Nurmahal
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| ?NurMahal Punjab • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 224 m (735 ft) |
| District(s) | Jalandhar |
| Population | 12,630 (2001) |
Coordinates: NurMahal or Noor Mahal (In Hindi- नूरमहल )(31 06’N 75 36’ E) is a city and a municipal council in Jalandhar district in the Indian State of Punjab. It is a small town located near the Lohian Khas-Nakodar -Ludhiana line in Punjab. This town is also connected with its sister towns of Phillaur and Nakodar by a road which goes side by side with the railway lines. Nurmahal is situated 13 km from Nakodar, 33km from Jallandhar. Its post code and telephone code are 144039 and 01826 respectively.
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[edit] History
Nurmahal was built on a place where an ancient town, called Kot Kahlur, was located which was proven by the bricks and many coins found beneath the soil of this town. It is believed that the ancient city was abandoned or destroyed around 1300 for an unknown reason. Nurmahal is christened after Noor Jahan, the queen of Jehangir, who is thought to have spent her childhood here. The town then came under the rule of Talwan Rajputs and Ahluwalia Sikhs before the British wrested control in the 18th century.
Major point of tourist interest in Nurmahal is the Mughal Serai constructed by Noor Jahan. Serai Nurmahal is an inn of historical importance. This beautiful inn is located at the fascinating small town of Nurmahal, which is nearly 13 km from Nakodar, in the state of Punjab. It was built by Nurjahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. It is a striking example of oriental architecture. This historical monument is looked after by the Archaeological Department. The whole structure of the sarai is in the form of quadrangle consisting of 140 cells, spread over the four sides of the structure.
The small town of Nurmahal is famous for Serai Nurmahal which was constructed for the travelers visiting the town. The filigree work and tiles decorated in beautiful patterns are the main attractions of the sarai. Nur Jahan ordered the construction of the Sarai and got it built by Governor of the Doab, Nawab Zakariya Khan between 1619 and 1621 A.D. The four delicate minarets of the sarai are worth mentioning.
The best way to reach Serai Nurmahal is to go to Nakodar Junction, which is the nearest railway station. The junction is served by the Northern Railways.
Serai Nurmahal is an architecture masterpiece with two storied towers, octagonal in shape, with three cells on the basement. Among the two gateways, the eastern one is simple while the western gateway is beautifully embellished. There is a huge entrance of the sarai is arched and its spandrels are beautified with lotus medallions. The domed balconies are supported on the four pillars. Serai Nurmahal also has a well and a mosque in its quadrangle.
[edit] How Nurmahal Got its Name
Nurmahal is named after Noor Jahan, the wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir (1605-1627) as she was bought up here.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. NurMahal had a population of 12,630. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Noor Mahal has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 68%. In Noor Mahal, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
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