Firozpur

Firozpur ਫਿਰੋਜ਼ਪੁਰ
The National Martyrs Memorial, built at Hussainiwala in memory of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru
Nickname(s): FZR
Firozpur Location in Punjab, India
Coordinates: 30°55′00″N 74°36′00″E / 30.9166°N 74.6°E / 30.9166; 74.6Coordinates: 30°55′00″N 74°36′00″E / 30.9166°N 74.6°E / 30.9166; 74.6
Country	India
State	Punjab
District	Firozpur
Founded by	Firoz Shah Tughluq
Named for	Firoz Shah Tughluq
Government
• Type	Democratic
• Member of Parliament	Sher Singh Ghubaya (SAD)
• Member of the Legislative Assembly (Urban)	Parminder Singh Pinky (INC)
• Member of the Legislative Assembly (Rural)	Satkar Kaur (INC)[1]
Elevation	182 m (597 ft)
Population (2011)‡[›]
• Total	110,091
• Density	380/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Firozpuri, Firozpuria
Languages
• Official	Punjabi
• Dialect	Malwai
• Other	Hindi and English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	152001
UNLOCODE	IN FIR
Area code(s)	91-1632
Vehicle registration	PB 05
Sex ratio	885/1000[2] ♂/♀
Literacy	69.80%
Lok Sabha constituency	Firozpur
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Firozpur City
Planning agency	PUDA
Major Highways	NH95 SH15 SH 20
Climate	Cw (Köppen)
Avg. summer temperature	29.7 °C (85.5 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	16.9 °C (62.4 °F)
Precipitation	731.6 millimetres (28.80 in)
Website	www.ferozepur.nic.in

Firozpur, also known as Ferozepur, is a city on the banks of the Sutlej River in Firozpur District, Punjab, India. It was founded by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq (1351–88), a famous ruler of the Tughluq dynasty, who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388.^[3]

Firozpur is called 'the land of martyrs'.^[4] After the Partition of India in 1947, it became a border town on the Indo-Pakistani border with memorials of India's freedom fighters.^[5]

Climate

The climate of the Firozpur District is, on the whole, dry and is characterised by a 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 south-westerly monsoon season. The latter half of September and October may be termed the post-monsoon or the transition period.

Demographics

According to the 2001 Indian census,^[7] Firozpur had a population of 95,451, which increased from 78,738 in 1991. Males constitute 53 per cent of the population and females 47 per cent. It had an average literacy rate of 71 per cent, higher than the national average of 59.5 per cent: male literacy was 73 per cent and female literacy 68 per cent. 11 per cent of the population was under 6 years of age.

The provisional data of the 2011 census shows a population of 110,091, of which males were 58,401 and females were 51,690. The literacy rate was 79.75 per cent.^[8]

Transport

By air

The nearest international airport from the city is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport at Amritsar, roughly a two-hour drive away. The airport is connected to other parts of the country by regular flights. Several airlines operate flights from abroad, including Birmingham in the UK, Dubai and Doha. The next nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Ludhiana Domestic Airport is distance 125 kilometres (78 mi) away. The government is planning to construct an airport in the city.

By rail

There are two railway stations located in Firozpur. The Firozpur Cantonment railway station is the major railway station located in the cantonment place of Firozpur and is connected with the cities such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad. It is served by three railway lines – Ludhiana-Fazilka line, Delhi-Firozpur line and Jalandhar-Firozpur line. The Firozpur City railway station is on the Firozpur-Fazilka line. 12047/12048 shatabdi express goes to Delhi from Firozpur.

By road

Firozpur is connected to Chandigarh via Ludhiana through National Highway 95. National Highway 15 passes through Talwandi and Zira, which are very close to the city. Firozpur is connected to Faridkot via SH15 and to Fazilka-Abohar via SH20. SH19 passes through Makhu, which is very close to the city. The city is well-connected with all the neighbouring cities through buses operated by Punjab Roadways, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and other privately operated buses.

Media

Firozpur has an All India Radio Relay station known as Akashvani Firozpur. It broadcasts on 100.1 MHz frequency.

Notable places

• National Martyr Memorial
• Jamni Sahib Gurudwara
• Anglo-Sikh War Memorial
• Barki Memorial
• Saragarhi Gurudwara Memorial
• Dargah Sher Shah Wali
• Indo-Pak Border
• Shaheed Bhagat Singh Hideout Building
• Gurudwara Ram Lal

Stadiums

• Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium
• Railway Stadium

Religion

According to the 2011 census, Hinduism and Sikhism are the main religions of Firozpur. Minorities are Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Jainism.

Sikhs form a majority in the Firozpur District on a whole in spite of not being the majority religion of the city.

Gallery

• 
  Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium
• 
  Silver Bird cinemas
• 
  Statue of Buddha at Serenity Park, Firozpur Cantonment
• 
  The Barki Memorial
• 
  Statues of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala
• 
  View of Sutlej in Ferozepur
• 
  Narrow-gauge locomotive outside Firozpur Cantonment railway station
• 
  Dargah Sher shah wali
• 
  Gurudwara Jamni Sahib is a Sikh temple located at Bazidpur
• 
  Pothi mala Guru Hara Sahai
• 
  Anglo-Sikh war memorial at Feroze Shah
• 
  Saragarhi Memorial
• 
  Harike
• 
  Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engineering & Technology, Firozpur Mechanical Block

Notable personalities

Firozpur has produced many people of note from time to time. Politicians, shooters, entertainers, writers, military Generals and other prominent personalities have been born in this historic city. Some notable people are mentioned below:

Notes

External links

•  "Firozpur". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. 
• Official website