Abohar

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?Abohar Punjab • India
Abohar
Coordinates: 30°08′00″N 74°12′00″E / 30.1334, 74.2001
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 180 m (591 ft)
District(s)	Firozpur
Population	124,303 (2001)
Codes • Pincode • Telephone	• 152116 • +1634

Coordinates: 30°08′00″N 74°12′00″E / 30.1334, 74.2001 Abohar (Hindi: अबोहर) is a city and a municipal council in Firozpur district in the state of Punjab, India, located on the Ganganagar–Delhi railway route, nearly 50 km from Ganganagar. Its population, as of 2001, was 124,303. This city is also known as the "California of Punjab" for its rich soil, good irrigation sources, and particularly for the production of kinnow, a fruit of the orange family. Abohar is also very famous for the cotton production and is one of the biggest cotton producing belt in whole North India.

1 History
2 Demographics
3 Notable Personalities
4 Educational Institutes
5 Business Houses
6 Economy
- 6.1 Internet Cafes
7 Tourism
8 Transportation
- 8.1 Maps
9 References
10 External links

[edit] History

Abohar is a historical city which is located on the inter-state boundary of the country. It may be called trinity of the culture, ethnicity, and civilization of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Its boundaries touch Rajasthan's mounds on one side and plains of Haryana on the other.Village Panjkosi and Waryam Khera is Famous Village.

Under British rule, in 1893, the town was more of a mound of sand with a total population of only 5,954. Its name was Kaiser-Ganj. However, its present population has grown to 200,000 approximately, in a period of about 120 years. Its, main business mandi is called darwaza.

River Satluj streaming by its side, Aabu Nagar, some 550 years ago, was a fabulous city of India. As one enters Abohar, one sees the remains of the ancient city Abunagri, a big mound of sand and stones which is known Theh among local people. This mound is not only a dune of sand; there historical city is also a big palace, built by a Suryavanshi king Aabu-Chandni, buried under it.

Another legendary dune named Panjpeer is just 500 feet away from Theh. There are tombs of five pirs on this mound. The beautiful Aabu city was destroyed by the curse of these pirs. A big fair is held on this mound every Thursday. The story of the Aabu Nagar is very attention-grabbing and spine-tingling. After king Aabu-Chandni, king Harichand ruled Aabu Nagar. King Harichand had only one daughter. She was very impressive, a good shooter, and fond of riding also. Once the king fell victim to leprosy. Someone told the king that he could recover only with the blood of the horses of five pirs of Multan. The brave daughter of the king snatched the 81 horses of five pirs along with their goods, but king Harichand succumbed to the disease. Five pirs sent many request to get their horses back, but the princess refused to give their horses back.

At last, the five pirs came to Abu city from Multan to get back their horses and camped on a hillock of sand near present Abohar. Many days passed but the princess did not give back their horses. The wives of five pirs came to Aabu city in search of their husbands. The pirs became angry on seeing them and cursed them due to which they were buried under the earth.

There is another mound at a distance of about 200 feet from Panjpeer, where their tombs are erected. The five pirs got angry, for not being returned their horses, and destroyed the Aabu Nagar with their divine powers, according to popular legends.

At the time of Indian independence in 1947, the city witnessed blood shed due to Hindu Muslim riots as this was the last main town along Delhi-Bahawalpur Section. Much as, as of today, the local community lives in the town with the feeling of harmony and common brotherhood. All sections, castes, religious sects visit PANJ PEER, BALA JI DHAM, CHURCH, and GURUDWARAS with much devotion without any maligned motives or intentions towards each other.

Many other achievements in academic, agriculture, industry, innovations, infrastructure and a big grain market are particularly noteworthy.

In the outer skirts of city Central Institute of Postharvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) campus Abohar, an ICAR institute is located here research is carried out and training are given on post harvest aspects of fruits and vegetables.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[1] Abohar had a population of 124,303. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Abohar has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 58% of the males and 42% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Notable Personalities

Swami Keshwanand Great Saint
Ch. Balram Jakhar Famous Politician and Governor of Madhya Pradesh
Ch. Sunil Jakhar MLA of Abohar
Ch. Sajjan Kumar Jakhar x-MLA Abohar
Sh. Vijay Kumar Nagpal (Babbu) Famous Politician
Dr. Gurprasad Bansal Known for his free classes for Medical Students
Sh. M.D. Hiteshi known for his social service
Sh Raju Baba known for social service
Sh Naresh Chawla, known for social service
Late. Sh Satish Narang famous Politician

[edit] Educational Institutes

Abohar is the educational hub in the south west Punjab. It has got a post Graduate college, ITI, Homeopathic College, Nursing College and various other institutes. It has produced many politicians like Dr. Balram Jakhar, who remained the speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower house of Parliament) GOVERNOR OF MADHYA PRADESH, Minister and Governor of State. & Mr. Virendera Kataria etc. Also many students from the DAV college went abroad and well settled there like Ritesh Jhamb who served Government of India and started his well reputed Company in Canada. Here are the few institutes:

