Abohar
City in Punjab, India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abohar is a city and municipal corporation in the Fazilka district of Punjab, situated southeast of Fazilka. It lies near the India–Pakistan border. According to the 2011 Census of India, Abohar’s population was 145,302.[4] The city and its suburbs are known for kinnow production, with the Abohar belt alone contributing up to 60% of Punjab’s total kinnow output.[5][6] Lahore, Pakistan, lies to the west-northwest of Abohar, at a straight-line distance of approximately 156–157 km (98 miles).[7][8]
Abohar
Abuhar | |
|---|---|
City | |
  Abohar Location in Punjab, India  Abohar Abohar (India) | |
| Coordinates: 30.1334°N 74.2001°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Punjab |
| District | Fazilka |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Abohar Municipal Corporation |
| Area | |
• Total | 188.24 km2 (72.68 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 145,302 |
| • Density | 771.90/km2 (1,999.2/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Aboharias |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Punjabi[2] |
| • Others | Bagri, Hindi[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 152116 |
| STD code | 01634 |
| Vehicle registration | PB-15 |
History
In Book II of the Ain-i-Akbari, Abohar (Persian: ابوهر, transliterated as Abuhar) appears as a pargana under the Sarkar of Sirhind, within the Subah of Delhi. The Sarkar of Sirhind was an important administrative and military division of the Delhi Subah, functioning as a strategic gateway to the empire’s northwestern frontiers. Abohar’s classification as a pargana reflects its established role as a fiscal jurisdiction, with defined territorial limits, inhabited settlements, and assessed land (zamin) revenues.[9]
Connections with Firoz Shah Tughluq
This city developed a deeper connection with Tughluqs. Firoz Shah Tughluq's mother Bibi Naila was from Abohar and Tughlaq's court historian Shams-i Siraj 'Afif lived here.[10]
British Colonial Era
During the British era in India, it was the hub of horse breeding and a major cotton trade centre having business with Karachi and other mandis.[11]
Geography
Location
Abohar, located approximately 32 kilometres (19.8 miles) south of Fazilka, is the nearest border town to Fazilka. It serves as a connection point between the two Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan. Within India, Abohar is situated 75.6 kilometres (47 miles) west of Bathinda, 258 kilometres southwest of the holy city of Amritsar, 217 kilometres southwest of the industrial city of Ludhiana, 300 kilometres southwest of the state capital Chandigarh, and 373 kilometres northwest of the national capital, New Delhi.
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Indian census, Abohar had a population of 145,302, of which 76,984 were males and 68,318 were females.[1]
Religion
The majority of the people living in Abohar follows Hinduism, with a significant Sikh minority.[1]
Languages
Punjabi is the official language of the city and is spoken by the majority.[2][3] Other major languages spoken are Bagri and Hindi.[3]
Wildlife sanctuary
Abohar is home to the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, which provides a free-range sanctuary for black bucks. The open sanctuary is spread over an area of 18,650 hectares across farmlands and villages.[12] The sanctuary is also home to Albizia lebbeck, Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, A. tortilis, Nilgai, porcupines, hares, and jackals.