Faridkot, Punjab

This article is about the municipality in Punjab, India. For its namesake district, see Faridkot district. For the princely state, see Faridkot State.
Faridkot
ਫ਼ਰੀਦਕੋਟ
city
Faridkot
Coordinates: 30°24′N 74°27′E / 30.40°N 74.45°ECoordinates: 30°24′N 74°27′E / 30.40°N 74.45°E
Country India
State Punjab
District Faridkot
Government
 • Deputy Commissioner 'Mohammed Tayab , IAS
Elevation 196 m (643 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 552,466
 • Density 376/km2 (970/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Punjabi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 151203
Telephone code +91-1639
Website www.faridkot.nic.in

Faridkot (Punjabi: ਫ਼ਰੀਦਕੋਟ) is a small city and a municipal council in Faridkot district in the state of Punjab, India. It's a division with headquarters at Faridkot consists of three Districts Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa. There are 8 Sub Divisions, 8 Tehsils and 9 Sub-Tehsils within these Districts.Total area of the District is 1475.70 km².

Prior to independence large part of the district was under the princely rule of Maharaja of Faridkot and later it became part of the Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU ) in 1948. Faridkot was carved out as a separate district on 7 August 1972 out of the areas of Bathinda District (Faridkot Tehsil) and Firozpur District (Moga and Muktsar Tehsils). However in November 1995, the Faridkot District was trifurcated when two of its sub divisions viz Muktsar and Moga were given the status of independent districts.

Etymology

It has been named after the great Sufi Saint Baba Sheik Fariduddin Ganjshakar, whose verses are mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib the holy scripture of Sikh religion. In the 13th century, this town was founded by Raja Mokalsi, the grandson of Rai Munj, a Bhatti Chief of Bhatnair now renamed as Hanumangarh, Rajasthan and named Mokalhar after his name.

History

Main article: Faridkot State

The history of the Faridkot District pertaining to the ancient period has been traced to the Indus Valley Civilization. A few sites explored in the Moga Tehsil (now a separate District) link it with Indus Valley Civilization sites explored in the Rupnagar District. A vast area, including the present area of Faridkot District was under the influence of Indus Valley Civilization.

The state was captured in 1803 by Ranjit Singh, but was one of the districts that came under British influence after the 1809 . The last Ruler of Faridkot was LL. Raja Sir Harindar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur. Before partition there was a majority Muslim population in Faridkot. There are many mosques in Faridkot which are taken care of by Sikh villagers.

Sarbjot Brar himself was a boy-king who grew up amid the final gasps of India's royal families. He was crowned maharajah of the tiny kingdom of Faridkot in western Punjab - the last maharajah it would turn out - at the age of three, upon his father's death.

Maharaja Harinder Singh, crowned at the age of three in 1918, was the last ruler of the Faridkot estate and was married to Narinder Kaur. The royal couple had three daughters, Amrit Kaur, Deepinder Kaur and Maheepinder Kaur and one son, Tikka Harmohinder Singh. Tikka Harmohinder Singh died in a road accident in 1981. One of his daughters, Maheepinder Kaur, died. Amrit and Deepinder are in their 80s.

After India won independence from Britain in 1947, Faridkot and hundreds of other small kingdoms were absorbed into the country, royal titles and power were abolished and the royal families were given a fixed salary from the Indian government. That payment, the 'privy purse', was abolished in 1971. Some royals slipped into penury, while some converted their former palaces into luxury hotels to provide them an income.

A few, like Brar, held onto their enormously profitable real estate and continued to live a rarefied life.

The Faridkot riches were legend in India's Punjab state. The estate includes a 350-year-old fort, palaces and forests lands in Faridkot, a mansion surrounded by acres of land in the heart of India's capital New Delhi and similar properties spread across four states.