Homoeopathic Medical College
B.D. Adarsh Sen.Sec. School
New Light Public Sen. Sec. School
Assumption Convent School
D.A.V. College
D.A.V. College of Education (B.Ed College)
Gopichand Arya Mahila College
K.G. High School
Swami Keshwanand Mahila College
Sri Guru Nanak Khalsa College
Genius International School
D.A.V. Sr. Sec School
Amrit Model Senior Secondary School
Sachkhand Convent School
Vikas Adarsh Sr. Sec. School
B.L. Vikas Mandir Sr. Sec. School
G.D.Senior Secondary Model School
Holy Heart High School
Alpine Institute of Studies
Swami Keshwanand Sr. Sec. School
Govt. Sr. Sec. School for Boys
Govt. Sr. Sec. School for Girls
Army School (Army Cant Affiliated to C.B.S.E.)
Vikas College of Arts & Information Technology
Mata Hansa Devi collage of Information & Technology
Divine Light Public Sen. Sec. School

[edit] Business Houses

These are the few business houses run by Abohar residents.

Arora Glass House,College Road
Naginder Pal Singh Contractor
Abohar Safal Growers Association,1st Floor Arora Glass House
Hari Kishan Bhuramal & sons
Arvind Ahuja & Associates, Chartered Accountants
Signs Outlet Inc.
Karni Trading Co.
Shiva Fruit Company
Haryana Trading Company
Vijayshree Enterprises
Mohindra Fruit Farm
Nature Way
Chaanan Ram Sweets
Janta Sweets House
Ashoka Transport Company
Bajaj Communications
Taneja Pesticides
vikas'pure food
Bhanu farms
New Wear Well Emporiam
Pure Foods Ltd.
D.V. Fruit Nursery, Sappanwali
Satish Nursery, Sappanwali
Shiv Narin Periwal& Sons
Mittal Group of Industries
Shri Bala ji Industries,Near Bala ji Dham
Ambika Moters

[edit] Economy

Abohar's economy is mostly based upon Cotton Industries, Orchids and Agriculture. Abohar has now following mills:

Shri Bhawani Cotton Mills: As recently as 2001, it was in serious financial difficulty. An article from The Tribune, Chandigarh (dated July 28, 2002) reported that it owed Rs. 5.12 Crore to the banks now that the mill is shut down.

In August 1987, Abohar boasted of having the highest ratio of number of cars per household in India
The village of Spaan Waali produces Rose Plants and is the biggest market in north India.

Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

It has also some Ghee and refined oil factories. Basic economy is based on agriculture cotton, fruit and wheat. The Sumitra Plant Food company prepares micro-nutrient fertilizer mixtures for orange orchards which are very effective to get good quality oranges and keep the orange plants healthy.

[edit] Internet Cafes

In Abohar City there are many internet cafés.

Bajaj Ccommunications ,Bhagat Singh Chowk
Nagpal Internet cafe
yahoo cyber cafe Bhagat singh Chownk Abohar
place wel
cyber world
universal cafe

[edit] Tourism

Abohar is not particularly a hot tourism spot, though there are a few religious locations (e.g., Gurudwara Nanaksar on Fazilka Road, Historical Gurudwara Badtirath in Haripura near Abohar, Panjpir) that attract a large number of people from surrounding villages and nearby cities.

There are few motels in its vicinity, for instance, Kala Titar between Dabwali and Sangaria opened by Haryana Government couple of decades ago. Visits to some special market locations, for example, street number 12, 11, and 9, within the city can give a good sense of hustle-bustle of a typical small town.

Abohar is also an open wild life sanctuary. In villages of abohar you can find black buck(deer), of which only a few hundred are now left in world. Situated in the southern tip of the Division, this wild Life Sanctuary is an open Sanctuary comprising of 13 revenue villages. These villages are inhabited by the Bishnoi community whose love for animals is legendary. The total area of the Sanctuary is 46513 acres. It was declared as a Wild Life Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2000. The main species found in the Sanctuary is the black buck which can be seen loitering around in the fields and sometimes even in homes like cattle. In addition, a variety of other animals like Nilgai, Wild boar, Porcupine, Jackal, Hare etc can also be seen These animals are protected by villagers as they don't let hunters kill them.

Few other historical spots.....

- Ghanta Ghar ( Located In Bazzar No. 9 )
- Bhagat Singh Chowk
- Raja Abba Killa ( Located In Jammu Basti )
- Regional Fruit Research Station ( Seed Farm) Kinnow was first introduced in India from this research station
- Sapan Waali Village ( Produces rose plants for the whole north India)
- Black Buck Wild Life Sanctuary

[edit] Transportation

Abohar is well connected to other cities in the state of Rajasthan Haryana and Punjab. Rail and buses are the primary modes of transportation. The town is connected by railways to in south-west direction and to Delhi through Bhatinda in the east. Recently, Indian Railways has approved laying of the tracks between Abohar-Fazilka Section. There is no commercial airport in the city, but a project is under progress to make a domestic airport. Abohar is Connected to the whole north area From Sriganganagar to Delhi and from Abohar to Bikaner and from Abohar to Haridawar.