Fazilka

2021-06-29T05:37:24Z

42.109.240.12:

{{About|the municipality in India|its namesake district|Fazilka district}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Fazilka
| official_name =
| native_name = Bangla
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| image_skyline = Fazilka city beautiful.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = From top clockwise: [[Fazilka TV Tower]], Raghuwar Bhawan, Fazilka Clock Tower, Asafwala War Memorial and Khuranj Haveli
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|30.402|N|74.023|E}} 
| float = center
| zoom = 13
| width = 290 
| height = 200
| caption = {{center|Locations of Fazilka City}}
}}
| nickname = FZK
| pushpin_map = India Punjab#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Punjab, India
| coordinates = {{coord|30.403|N|74.025|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Fazilka district|Fazilka]]
| established_title = 
| established_date = 1844
| founder = J.H Oliver
| named_for = Mian Fazil Watoo
| government_type = Democratic
| governing_body =
| leader_title = [[Member of Parliament]]
| leader_name = [[Sukhbir Singh Badal]] ([[Shiromani Akali Dal|SAD]])
| leader_title1 = [[Member of Legislative Assembly]]
| leader_name1 = Davinder Singh Ghubaya ([[Indian National Congress|INC]])
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 177
| population_total = 76,492
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym = Bangla, Fazilka
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 152123
| area_code = 01638
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = PB-22
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[897/1000]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = {{convert|923.9|mm|in}}
| website = [http://fazilka.gov.in/ fazilka.gov.in]
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info3 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics1_title3 = Other
| demographics1_info1 = [[Punjabi Language|Punjabi]]
| demographics1_title2 = Dialect
| demographics1_info2 = [[Malwai dialect|Malwai]] and [[Bagri dialect|Bagri]]
| blank4_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank4_info_sec1 = [[Fazilka]]
| blank5_name_sec1 = [[Urban planning|Planning]] agency
| blank5_info_sec1 = [[Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority|PUDA]]
| blank6_name_sec1 = Major Highways
| block6_info_sec1 =
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Firozpur]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank2_info_sec1 = 79.53%
| blank6_info_sec1 = NH7 SH20 SH40
}}

[[File:Fazilka Population Chart.jpg|thumb|right|Population history of Fazilka]]
'''Fazilka'',''''' also known as '''Bangla''', is a [[city]] and a [[municipal council]] in [[Punjab, India]]. In 2011, it was made the [[headquarter]] of the newly created [[Fazilka district]]. The [[Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline|Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline]] (TAPI) project originating in [[Turkmenistan]] will have its last station in Fazilka.

== History ==
The municipality of Fazilka was formed with Punjab Government Notification No. 486, on 10 December 1885. The town was added to the [[Ferozepur district]] in 1884. On 27 July 2011, Fazilka was declared a District by the Government of Punjab with Gazette Notification No. 1/1/2011-RE-II(I)/14554.

Fazilka, like many towns on the [[Indo-Pakistani border]], has suffered difficulties dating back to the [[Partition of India]] in 1947. The [[Radcliffe Line]], the border recommended by departing British colonial authorities, divides natural resources, houses, and people. The [[Sutlej|Satluj River]], which is a common source of water, is a border between the two countries.

Before partition, 50% of Fazilka's population was Muslim. All of them left India for Pakistan in 1947. Most of the villages around Fazilka were dominated by Muslim families, mainly the Bodla, Watto, Sahoo Rajpoot, Kalya Rajpoot and Chistis clans.

Many people from Fazilka pay an annual visit to Katasraj — a Hindu holy city in Pakistan, the site of an ancient Shiva Temple — usually in August.{{CN|date=April 2021}}

== Demographics and geography ==
As of the 2011 Indian [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Fazilka had a population of 76,492. Males constitute about 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 70.7%: male literacy is 74.6%, and female literacy is 66.4%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

== Languages ==
[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] is language of Fazilka. Punjabi is spoken by a most people followed by Hindi.