Indian maharajah, Brar crowned as a toddler and rich beyond imagination falls into a deep depression in old age after losing his only son. After his own death a few months later, his daughters, the princesses, don't get the palaces, gold and vast lands they claim as their birthright. Instead, they are given a few dollars a month from palace officials they accuse of scheming to usurp the royal billions with a forged will. The fight rages for decades. Chief judicial magistrate Rajnish Kumar Sharma, in the northern city of Chandigarh, finally gave his ruling on the case filed by the maharaja's eldest daughter, Amrit Kaur, in 1992. On 26 July 2013, an Indian court brought this chapter to a close, ruling that the will of Maharajah Harinder Singh Brar of Faridkot was fabricated. His daughters will now inherit the estimated £2.6 billion estate, instead of a trust run by his former servants and palace officials.

Geography

It has an average elevation of 196 metres (643 ft). It lies in south west of the state and is surrounded by Ferozepur District in the north west, Moga and Ludhiana Districts in the north east and districts of Bathinda and Sangrur in the south.

The topography of the district is plain, with only 1.4% of its area under forest cover. There are no rivers or natural drains flowing through the district.

Climate

It is located on the Punjab Plain which in a macro regional context forms a part of great Satluj Ganga plain. It is a low lying flat area. The surface of the district is depositional plain which was formed by alleviation by the rivers in the remote past. No river is flowing through the district, butthere are some drains which flow during heavy rains and serve as natural drainage. There is a vast network of canals i.e. Bikaner, Sirhind feeder and Rajasthan Canal passes through district Faridkot.Sirhind feeder, Rajasthan Canal and Abohar Branch of Sirhind canal run through the entire length of district in north-south and northeast-southwest directions respectively. Sirhind Canal system has been serving the district for irrigation since a long time.

The climate of the Faridkot District is mainly dry, characterized by a very hot summer, a short rainy season and a bracing winter. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from November to March. This is followed by the summer season which lasts up to about the end of June. The period from July to the middle of September constitutes the southwest monsoon season. The later half of September and October is the post-monsoon or transition period. There is no meteorological observatory in the district. The Temperatures increase rapidly beginning with the end of March till June, which is generally the hottest month, with the mean daily minimum temperature about 41 °C and the mean daily minimum about 26.5 °C. It is intensely hot during the summer, and the dustladen winds which blow, especially in the sandy parts, are very trying. The maximum temperature may go beyond 47 °C on individual days. With the onset of the monsoon by about the end of June or early July, there is an appreciable drop in the day temperature. However, during breaks in the monsoon during latter part of July and in August the weather becomes oppressive due to increase in day temperatures. By about the second week of September, when the monsoon withdraws from the district, both day and night temperatures begin to decrease. The fall in the night temperatures even in October is much more than that in the day temperatures. After October both the day and night temperatures decrease rapidly till January which is the coldest month. The mean daily maximum temperatures in January is about 20 °C and the mean daily minimum about 4.5 °C. In the cold season the district is affected by cold waves in the wake of passing western disturbances and the minimum temperature occasionally drops down to about a degree or two below the freezing point of water.

The average annual rainfall in the district is 433mm; about 71 percent of the annual rainfall in the district is received during the monsoon months July to September, July/August being the rainiest months. Some rainfall occurs during the pre-monsoon months, mostly in the form of thundershowers and in the cold season. Skies are moderately clouded during the monsoon season and for short spells of a day or two during cold season in association with the passing western disturbances. During the rest of the year the skies are mostly clear or lightly clouded. Winds are generally light in the district, and are northerly to northwesterly, at times southeasterly, throughout the year. But, during the summer and monsoon seasons winds from directions between north-east and south-east blow on many days. Thunderstorms and more frequently duststorms occur during the hot season. Rain during the monsoon season is also sometimes accompanied with thunder. Fog occurs occasionally in the cold season.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[1] Faridkot has a population of 618,008 which constitute about 2% of the total population of Punjab. Males constitute 327,121 of the population and females 290,887.The population density in this district is 424 persons per km2. Faridkot has an average literacy rate of 70.6%: male literacy is 75.9%, and female literacy is 64.8%.

