Created by JaimieCarrigan
Last edited February 19, 2026


Hoshiarpur district

[[File:|250x250px|frameless|center]]

Settlement type District
Country India
State
District
Subdivision

Hoshiarpur district is a district of Punjab state in northern India. Hoshiarpur, one of the oldest districts of Punjab, is located in the North-east part of the Punjab state and shares common boundaries with Gurdaspur district in the north-west, Jalandhar district and Kapurthala district in south-west, Kangra district and Una district of Himachal Pradesh in the north-east. Hoshiarpur district comprises 4 sub-divisions, 10 community development blocks, 9 urban local bodies and 1417 villages. The district has an area of 3365 km2. and a population of 1,586,625 persons as per census 2011.[1]

Hoshiarpur, along with the districts of Nawanshehar, Kapurthala and parts of Jalandhar, represents one of the cultural regions of Punjab called Doaba or the Bist Doab - the tract of land between two rivers, namely Beas and Sutlej. The area, along with the Shivalik foothills on the right side of Chandigarh-Pathankot road in Hoshiarpur, is sub mountainous. This part of the district is also known as Kandi area. The two rivers, Sutlej and Beas along with two other seasonal streams, provide drainage to the region. Besides these, the Kandi region is full of seasonal streams.

Hoshiarpur district falls into two nearly equal portions of hill and plain country. Its eastern face consists of the westward slope of the Solar Singhi Hills; parallel with that ridge, a line of lower heights belonging to the Siwalik Range traverses the district from south to north, while between the two chains stretches a valley of uneven width, known as the Jaswan Dun. Its upper portion is crossed by the Sohan torrent, while the Sutlej sweeps into its lower end through a break in the hills, and flows in a southerly direction until it turns the flank of the central range, and debouches westwards upon the plains. This western plain consists of alluvial formation, with a general westerly slope owing to the deposit of silt from the mountain torrents in the sub-montane tract. The Beas has a fringe of lowland, open to moderate but not excessive inundations, and considered very fertile. A considerable area is covered by government woodlands, under the care of the forest department. Rice is largely grown, in the marshy flats along the banks of the Beas. The district, owing to its proximity to the hills, possesses a comparatively cool and humid climate. Cotton fabrics are manufactured, and sugar, rice, other grains and indigo are among the exports.[2]

Hoshiarpur is also known as a City of Saints. There are many deras in this district. Several religious fairs are held, at Anandpur Sahib, Dasuya, Mukerian and Chintpurni, all of which attract an enormous concourse of people.[2]

The District Govt. College was once a campus for Punjab University, and it was predominantly inhabited by Gujjar and Saini, Dogras of Jammu-Punjab Region during the reign of the Sikh Empire.

History

The area of present Hoshiarpur District was also part of Indus Valley Civilization. Recent excavations at various sites in the district have revealed that the entire area near the Shivalik foothills was selected for habitation not only by the early Paleolithic man but also by those in the protohistoric and historic periods. The legends associate several places in the district with Pandavas. Dasuya is mentioned in epic of Mahabharata as the seat of Raja Virata in whose services the Pandavas remained for thirteen years during their exile. Bham, about 11 km west of Mahilpur, is said to be the place where the Pandavas passed their exile. Lasara, about 19 km north of Jaijon, also contains a stone temple stated to date back to the time of Pandavas. According to the Chinese pilgrim, Hieun Tsang, the area of Hoshiarpur was dominated by a tribe of Chandrabansi Rajputs, who maintained an independent existence for centuries before the Muhammadan conquest.

