DilkhusOfficial at 19:31, 21 February 2026

2026-02-21T19:31:06Z

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{{About|the city|the district|Barnala district}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Barnala
| native_name = {{lang|pa|Barnālā}} ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]])
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Punjab#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| coordinates = {{coord|30.37|N|75.54|E|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| subdivision_type = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Emblem of Punjab (India) on a white background (1).png}} [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Punjab, India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Barnala district|Barnala]]
| established_title =
| established_date =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipality
| governing_body = [[Barnala Municipal Corporation]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 116,450
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 =
| demographics1_info1 =
| government_blank1_title = Member of Parliament
| government_blank1 = [[Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer]]
| government_blank2_title = Members of Legislative Assembly
| government_blank2 = [[Kuldeep Singh Dhillon]]
| demographics1_title2 = Regional
| demographics1_info2 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
| demographics1_title3 =
| demographics1_info3 =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = Pin Code
| postal_code = 148101
| registration_plate = PB-19
| footnotes =
| native_name_lang = pa
}}
'''Barnala''' is a [[city]] and the administrative headquarters of [[Barnala district]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=District Barnala, Punjab, India |url=https://barnala.gov.in/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> in the [[Indian state]] of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. Located in the [[Malwa (Punjab)|Malwa]] region, it serves as a key agricultural and trading hub, surrounded by fertile plains. As of the 2011 census, the city had a population of 116,449, while the district's population was 595,527. Estimates for 2024 project the district population at approximately 839,694, reflecting steady growth driven by rural-urban migration and agricultural prosperity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barnala District Population Census 2011 - 2021 - 2025, Punjab literacy sex ratio and density |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/607-barnala.html |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref> The city is renowned for its role in Punjab's textile and agro-machinery industries, earning it the nickname "Manchester of Punjab" due to its textile mills. Barnala district was carved out of [[Sangrur district|Sangrur]] district on 19 November 2006, making it Punjab's 23rd district at the time.

== Etymology ==
The name "Barnala" has multiple proposed origins. One theory suggests it derives from the local term ''Vaaran'' (storm), reflecting the region's historical weather patterns, evolving into ''Barnala''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Districts of India- Socio-economic statistical data of Barnala District, Punjab |url=https://www.indiastatdistricts.com/punjab/barnala-district |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=www.indiastatdistricts.com}}</ref> Another links it to a stepwell (''Baahuli'') near a fort built by Baba Ala Singh and Baba Anahat Khan, pronounced as ''Baain'' in the Malwai dialect, becoming ''Baain Wala'' or Barnala.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barnala City Local Business Directory - www.barnalaonline.in |url=https://www.barnalaonline.in/ |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=BarnalaOnline.in |language=en}}</ref> The most accepted narrative credits Baba Ala Singh, an 18th-century Sikh warrior, who named the settlement after himself upon establishing it as his capital in 1775.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Welcome to district Barnala {{!}} India |url=https://barnala.gov.in/about-district/history/ |access-date=2025-10-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
In February 1762 [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Ahmad Shah]] would march to Barnala and sack it and [[Ala Singh]] would surrender.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ganda |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5426 |title=Ahmad shah durrani, father of modern Afghanistan |date=1959 |publisher=Asia Publishing House, Bombay |pages=280-281}}</ref> Sikh historian Giani has recorded the details of setting up of Barnala in the annals of [[Khalsa]] in this manner that in the year 1775 [[Baba Ala Singh]] after offering [[Bhadaur]] (set up by King Padhar Sain) to his brother Duna Singh came to Barnala region which was lying aloof at that time. Setting it up, he made it his capital and took under his control surrounding villages. It too appears that Anahatgarh may be existing before and must have been deserted following attacks of Dharvis.

