CHAPTER XIX
PLACES OF INTEREST
Nawashahr
District was created as a new District in 1995. Area- wise the district
stands sixteenth among the seventeen
districts of
Balachaur
Balachaur
is the headquarters of the sub-montane Subdivision of the same name of
Nawashahr District. Balachaur is said to have been originally held by Mahton
Rajputs. The town have a historic temple, known as
Chushman.- Chushman is located on the Balachaur-Garhshankar road. The place is famous after the name of a Muslim Pir Lakhdata (Sakhi Sarvar). According to one version the place came into existence when the water started flowing out of the ground as it was dug by the paur (foot) of the horse on which Pir was riding.
Other places of religious importance which fall in the Balachaur tahsil are; Gurdwara Tahli Sahib, Sudha Majra, Gurdwara Baba Gurditta Chandpur Rurki, Mandir Sidh Baba Jambu, etc.
Banga
Banga is said to have been founded by
Gola, alias Banga, a Maan Jat of Paniani
in Garhshankar Tahsil (District Hoshiarpur) in AD 1663 and named after him. Banga was held by the Chaudhris of Phagwara (District
Kapurthala) under Muhammadan rule, who, when the Sikhs rose to power, were able
to resist at the time of attacks of Dharam Singh of
Banga
is sub-tahsil of Nawashahr Tahsil of the district. It is situated on the
Jalandhar City-Jaijon Doaba line of the Northern Railway. Banga is 12 km from
district/tahsil headquarters Nawashahr. It is also linked by road with
Nawashahr on the one side and Phagwara (District Kapurthala) on the
Important historical and religious places located in the Banga town are given below:
Gurdwara Charan Kanwal, Patshahi Chhevin, Banga.- This is a historical gurudwara which is
associated with the visit of Guru Hargobind Sahib on his way from Kartarpur to
Kiratpur Sahib. Guru stayed here for forty days and blessed Zamindar Jeeva with milk. This is the
place where Guru’s sick horse ‘Suhela’ was cured. The building of the Gurdwara
contains a big sarovar where devotees take bath any special thing. Big fair is
held in the Gurdwara to commemorate the visit of the Guru on 21 (Haar).
Gurdwara Guruplah, Village Sotran.- The
Gurdwara is also associated with the visit of Guru Hargobind Sahib who visited
this place before reaching at Banga. Guru stayed here for few days. The well
still exists in the promises of the Gurdwara whose water was used by the Guru
for drinking. A big fair is held at Gurdwara Gurplah to commemorate the memory
of Guru Hargobind Sahib on 20 Haar (June-July).
Gurudwara Patshahi Chhevin, Village Durgapur.- During his forty days stay at Banga, Guru Hargobind Sahib also visited this place. A big fair is held at this place in the memory of Guru Hargobind Sahib’s visit on 22 Haar (June-July);
On his way to Kiratpur Sahib Guru Hargobind Sahib visited few villages in this area where Gurdwara Panj Tahli sahib, Chak Guru, Gurdwara Mallan Sodhian, Chakguru; Gurdwara Panj Tirath Patshahi Chhevin. Laroa; Gurdwara Gohindpur Patshahi Chhevin and Gurdwara Tahli Sahib Sudha Majara are located.
The Seventh Guru of the Sikhs Guru Har Rai also visited few places in this area where Gurdwara Salwana Sahib, Salwana, Gurdwara Har Rai ji, Dosanjh Khurd and Gurdwara Nanaksar, Hakimpur are located
Besides
these Gurdwaras some important Gurdwaras located in and around Banga are :
Gurdwara Shaheed, Urapar; Gurdwara
Shahid Bunga, Baba Godrian Singh Ji, Talwandi Jattan,etc.
Khatkar Kalan
Khatkar
Kalan is located on the Nawashahr-Banga road and is situated at a distance of approximately 5 km from Banga and about 8 km from Nawashahr.
As per 2001 Census the population of the village was 1,709. It is an ancesteral
To
commemorate the memory of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his compatriots who had
raised the banner of revolt against British Raj to wrest
Nawashahr
Headquarters of the
district/subdivision of the same name. Naswashahr is situated 37 km South-East
of
The city has two degree colleges, one training college and one Industrial Training Institute. Cooperative Sugar Mill and MARKFED Modern Rice Mills Ltd. Nawashahr serves the needs of the area.
A brief description of important religious and historical places located in the city is given below:
Gurdwara Tahli Sahib, Nawashahr.- There
is an old gurdwara built in the memory of Baba Shri Chand the elderst son of
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who stayed here for 40 days on the
Nawashahr-Garhshankar road. There is an old tree of Shisham which was planted by Baba Shri Chand whose birthday is
celebrated every year on 6th Asuj. (September-October)
Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Nawashahr.- The
place was visited by Guru Teg Bahadur Ji on his way from Baba Bakala to
Kiratpur Sahib, alongwith Mata Gujri Ji. The Gurdwara is built to commeorate
the visit of the ninth Guru of Sikhs.