The country around Hoshiarpur formed part of the old kingdom of Katoch in Jalandhar. The state was eventually broken up, and the present district was divided between the, rajas of Datarpur and Jaswan. They retained undisturbed possession of their territories until 1759, when the rising Sikh chieftains commenced a series of encroachments upon the hill tracts. In 1815 Maharaja Ranjit Singh, forced the ruler of Jaswan to resign his territories in exchange for an estate on feudal tenure; three years later the raja of Datarpur met with similar treatment. By the close of the year 1818 the whole country from the Sutlej to the Beas had come under the government of Lahore, and after the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1846 passed to the British government.[3] The deposed rajas of Datarpur and Jaswan received cash pensions from the new rulers, but expressed bitter disappointment at not being restored to their former sovereign position. Accordingly, the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Sikh War, in 1848 found the disaffected chieftains ready for rebellion. They organized a revolt, but the two rajas and the other ringleaders were captured, and their estates confiscated.[2] Under British administration, Hoshiarpur district was part of the Jullundur Division and was subdivided into four tehsils: Hoshiarpur, Dasuya, Una, and Garhshankar.

Hoshiarpur is an ancient centre of Hindu epics and culture itself. In Bajwara (4 km east on Una Road from the present city) ruins of an ancient culture can still be found. Mythologically, Teh Dasuya of this district is estimated to be King Virat's kingdom where Pandavas spent their one-year exile.

File:Gurdwara Sri Garna Sahib Bodal, District Hoshiarpur.jpg
Gurdwara Sri Garna Sahib Bodal, District Hoshiarpur.

Bhrigu Samhita

Hoshiarpur is also popular for old astrological facts where it is said to be that old documents where past, present and future birth of every person is written in detail, are safely kept at this place. Many people visit Hoshiarpur to find out about their past, present and future in every birth they have or had taken in the past.[4]

Significant cities

Among the numerous ancient cultural centers in Hoshiarpur was town Jaijon. Said to be Founded by Jaijjat rishi around 11th century at the Shivalik foothills, Jaijon was a flourishing trade centre. It was also known as a centre for oriental studies. Noted scholars and exponents of Sanskrit, Astrology, Ayurveda and music visited this place for meeting. Music composers Pandit Husan Lal and Bhagat Ram and noted Pakistani poet Tufail Hoshiarpuri belonged to the same place. Jaijon also have a small old railway station from the British era.[5]

Ayurveda scholar Pandit Govind Ram Vatsyayan and Sanskrit laureate Acharya Vishwanath belonged to Jaijon.

Mahilpur Town Founded by Chaudhary Mahlo Bains[6]

Garhdiwala Founded by Chaudhary Garhia Sahota

Garhshankar Founded by Bhanots

Demographics

Template:Historical populations

According to the 2011 census Hoshiarpur district has a population of 1,586,625,[7] roughly equal to the nation of Gabon[8] or the US state of Idaho.[9] This gives it a ranking of 310th in India (out of a total of 640).[7] The district has a population density of Template:Convert.[7] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.95%.[7] Hoshiarpur has a sex ratio of 961 females for every 1000 males,[7] and a literacy rate of 85.40%. Scheduled Castes made up 35.14% of the population.[7]

The Hoshiarpur district has one of the highest Scheduled Caste population (34%) population in Punjab. The Hoshiarpur-I and Hoshiarpur-II have 48 percent Scheduled Castes population. In Mahilpur block the proportion of Scheduled Castes population is 44 percent and in Bhunga block it is 41 percent while in the remaining blocks the proportion of Scheduled Castes population is less than 40 percent.[10][11]

Gender

The table below shows the sex ratio of Hoshiarpur district through decades.

Sex ratio of Hoshiarpur district[12]
Census year Ratio
2011 961
2001 935
1991 924
1981 919
1971 899
1961 902
1951 877
1941 879
1931 867
1921 856
1911 828
1901 878

The table below shows the child sex ratio of children below the age of 6 years in the rural and urban areas of Hoshiarpur district.

Child sex ratio of children below the age of 6 years in Hoshiarpur district[13]
Year Urban Rural
2011 863 865
2001 800 815

Religion

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Religion in tehsils of Hoshiarpur district (2011)[14]
Tehsil Hinduism (%) Sikhism (%) Islam (%) Christianity (%) Others (%)
Dasua 43.19 53.79 1.49 1.11 0.42
Mukerian 78.96 17.18 1.48 2.04 0.34
Hoshiarpur 66.23 31.07 1.38 0.54 0.78
Garhshankar 63.31 34.05 1.51 0.33 0.80
Religion in Hoshiarpur District
Religious
group
2011[14]
[[Population|Template:Abbr]] Template:Abbr
Hinduism File:Om.svg 1,000,743 Template:Percentage
Sikhism File:Khanda.svg 538,208 Template:Percentage
Islam File:Star and Crescent.svg 23,089 Template:Percentage
Christianity File:Christian cross.svg 14,968 Template:Percentage
Others 9,617 Template:Percentage
Total Population 1,586,625 Template:Percentage

The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Hoshiarpur district.