There are different opinions about the nomenclature of Barnala. Some are of the view, Vaaran being a region because of frequent storms was at that time also called Varna. So Barnala was called a [[land]] of too many storms which later on became Barnala because of precision of example. Another view reveals that a fort here is said to be built by Baba Ala Singh And Baba Anahat khan in which there was a ‘Baahuli’ (a well which had stairs going down). That too due to precision and Malwai accent was known as ‘Baain’. Thus Baain Wala ultimately became Barnala. Thus these are different views only but no historical detail is available that how name Barnala came into existence.
Barnala was named after Baba Ala Singh. Baba Ala Singh left Bhadaur with his elder brother (hometown of Patiala State) and settled at Barnala and conquered many areas with the help of his brothers the Bhadaur Sardars. Though it was a [[district]] headquarters in erstwhile princely state system, it was later merged in [[PEPSU]] (Patiala & East Punjab States Union) and degraded as sub divisional headquarters.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

There is a stone "Rameshwaram Stone" in Nath Wala Dera – Village Handiaya Adjoining with Barnala that one floating in water.

==Demographics==
{{bar box|width = 300px
|barwidth = 250px |cellpadding="0"
|title=Religion in Barnala<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/21-barnala.html|title = Barnala City Population Census 2011–2021 | Punjab}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism]]|Darkkhaki|50.37}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|DarkOrange|47.67}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|1.53}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Blue|0.15}}
{{bar percent|Others|Grey|0.29}}}}

As per provisional data of the 2011 census, Barnala had a population of 116,449, out of which males were 62,554 and females were 53,895, with a density of 5,060/km² and a sex ratio of 862 females per 1,000 males, below Punjab’s average of 895. The district had 595,527 residents (317,522 males, 278,005 females), with a sex ratio of 876 and a child sex ratio (0–6 years) of 835. Urban areas constitute 19.5% of the population. [[Scheduled Castes in Punjab|Scheduled Castes]] form 28.2% (city) and 29.5% (district), with negligible [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribes]] (0.1%). Literacy is 79.59% in the city and 67.82% district-wide (males: 71.57%, females: 63.57%). [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (Malwai dialect) is spoken by 97%, with Sikhs (50.37%), Hindus (47.67%), Muslims (1.53%), and others (0.43%) comprising the religious makeup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barnala District Population Census 2011 - 2021 - 2025, Punjab literacy sex ratio and density |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/607-barnala.html |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref>

==Economy==
Companies headquartered in Barnala include Balkar Combines, Standard Combines, IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, and Trident Group.

Barnala mainly acts as a market place for surrounding villages, including [[Hamidi, Barnala district|Hamidi]], and is also emerging as a trading town.

== Culture ==
'''Barnala''' embodies Malwai Punjabi culture, blending [[Sikhs|Sikh]] traditions with agrarian folk. Festivals like [[Vaisakhi|Baisakhi]] (April), [[Diwali]], and [[Lohri]] feature [[Bhangra (music)|bhangra]], [[Giddha|gidda]] dances, and heaving fairs. Cuisine highlights ''makki di roti-sarson da saag'', ''chaap'' (soybean-based), and ''aloo paratha''. The Barnala Bird Sanctuary (50 hectares) attracts 20,000 migratory birds annually, ideal for eco-tourism. Gurdwara Baba Ala Singh and local mela grounds host cultural events. Folk artists preserve ''tappa'' and ''boliyan'' songs.

== Transportation ==
Barnala lies on NH-9 (Delhi-Amritsar) and SH-7, connecting to Chandigarh (140 km) and Ludhiana (60 km). [[Barnala railway station]] (Northern Railway) handles 20+ daily trains, with nearest airports in Ludhiana (70 km) and Chandigarh (150 km). A ₹100 crore flyover (2024) eases city traffic, and [[PEPSU Road Transport Corporation|PRTC]] operates 50 daily buses.

==Notable people==
[[File:H E Shri Surjit Singh Barnala.jpg|thumb|upright|H E Shri Surjit Singh Barnala]]


* [[Ram Sarup Ankhi]] - Punjabi writer, novelist and poet
* [[Surjit Singh Barnala]] - politician who served as the chief minister of Punjab state
* [[Rupinder Rupi]] - actress in [[Punjabi film]] industry
* [[Karam Singh]] - soldier who was the first living recipient of the [[Param Vir Chakra]]



==Education==
=== List of educational institutions ===
====Schools====


* [[Aryabhatta International School]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Barnala district}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Barnala| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Barnala district]]

Barnala - Revision history

DilkhusOfficial at 19:31, 21 February 2026