular picnic spot. This place is a small zoo in the midst of a small forest.
Chetak Park - A beautiful garden built in Bathinda Cantonment is popular among children's and others. It has a
lake and boating facility.
Mazaar of Peer Haji Rattan - It is one of the most revered place of worship in the city. There is something unique
about this place. At this place a mosque and a Sikh gurudwara share the same wall and a temple is also very close

Qila Mubarak.

by. It exhibits the religious harmony among the people of this city.
Malls
City Center Mall - Built by Amravati Infrastructure in collaborated with the Satya Group, this is the city's first mall.[21] It is designed by India 's ace
architect Mr. Mohit Gujral.[22] The mall is spread across 1,00,000 sqr. ft. space.[23]
Mittal Mall - Built by Ganpati Township ltd is considered to be an entertainment and retail project.[24] City Mall is spread over 3 lakh square feet
and it has 8 floors.[25]
Peninsula Mall - Built by HBN group the mall consists of around 2,50,000 sq. ft of retail space, sprawling across 5 floors with a view of lakes.[26]
Cinemas
Fun Cinemas (Mittal mall)[27]
Big Cinemas (City Center mall) - 4 screen multiplex [28]
Q Cinemas (Peninsula mall) - 4 screen multiplex, out of which one screen is 3-D
KFC- It is located at Bhucho Road and is known for its delicious food.
McDonald's - It is located next to KFC
Dhobi Bazaar - It is the shopping hub of Bathinda and houses several brands.
all ironed out - It is an ironing and drycleaning company founded in 2013 by a couple. It is located at Mansa Road Opp Model Town Phase 1.
Bank bazaar - It has 9 banks and is an upcoming market for jewelers.
Dhobi bazaar - It is the modern bazaar
Boating in the Thermal Lake - The boats have been modeled on 'Kashmir-style shikaras[29]

1. ^ http://www.bathindapolice.com/aboutbta.htm

6. ^ http://www.north-india.in/punjab/districts/bhatinda.htm

2. ^

7. ^ http://www.infopunjab.com/punjab/travel/faridkot.htm

abc

http://bathinda.nic.in/html/district_at_a_glance.html#N10024

3. ^ "Raziya Sultan" (http://www.indiasite.com/delhi/history/raziasultan.html).

8. ^ "Census 2011" (http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/16-bathinda.html).

4. ^ a b http://www.bathinda.nic.in/html/places_to_visit.html#N10007

9. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Bathinda (http://www.fallingrain.com/world

5. ^ http://bathinda.nic.in/html/industry.html

/IN/23/Bhatinda.html)

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10. ^ http://www.mapsofindia.com/ maps/india/annualrainfall.htm

11. ^ under the section 'historical monthly average for may', subsection

19. ^ "... 1.16 "

(http://www.punjabenews.com/news_details.html?id=393).

'temperature', http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/India/Bhatinda/climate-

www.punjabenews.com (http://www.punjabenews.com). Retrieved

profile.aspx?month=5

16 November 2014.

12. ^ under the section 'historical monthly average for Jan', subsection

20. ^ " "

'temperature', http://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/India/Bhatinda/climate-

(http://beta.ajitjalandhar.com/news/20140725/23/629418.cms). Daily Ajit. 25

profile.aspx?month=1

July 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.

13. ^ A news report, http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/bathinda/bathindarecords-region-s-lowest-temperature-at-1-4-c/article1-986114.aspx

21. ^ http://www.amravatigroup.com/citycentre/index.htm
22. ^ http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/oct/07spec.htm

14. ^ http://www.hmel.in/project_profile/overview.htm

23. ^ http://www.mallsinindia.co.in/details-of-city-centre-mall-bathinda-292

15. ^ Cancer: Bathinda's dubious distinction (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-

24. ^ http://www.mallsinindia.co.in/details-of-mittals-city-mall-bathinda-301

paper/tp-national/article2427870.ece)
16. ^ http://www.centralunipunjab.com

25. ^ http://www.mittalgroup.co.in/Real+Estate/Malls
/Mittal+City+Mall+Bhatinda+Punjab/default.aspx

17. ^ http://www.davbathinda.com/

26. ^ http://www.hbnglobal.com/real-estate.php

18. ^ "BEd students visit school for deaf & dumb" (http://www.tribuneindia.com

27. ^ http://in.bookmyshow.com/cinemas/fun-cinemas-mittal-mall/FNBH

/2014/20140904/battrib.htm). The Tribune. 3 September 2014. Retrieved

28. ^ http://in.bookmyshow.com/cinemas/big-cinemas-city-centre-mall/BIBH

16 November 2014.

29. ^ "Shikaras come to Bhatinda" (http://epaper.hindustantimes.com

/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HC/2011/10/30/ArticleHtmls/Shikaras-come-toBathinda-30102011002028.shtml). hindustantimes. 30 October 2011. Retrieved
December 29, 2011.

- First Multimedia Studio of Punjab is also in Bathinda (http://www.technocityindia.com)

Bathinda Cricket stadium: A case of promise and forget? (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bathinda-cricket-

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Bathinda.

stadium-a-case-of-promise-.../394707)
Google satellite map of Bathinda (http://www.maplandia.com/india/punjab/bathinda/bhatinda)
Official website of Bathinda district (http://www.bathinda.nic.in)
City of Bathinda - Google Explorer (http://explorer.altopix.com/map/faoqnr/1/2/City_of_Bathinda.htm?order=date)
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