Absolute numbers of different religious groups in Hoshiarpur district[15]
Religion Urban (2011) Rural (2011) Urban (2001) Rural (2001) Urban (1991) Rural (1991)
Hindu 2,52,667 7,48,076 2,15,934 6,55,989 1,35,337 6,03,892
Sikh 74,051 4,64,157 69,954 5,04,908 41,240 4,45,807
Muslim 2,828 20,261 2,081 13,313 352 6,090
Christian 2,133 12,835 1,561 11,165 625 8,081
Other religions 3,290 6,327 2,544 3,287 2,066 317
Religious groups in Hoshiarpur District (British Punjab province era)
Religious
group
1881[16][17][18] 1891[19] 1901[20] 1911[21][22] 1921[23] 1931[24] 1941[25]
[[Population|Template:Abbr]] Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr
Hinduism File:Om.svgTemplate:Efn 550,185 Template:Percentage 610,996 Template:Percentage 603,710 Template:Percentage 498,642 Template:Percentage 500,339 Template:Percentage 526,182 Template:Percentage 584,080 Template:Percentage
Islam File:Star and Crescent.svg 290,193 Template:Percentage 328,668 Template:Percentage 312,958 Template:Percentage 281,805 Template:Percentage 289,298 Template:Percentage 328,078 Template:Percentage 380,759 Template:Percentage
Sikhism File:Khanda.svg 59,784 Template:Percentage 70,709 Template:Percentage 71,126 Template:Percentage 134,146 Template:Percentage 132,958 Template:Percentage 173,147 Template:Percentage 198,194 Template:Percentage
Jainism File:Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 1,119 Template:Percentage 1,165 Template:Percentage 1,173 Template:Percentage 998 Template:Percentage 1,079 Template:Percentage 1,016 Template:Percentage 1,125 Template:Percentage
Christianity File:Christian cross.svg 98 Template:Percentage 120 Template:Percentage 813 Template:Percentage 2,978 Template:Percentage 3,745 Template:Percentage 3,764 Template:Percentage 6,165 Template:Percentage
Zoroastrianism File:Faravahar.svg 2 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage
Buddhism File:Dharma Wheel (2).svg 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage
Judaism File:Star of David.svg Template:N/a Template:N/a 0 Template:Percentage 2 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage
Others 0 Template:Percentage 1 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage
Total population 901,381 Template:Percentage 1,011,659 Template:Percentage 989,782 Template:Percentage 918,569 Template:Percentage 927,419 Template:Percentage 1,032,187 Template:Percentage 1,170,323 Template:Percentage
Template:Small
Religion in the Tehsils of Hoshiarpur District (1921)[23]
Tehsil Hinduism File:Om.svg Islam File:Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism File:Khanda.svg Christianity File:Christian cross.svg Jainism File:Jain Prateek Chihna.svg OthersTemplate:Efn Total
[[Population|Template:Abbr]] Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr
Hoshiarpur Tehsil 95,280 Template:Percentage 106,724 Template:Percentage 43,567 Template:Percentage 1,075 Template:Percentage 550 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 247,196 Template:Percentage
Dasuya Tehsil 86,938 Template:Percentage 100,825 Template:Percentage 25,195 Template:Percentage 2,392 Template:Percentage 250 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 215,600 Template:Percentage
Garh Shankar Tehsil 133,877 Template:Percentage 52,832 Template:Percentage 45,554 Template:Percentage 234 Template:Percentage 275 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 232,772 Template:Percentage
Una Tehsil 184,244 Template:Percentage 28,917 Template:Percentage 18,642 Template:Percentage 44 Template:Percentage 4 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 231,851 Template:Percentage
Template:Small
Religion in the Tehsils of Hoshiarpur District (1941)[25]
Tehsil Hinduism File:Om.svgTemplate:Efn Islam File:Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism File:Khanda.svg Christianity File:Christian cross.svg Jainism File:Jain Prateek Chihna.svg OthersTemplate:Efn Total
[[Population|Template:Abbr]] Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr
Hoshiarpur Tehsil 113,680 Template:Percentage 145,985 Template:Percentage 62,517 Template:Percentage 953 Template:Percentage 510 Template:Percentage 95 Template:Percentage 323,740 Template:Percentage
Dasuya Tehsil 95,572 Template:Percentage 132,105 Template:Percentage 40,509 Template:Percentage 4,729 Template:Percentage 328 Template:Percentage 3 Template:Percentage 273,246 Template:Percentage
Garh Shankar Tehsil 150,991 Template:Percentage 67,584 Template:Percentage 70,310 Template:Percentage 363 Template:Percentage 284 Template:Percentage 7 Template:Percentage 289,539 Template:Percentage
Una Tehsil 223,837 Template:Percentage 35,085 Template:Percentage 24,858 Template:Percentage 15 Template:Percentage 3 Template:Percentage 0 Template:Percentage 283,798 Template:Percentage
Template:Small

