Phagwara

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Phagwara
City
Phagwara is located in Punjab
Phagwara
Phagwara
Location in Punjab, India
Phagwara is located in India
Phagwara
Phagwara
Phagwara (India)
Coordinates: 31°13′N 75°46′E / 31.22°N 75.77°E / 31.22; 75.77
Country India
State Punjab
DistrictKapurthala
Founded byChaudhary Phaggu Mal Basra
Named afterPhagu Da Wara
Government
 • TypeDemocracy
 • BodyGovernment of Punjab, India
Area
 • Total
20 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation
234 m (768 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
117,954
 • Rank288
 • Density6,117/km2 (15,840/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
144401
144402
Telephone code01824
Vehicle registrationPB-36
Post officePhagwara H.O
Satnampura S.O

Phagwara (Punjabi: [pʰɐgɐʋaːɽaː]; ISO: Phagawāṛā) is a city and a municipal corporation in the Kapurthala district of Punjab, India. It is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the district headquarters of Kapurthala, and 124 kilometres (77 mi) from the state capital, Chandigarh. Phagwara is known for its production of sugar, glucose, starch, fine fabric, and auto parts. It is locally known for the Shri Hanuman Garhi Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman.

History

[edit]

Phagwara was initially a market town in the region of Punjab, founded by Chaudhary Phaggu Mal Basra, a Hindu Jats landlord of the area. In 1635, the Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, visited the city.

Bhai Phaggu, a Gurmukh, Masand, and Sri Guru Amardas Ji devotee, played a pivotal role in the development of Phagwara. Guru Amardas sent Bhai Phaggu to preach Sikhism to the city of Sasaram in Bihar, where Phaggu spent the rest of his life. Guru Teg Bahadur once visited Bhai Phaggu in Bihar and called him Chacha ji, leading to Bhai Phaggu Ji, also known as Chacha Phaggu.[1]

When Guru Hargobind Sahib (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, Guru Hargobind Ji exclaimed, “Phagu Da Warra, Bahron Mitha Andra Khara!” Over time, the term “Phagu Da Warra” evolved into “Phagwara,” becoming an enduring part of the region’s identity.[2][3]

Notably, from the early Mughal era until 1803, Bhai Phaggu's family was the most powerful family of the Punjabi region of Doaba, controlling approximately 240 villages in Phagwara and Banga Tehsils. His descendant, Chaudhary Trilok Chand Basra, was married to Princess Rajinder Kanwar, daughter of Maharaja Ala Singh of Patiala.[4][5] He was later succeeded by Chaudhary Chuhar Mal Basra, the last chief of the family. Mal Basra was defeated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803.[6][7][5]

Here is an example of a local 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/Chacha Phaggu Ji at Sasaram, Bihar

Geography

[edit]
Shri Hanuman Garhi Temple
Shiv Mandir Pakka Bagh
Gurdwara Sukhchain Sahib

Phagwara is located in Kapurthala district, in the state of Punjab. The city lies in the Doaba region, situated between the Beas and Satluj rivers.[8] It has an average elevation of 767 feet (234 m).

a view of the city
View of Lovely Professional University at night

Demographics

[edit]

According to provisional data from the 2011 Indian census, the Phagwara urban agglomeration had a population of 117,954 (62,171 males and 55,783 females) with a literacy rate of 87.43%.[9]

In the 2011 census, the city of Phagwara had a population of 97,864 (51,386 males and 46,478 females). Phagwara had an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the regional average of 75%. Male literacy was at 89%, while female literacy was at 83%. Up to 10% of Phagwara's population was under 6 years of age.[10]

The table below shows the population of different religious groups in Phagwara, as of the 2011 Indian census.

Population by religious groups in Phagwara city, 2011 Indian census[11]
Religion Total Female Male
Hindu 73,845 34,877 38,968
Sikh 20,635 9,988 10,647
Muslim 1,434 663 771
Buddhist 730 347 383
Christian 280 134 146
Jain 233 123 110
Other religions 64 27 37
Not stated 643 319 324
Total 97,864 46,478 51,386

Politics

[edit]

The city is part of the Hoshiarpur (Lok Sabha constituency).

Constituency number Constituency name Reserved for (SC/none)
29 Phagwara Assembly Constituency SC

Transport

[edit]

Air

[edit]
Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport

The nearest airport is Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar, located 113 kilometres (70 mi) away from the city, and offers domestic and direct international flights. As of 2011, it is the 12th busiest airport in India by international traffic.Chandigarh Airport is another international airport that is located in Chandigarh, the state capital of Punjabb, about 134 kilometres (83 mi) away.

Rail

[edit]

Phagwara Junction railway station 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 provides rail connections to many Indian cities. Additionally, Jalandhar Cantonment railway station is located 17 kilometres (11 mi) away, while Ludhiana Junction railway station (the largest in Punjab) is 36 kilometres (22 mi) away.

Road

[edit]

Phagwara is located on the historic Grand Trunk Road (GT Road), formerly NH 1 and now renumbered as National Highway 44. National Highway 44 is the longest highway in India, connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari.

Education

[edit]
Universities
Colleges
  • Guru Nanak College
  • Pyramid College of Business & 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

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gurdwara Sri Chacha Phaggu Mal | Discover Sikhism". www.discoversikhism.com. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Gurdwara Sri Sukhchain Sahib | Discover Sikhism". www.discoversikhism.com. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  3. ^ Kapurthala, District of. "Gov. Of Kapurthala". Gov. Of Punjab.
  4. ^ The Panjab Past and Present. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 1985.
  5. ^ a b www.DiscoverSikhism.com. History Of The Sikhs Vol. IV The Sikh Commonwealth Or Rise And Fall Of Sikh Misls.
  6. ^ Government of Punjab (1908). Punjab District Gazetteers, Volume XIV A. Jullundur District, with maps, 1904. Lahore, Civil and Military Gazette Press.
  7. ^ Rao, Ram Sukh (1980). Ram Sukh Rao's Sri Fateh Singh Partap Prabhakar (in Punjabi). J. Kaur.
  8. ^ "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Phagwara".
  9. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Phagwara Town Population Census 2011 - 2023". Population Census.
  11. ^ https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11389, India - C-01: Population by religious community, Punjab - 2011, Phagwara (M Cl), Row 77
  12. ^ "Google Maps".