== Regional dance ==
Fazilka is known for a style of [[jhumar]] dance promulgated by Baba Pokhar Singh (1916–2002). Pokhar Singh's family had migrated from the [[Montgomery District]] of Western Punjab, and they claimed to represent the ''Ravi'' style of jhumar. However, Fazilka had its own style of jhumar which was referred to as the ''Satluj'' style. Therefore, at least two regional styles were mixed in everyday life, and in his jhummar routine (which was basically the same each time, and which family and friends still perform today), Pokhar identified several other regional movements.<ref>Dr. Nahar Singh (1988). ''Panjaabi Lok-Naach: Sabhiaachaarak Bhoomika te Saarthakta'' ["Punjabi Folk-Dance: Cultural Role and Significance"], Lokgit Prakashan. Translated, with editorial remarks, by Gibb Schreffler (2003)</ref>

== Climate ==
The climate of the Fazilka District is, on the whole, dry and is 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 until about the end of June. The period from July to mid-September constitutes the south-westerly [[monsoon season]]. The latter half of September and October may be termed the post-monsoon or the transition period.

== Transport ==

=== Railway ===
The first railway line through the town was set up in 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the ascension to the throne by [[Queen Victoria]]. Fazilka was connected by railway to [[McLeod Ganj]] (now in PakMandi Sadiqganj) on the route to [[Bahawalnagar]] and then to [[Bahawalpur]]. Fazilka was connected by railway to [[Amruka]] (now in Pakistan) through Chaanwala. The tracks from Fazilka to McLeod Ganj and from Fazilka to Chaanwala are now closed, perhaps removed.

[[Fazilka Junction railway station]] is connected to [[Ferozepur]] and [[Bathinda]] junctions of [[Northern Railways]]. A new 43 km long railway line to [[Abohar]] towards the south has been constructed to shorten the distance to [[Bikaner]] by over 100 km. Trains on the new railway line to Abohar began running in July 2012. An express train started between [[Sri Ganganagar]] and Firozpur via Abohar and Fazilka in November 2012 on this track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-17/india/32713596_1_fazilka-abohar-rail-link |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213223930/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-17/india/32713596_1_fazilka-abohar-rail-link |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-12-13 |title=Abohar-Fazilka railway link operational |date=2012-07-17 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2013-12-08}}</ref>

=== Roads ===
[[National Highway 7 (India)|National Highway 7]] passes through Fazilka. NH 7 connects to [[National Highway 7 (India)|NH 9]] at Malaut which leads to [[Delhi]] via [[Hisar (city)|Hissar]] and [[Rohtak]]. The state highway runs from Fazilka to [[Ferozepur]] and from Fazilka to [[Malout]]. Both are good roads.

=== Air ===
[[Amritsar]] international airport and [[Bathinda]] domestic airport are the nearest, about 90 km away.

=== Intra-city-Ecocabs ===
Fazilka have a public bus transport system. [[Cycle rickshaw]]s are the available means of transport in the city.<ref>[http://www.arrivesafe.org/ecocab_india.php] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820022348/http://www.arrivesafe.org/ecocab_india.php|date=20 August 2008}}</ref> These rickshaws are now dispatched by Fazilka Centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZRJq6RXXVg |title=Cycle rickshaws now just a phone call away in Fazilka|publisher=Youtube.com|access-date=2013-12-08}}</ref>

==Notable people==


*[[Mandira Bedi]], actress and fashion designer
*[[Gurnam Bhullar]], famous Punjabi singer and Actor
*[[Kapil Dev]], Indian cricketer
*[[Sher Singh Ghubaya]], member of the Lok Sabha
*[[Shubman Gill]], vice-captain Under 19 Indian Cricket Team
*[[Surjit Kumar Jyani]], politician and Punjab health minister
*[[Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Sahar]], noted Urdu poet writing under pen-name 'Sahar'



== See also==
*[[Ghuriana]]

== References ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Fazilka district}}

[[Category:1885 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Fazilka district]]

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Fazilka