Language

Template:Pie chart

At the time of the 2011 census, 93.74% of the population spoke Punjabi and 5.27% Hindi as their first language.[26]

Health

In the year 2017, Hoshiarpur district had the highest number of malaria cases in Punjab at 153.[27]

The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Hoshiarpur, as of year 2020.

District nutrition profile of children under 5 years of age in Hoshiarpur, year 2020 [28]
Indicators Number of children (<5 years) Percent (2020) Percent (2016)
Low-birth weight 20,188 17% 22%
Stunted 22,403 19% 26%
Wasted 13,379 12% 17%
Severely wasted 2,845 2% 7%
Underweight 14,413 12% 21%
Overweight/obesity 4,437 4% 4%
Anemia 72,602 70% 60%
Total children 116,139

The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Hoshiarpur of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years, as of year 2020.

District nutritional profile of Hoshiarpur of women of 15-49 years, in 2020[28]
Indicators Number of women (15-49 years) Percent (2020) Percent (2016)
Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m^2) 56,089 11% 14%
Overweight/obesity 211,477 41% 31%
Hypertension 186,652 36% 18%
Diabetes 66,736 13% NA
Anemia (non-preg) 281,589 54% 62%
Anemia (preg) NA NA 38%
Total women (preg) 24,123
Total women 519,345

The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Hoshiarpur district by year.

Road accidents and people affected in Hoshiarpur district by year[29]
Year Accidents Killed Injured Vehicles Involved
2022 276 233 132 443
2021 239 203 142 410
2020 227 190 115 392
2019 336 254 176 543

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Hoshiarpur one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[30] It is the only district in Punjab currently receiving funds from the Backward regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[30]

Hoshiarpur has 6,480 registered industrial units, which employ more than 31 thousand employees. There are 24 large and medium industries, where more than 15,000 people work.[31]

Government and politics

Politics

No. Constituency Name of MLA Party Bench
39 Mukerian Jangi Lal Mahajan Template:Full party name with color Opposition
40 Dasuya Karambir Singh Ghuman Template:Full party name with color Government
41 Urmar Jasvir Singh Raja Gill Template:Full party name with color
42 Sham Chaurasi (SC) Dr. Ravjot Singh Template:Full party name with color
43 Hoshiarpur Bram Shanker Template:Full party name with color
44 Chabbewal (SC) Ishank Kumar Template:Full party name with color
45 Garhshankar Jai Krishan Singh Template:Full party name with color

District administration

  • The Deputy Commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service, is in-charge of the General Administration in the district, and is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Punjab Civil Service and other Punjab state services.
  • The Senior Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service, is responsible for maintaining law & order in the district, assisted by the officers of the Punjab Police Service and other Punjab police officials.
  • The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service, is responsible for the management of the forests, environment and wildlife in the district and is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Forest Service and other Punjab forest officials and Punjab wildlife officials.
  • Sectoral development is looked after by the district head/officer of each development department such as PWD, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, etc. These officers are from various Punjab state services.