Shiwala Banah Mal.- Shiwala Banah Mal was constructed by
Diwan Banah Mal, alongwith a dharamshala
for the stay of the travellers. This is the only shiwala of its kind after Kapurthala. The entry gate of the Shiwala is so high that one can enter it
while sitting on an elephant. Diwan Banah Mal used to visit this shiwala from Kapurthala while riding on
an elephant. At present the building of the dharamshala is serving as a hostel
for
Sanehi Mandir, Nawashahr.- The foundation stone of Sanehi Mandir Devi Dewalya ( Pracheen Gautma Mandir) was laid on December 1869. The statue of the Goddess (Mata Chintpurni) was brought from Rajasthan. A large number of people pay obeyance in the temple.
Rahon
In olden days, Rahon was a flourishing town
and had more population than Jalandhar. Rahon is connected to the
Jalandhar-Jaijon Doaba railway line by
extending a connecting rail-line from Nawashahr. By road the distance of the
town is 8 km from Nawashahr, 51 km from
Rahon is said to
have been founded about 2000 years ago by Raja Raghab, who called it Raghupur,
by which name it continued to be called in correspondence by the Pandits of the
place till early in the present century. After that it came into the possession
of Gujars, who were driven out by the Mahtons, who in their turn succumbed to
the Ghorewaha Rajputs, whose conquest of the country is put down as having
occurred in the time of Muhammad Ghori (d. 1206 AD). Their leader, Rana Rajpal,
renamed the town “Rahon”, after a lady
called “Raho”. In support of this derivation may be quoted the opinion
entertained by some that, it is unlucky to speak of this town by its proper
name, in the morning, when fasting. Till breakfast it is called “Zanana-shahr”, or “Women-town”. In the
time of Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526 AD), the town is reported to have a population
of 1,45,000 and was a flourishing trading centre on the route to
Ancient city Rahon was in the form of a fort which had four gates viz., Delhi Gate, Lahori Gate, Pahar Singh Gate and Ropri Gate. Besides these gates there are several places of historical importance in Rahon which are described below :
Theh and Quila.- The quila ( fort) was built about 2000
years ago by Raja Raghab in the form of a Kachi
Garhi but it was converted into a
Puscca Quila (fort) by Rana Udho.
This quila contains one
Mehto Shivdyala.- Shivdyala Mandir is situated outside the city. The building has been divided into two parts. Right side has been built on the pattern of South Indian art. The mandir contains the statue of Shiv Parbati. It has five gates.
Suraj Kund.- The holy place in the town is Suraj Kund which is located on the Nawashahr-Rahon road. This Kund is said to have been built by Baba Aughar during the period of Pathan Rule. The town which is said to enshrine the remains of another saint was built during the reigns of the Tughlaks. There is also a wall near Kund which started moving by spiritual power of Baba Aughar.
Panj Tirthian Tank.- There is Panj Tirthian tank at Rahon which was got excavated by Rana Udho as a place of pilgrimage for his five sons who could not proceed on pilgrimage due to the illness of their father. The Samadh of Rana Udho still exists at Rahon.
Ramsar Sarovar.- Adjoining the smadhs of Rana Udho and his brave widow, is a tank which is known as Ramsar Sarovar. The tank was constructed by their son Jhanda Singh.
Dera Murki Shah.- This is a place where Muslim Faqir used to pray. The place has 27 (Burne) trees which could not be counted. The Faqir was very helpful to the destitute and poor people. Whenever a needy person goes to the Faqir for helf he gives his murki and again with spiritual power murki was placed in his ear.
Baba Adliana, Village Garcha (Nawashahr).- The place is located on Nawashahr to Rahon road. A big Gurdwara has been built here. A large number of people visit this place to fulfil their desires. A big fair is held here every year in the month of Pauh/Magh on Pooranmashi (full moon night).
Mai Raunkan’s Temple, Village Raksan, (Nawashahr).- The place is located on Jadla to Raksan road. It is famous for Mai Raunkan’s temple. Mai Raunkan was wife of Dighan Rishi. The couple had a cow which fulfils all their needs. One day a group of sadhus visited the house of Dighan Rishi. After having their meal the sadhus demanded cow. Dighan Rishi donated the cow to them. Cow started flying in the sky. The sadhus targeted the cow with an arrow. The cow torn into two pieces then a voice was heard from the sky, a baby will take birth in Mai Raunkan’s house who will destory the khatri caste. Mai Raunkan’s son fought 21 battles and ended the khatri caste and restricted the Hindus from eating Massar and Lasan.
Sujpal Temple, Village Ranowal, (Nawashahr).- It is located 15 km from Nawashahr. The temple contains one sarovar whose water is said to cures various minor skin diseases. Few people who belong to Brahmin and Khatri castes perform Mundan ceremony of their children in this temple.