Phagwara

Phagwara
Phagwara
City
	Phagwara Location in Punjab, India Phagwara Phagwara (India)
	Coordinates: 31°13′N 75°46′E / 31.22°N 75.77°E
Country	India
State	Punjab
District	Kapurthala
Founded by	Chaudhary Phaggu Mal Basra
Named for	Phagu Da Wara
Government
• Type	Democracy
• Body	Government of Punjab, India
Area
• Total	20 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	234 m (768 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	117,954
• Rank	288
• Density	6,117/km2 (15,840/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	144401; 144402
Telephone code	01824
Vehicle registration	PB-36
Post office	Phagwara H.O; Satnampura S.O

Phagwara is a city and municipal corporation in the Kapurthala district of Punjab, India. It is located 40 kilometers from Kapurthala, the district headquarter, 124 kilometres (77 mi) away from Chandigarh, 20 kilometres (12 mi) away from Jalandhar and 361 kilometres (224 mi) from New Delhi. The city is famous for sugar, glucose, starch, fine fabric textiles, and auto parts manufacturing for engines in Punjab. This place is also known for the Shri Hanuman Garhi Temple, which has statues of the Hindu God, Lord Hanuman.

History

Phagwara started as a market town in the region, founded Chaudhary Phaggu Basra, a Hindu Jatt landlord of the area. The town's property originally belonged to him.^[1] The town got its name from him, first as Phaggu Da Wara, then evolving into Phagwara. The town was then made into a trading center by the Mughal emperor Shah jahan but later failed as a trading hub and grew into a more rural character. In 1772 it became part of the Ahluwalia Sikh Dynasty of Kapurthala. The militarist Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib ji visited the city in 1635 near the end of his time as Sikh guru. One of his great devotees, Phagu, heard that Sahib was fighting the Mughals and coming to his city. He eventually left in shock, betraying his guru. Reacting to the situation, Sahib Ji said ‘Phagu Da Warra, Bahron Mitha Andra Khara’.^[2] Thus, Phagwara’s name originally comes from that phrase.^[3]

Geography

Phagwara is located on land between the Beas and Satluj rivers and is a typical Doaba city.^[4] It has an average elevation of 767 feet (234 m). It is located in the Kapurthala district, in the Punjab province of India.

Demographics

As per provisional data of the 2011 census, the Phagwara urban agglomeration had a population of 117,954, with 62,171 males and 55,783 females. The literacy rate was 87.43 per cent.^[5] The city of Phagwara had a population of 97,864, with 51,386 males and 46,478 females. Phagwara has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the regional average of 75%; male literacy is 89% and female literacy is 83%. In Phagwara, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.^[6]

The table below shows the population of different religious groups in Phagwara city, as of the 2011 census.

Population by religious groups in Phagwara city, 2011 census^[7]
Religion	Total	Female	Male
Hindu	73,845	34,877	38,968
Sikh	20,635	9,988	10,647
Muslim	1,434	663	771
Buddhist	730	347	383
Christian	280	134	146
Jain	233	123	110
Other religions	64	27	37
Not stated	643	319	324
Total	97,864	46,478	51,386