Festival (Aagman Purb)

Faridkot people celebrates these festival every year for 9 days, earlier they celebrate it for four days but now they are celebrating for 9 days. The celebration organize by Faridkot District cultural society. It starts from September 15 to September 23 and also it know as Farid Mela.

Religious places

This is as old as the town-self. This place is situated near the Qilla Mubarak. Baba Farid remained at this place in meditation for 40 days before proceeding to Pakpattan. Besides place of Tilla Baba Farid. A sacred piece of wood with which Baba ji wiped his hands littered with mud has been preserved to – date. Shabad-Kirtan is recited get daily and Langer is also served every day to the people visiting this place. The poor also get daily langer, larger number of people visit this holy place on every Thursday to pay their obeisance to the great Sufi Saint.

This place is situated on the outskirts about 4 km on Faridkot-Kotkapura road. It is believed that Baba Sheikh Farid left his godari (jacket) there before entering Faridkot town. A beautiful gurdwara was constructed in 1982 and a Sant Sarover was later constructed at this place. Large numbers of people visit this place every Thursday and also take bath in this Sarover.

Education

Transport

Faridkot is well connected to cities like New Delhi, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Jaipur by Train.It is also connected by road with Chandigarh (218 km), Ludhiana (105 km),Firozepur (32 km),Muktsar (45 km) and Bathinda (65 km). Faridkot, Kot Kapura and Jaitu Towns are linked by railway stations as well as by road. Faridkot is connected to all major cities of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) by Bus. Motor-cycle or Rickshaw is helpful to move within city (Main Bazar, Line Bazar and Mall Road Areas).

Sports

Hockey

Faridkot has international level hockey ground and has produced Olympians, International and national level players.

Tourism

The fort with its impressive architecture still adorns the city of Faridkot. Its foundation is believed to have been laid by Raja mokalsi, Raka Hamir Singh renovated it and got it extended. Later ruler like Raja Bikram Singh. Raja Balbir singh got constructed many new buildings. It housed the royal Place. Tosha Khana, Modi Khana & Treasury Buildings. There is a garden within the four walls of the fort. All the buildings are very well build and well furnished. It's not open to public as repair is going on.

‘Raj Mahal’ (royal Palace) was built during the reign of Maharaja Bikrama Singh during 1885–1889 under supervision of the, then Crown Prince (Later Maharaja) Balbir Singh, who incidentally was the first to move in and start living in it. Spread over nearly 15 acres (61,000 m2), it presented a magnificent look with French design, dominating grassy lawns a mid semi desert area of the State. Its entrance called “Raj Deori” – itself is a heritage building of a vintage and now houses Balbir Hospital.

This beautiful bungalow is a well laid out garden place. All the rooms are finished in the most modern style. The guests from the sisterly states used Darbar Ganj for stay. The building has now been converted into Circuit House.

This cottage is situated 7 K.M. from Faridkot on Chahal Road. This beautiful cottage is constructed by Maharaja Brijinder Singh in 1910–11.

This tower is made at the entrance of the Fairy cottage which is also constructed by Maharaja Brijinder Singh.

* Sheikh Farid Agman Purab Sheikh Farid Agam is celebrated from 15 September to 23 September. This festival starts with Live Theater competition, Qawali competition, other art and culture programs. This is followed up by Sports events such as National level wrestling, Hockey, Volleyball and football matches. Nagar kirtan is held on 23 September. More than 1,00,000 people attend this festival every year.

This park is situated in the heart of the city. Equipped with slides & swings, this park provides a beautiful scenery of the sunset in the evening.

Victoria clock tower stands as a major landmark for this city. Clock tower is 60 feet tall with four giant clocks facing four directions. The clock tower is an attractive structure painted as green and yellow in colour.

References

  1. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.

External links