Sub-Divisions

The District of Hoshiarpur comprises four sub-divisions, ten development blocks, eight municipal councils and one notified area committee, as listed below:

Administrative Divisions

  • Hoshiarpur
  • Dasuya
  • Mukerian
  • Garhshankar
Development Blocks
  • Hoshiarpur-I
  • Hoshiarpur-II
  • Bhunga
  • Tanda
  • Dasuya
  • Mukerian
  • Talwara
  • Hajipur
  • Garhshankar
File:CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR FRUITS.jpg
Center of Excellence for Fruits, Khanaura, District Hoshiarpur
Municipal Corporation
Municipal Councils
  • Garhdiwala
  • Hariana
  • Tanda
  • Mahilpur
  • Garhshankar
  • Dasuya'
  • Mukerian
  • Sham Chaurasi
  • Talwara
Notified Area Committee
  • Mahilpur
  • Hoshiarpur
  • Shamchurasi Kadiana
Villages

Notable people

Science

Business

Sports

Politics

Arts and entertainment

File:Monica Bedi at the 8th Aap Ki Awaz Media Excellence Awards.jpg
Monica Bedi is from the city
File:Simran Kaur Mundi at Marc Cains preview (2).jpg
Simran Kaur Mundi

Military

Other

Notes

  1. Hoshiarpur District Population Census 2011-2021, Punjab literacy sex ratio and density. www.census2011.co.in.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Template:EB1911
  3. History, Institutions and Economic Performance: The Legacy of Colonial Land Tenure Systems in India (BREAD Working Paper No. 003){{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Bureau for Research in Economic Analysis of Development(January 2003)
  4. 5,000-year-old astrological tradition thrives in Punjab (Feature, With Image). Business Standard India(3 April 2015).
  5. Jaijon gets rail connectivity to Amritsar, Service, Tribune News. Tribuneindia News Service.
  6. ਮਾਹਿਲਪੁਰ ਪਿੰਡ | Mahilpur Village - ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ(2024-06-22). Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 District Census Handbook: Hoshiarpur. censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  8. Country Comparison:Population. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  9. 2010 Resident Population Data. U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  10. State-wise, District-wise List of Blocks with >40% but less than 50% SC population. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  11. Jat Sikhs: A Question of Identity. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  12. District-wise Decadal Sex ratio in Punjab. Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India(21 January 2022). Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. District-wise Rural and Urban Child Population (0-6 years) and their sex ratio in Punjab. Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India(21 January 2022). Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Table C-01 Population by Religion: Punjab. censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India(2011).
  15. Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India(21 January 2022).
  16. Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I.. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  17. Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II.. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  18. Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III.. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  19. The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  20. Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province.]. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  21. Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables.. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  22. Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables.. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  24. Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables.. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  25. 25.0 25.1 Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  26. Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Punjab. censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  27. Micro Strategic Action Plan for Malaria Elimination in the State of Punjab, India, 2018–2020. www.cdn.who.int. Retrieved Aug 11, 2024.
  28. 28.0 28.1 District nutrition profile(September 2022).
  29. Road Accidents in Punjab. punjab.data.gov.in(21 January 2022). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  30. 30.0 30.1 A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme. National Institute of Rural Development(8 September 2009). Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  31. Industries in Hoshiarpur - hoshiarpuronline.in
  32. Rana Mohammad Hanif Khan
  33. Welcome to ambedkartimes.com. www.ambedkartimes.com.
  34. Three sardars and their Hoshiarpur connection. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  35. Articles about Harkishen Singh Surjeet by Date - Page 3 - Times of India. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  36. Nodal districts - Rup Nagar shows only 15th LS information.

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References

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Template:Hoshiarpur district Template:Punjab (India) Template:Authority control