Gujranwala (Urdu: گوجرانوالا)
also known as the "City of Wrestlers" (Palwana da shehr in Punjabi) is an industrial city in Gujranwala District, Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the seventh-most-populous Pakistani metropolitan areas,[3][4] and is one of the fastest-growing cities in Pakistan.[5] Gujranwala is 226 metres (744 ft) above sea level.[6] It shares borders with Ghakhar Mandi, Alipur Chatha, Kamonke and several small towns and villages. Punjabi is the local language spoken by most people but English and Urdu are also commonly spoken.
Due to extensive road and rail links, the city's manufacturing and agricultural sectors have flourished. Gujranwala is on the Grand Trunk Road, connecting it with provincial capitals such as Peshawar and Lahore and Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The city is located between Lahore, Gujrat and Sialkot.
Gujranwala is known for its production of sugarcane, melons and grains for export; it exports one of the world's finest varieties of rice. The city has commercial and industrial centers for manufacturing ceramics, fans, electrical-switch gears, engineering tools, earth-moving machinery, steel, cutlery, crockery, iron safes, metal tools, utensils, textiles, woolen sweaters, sanitary fittings and leather. It has produced some of the best-known wrestlers and bodybuilders on the subcontinent, resulting in its nickname "city of wrestlers" (پہلوانوں کا شہر, Palwana da shehr in local Punjabi).
History
According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India, Gujranwala was founded by the Gurjars and renamed Khanpur by the Sansi Jatts of Amritsar who settled there; however, its old name has survived.[7] Many historians also note that the place was named for the Gurjars[8] who ruled the Gurjara-Pratihara.In 630, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Hsuan Tsang visited a town known as Tse-kia (or Taki), near present-day Gujranwala; a mound near the contemporary village of Asarur has been identified as the site of the ancient city. From the beginning of the 7th century Rajput kingdoms dominated Eastern portions of Pakistan and northern India. In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of some western Punjab region. Eastern Regions of Punjab from Multan to the Rawalpindi in north (Including region of present-day Gujranwala) remained under Rajput rule until 1193. The Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire later ruled the region The Punjab became predominantly Muslim, due to missionary Sufits whose dargahs dot the landscape. Gujranwala evolved as a medieval town, and Sufi missionaries converted the local Gurjar population to Islam. Until the arrival of the Muslims little is known about Gujranwala, except that Taki had fallen into oblivion and Lahore was the chief city. Under Muslim rule the district flourished and then declined. The district gazetteer dates the name "Gujranwala" to about the mid-16th century.After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire ruled Gujranwala. The Muslims faced restrictions during the Sikh rule.The Sikhs dominated the Punjab after the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1707. Gujranwala became important during the rule of the father and grandfather of Ranjit Singh, who were born in the city. Ranjit Singh, also born there, became the powerful of the Sikh rulers. Hari Singh Nalwa, military commander of the Sikh army, was credited with building the "new" Gujranwala.
The area was captured by the British Empire in 1848. In 1881, a railway line was built along the Grand Trunk Road to connect Gujranwala with other cities in the Punjab, facilitating trade. The municipality of Gujranwala was created in 1867, and the North-Western Railway connected Gujranwala with other cities in British India, such as Calcutta and Karachi. Gujranwala's population, according to the 1901 Indian census, was 29,224. In 1903 and 1904, income and expenditure were Rs. 83,100 and Rs. 67,900 respectively. The chief source of income was the octroi (Rs. 59,700).
The predominantly-Muslim population supported the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement.After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Gujranwala district. Muslims refugees from East Punjab, Haryana, Jammu started arriving and crossed the border into Pakistan; many were given land in district to settle. Gujranwala developed rapidly, and is a leading Pakistani industrial and commercial city. Gujranwala District was governed by a deputy commissioner until it became part of the Gujranwala Division. In 1951 the city became the capital of the district, which encouraged industrial growth. Among its deputy commissioners was Mansur Zaimur Rehman, who served from 1959 to 1962 and began a number of development projects (including the cantonment). In 1991, the city hosted its first test match (at Jinnah Stadium) and several One Day International matches. According to City Mayors Statistics: The world's fastest-growing cities and urban areas Gujranwala will rank 27th in the world in average annual growth from 2006 to 2020 (3.49 percent) and first in Pakistan, ahead of Faisalabad .
Gujranwala Cantonment (Rahwali) Railway Station. Photo by skyscrapercity.com
Charan Singh Villa (ex Passport Office) in Gujranwala. This building is on Bukhari Road near Gujranwala railway station.
Main Entrance of WAPDA Town, Gujranwala
Tomb of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan at Wazirabad, District Gujranwala. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan (1873–1956) was a writer, poet and journalist who played an important role in the Pakistan Movement against the British Raj.He was the Editor of famous Urdu newspaper, The Zamindar. Photo by .
An Old Photo of District Court House, Gujranwala
Tomb of Maha Singh, Gujranwala. Maha Sigh, also known as Mahan Singh, was the father of Ranjeet Singh.
Tomb of Sradar Hari Sigh, Gujranwala. Hari Singh was Commander-in-Chief of Sikh Army. His tomb is located in Baradari Garden, Gujranwala.
The Baradari, Gujranwala, Late 19th Century. It was the residence of Deputy Commissioner.
Sialkot Gate of Gujranwala, 1869
Government Hospital and Dispensary, Gujranwala, 1869. Built by Col Babbage, Deputy Commissioner.
Old and Rare Photos of Gujranwala; A Church in Gujranwala, 1865
Universities and Colleges
- Rachna University of Engineering and Technology, 7 K.m off Main G.T Road Link Rachna University Road, Gujranwala
- University of the Punjab, Gujranwala Campus, Near Alipur Chowk Bypass road
- Allama Iqbal Open University, Regional Campus, peoples Colony, Gujranwala
- Al Madina Islamic University, G.T Road opposite Marrian Hotel Gujranwala
- Virtual University of Pakistan, Regional Campus, G.T. Road Gujranwala
- Gujranwala Medical College, Pasrur road, Satellite town
- Gujranwala Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Sialkot Road, Gujranwala
- GIFT University, Sialkot bypass (Eastern bypass) road
- CMS College,[12] Gujranwala.:.:CMS College Website:.:
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah Law College, Gujranwala (http://www.majlc.edu.pk)
- Royal Group of Colleges
- Allied Science College, Sialkot Road [1]
- Elite Group of Colleges
- Punjab Group of Colleges, Civil lines Session Court road
- Gujranwala Home Economics College, Pasrur Road, Satellite town
- Govt. College, Satellite town
- Govt. Post Graduate College for Girls, Satellite town
- Govt. Islamia College, Islamia College road
- Shiblee College of Commerce, Satellite town Gujranwala.
- Govt. College for Girls, People's colony
- Govt. Commerce College, People's colony
- Govt. Commerce Institute for Girls, Civil lines
- Govt. Vocational Training Institute for Girls, Civil lines and Cantt.
- Govt. College of Technology, G.T. Road
- Govt. Leather Technology Institute, G.T. Road
- Govt. Technical training Institute, Parur road
- Govt. Apprentices Training Center, G.T. Road, Loyanwala
- Govt. College for Girls, Urdu bazar, Niyaen Chowk
- Govt. Post Graduate College for Girls, Model town
- F.G. College, Cantt.
- F.G. College for Girls, Cantt.
- Govt. College for Girls, Cantt.
- Govt. Degree College, People's colony
- Superior Colleges, G.T. Road
- National College of Computer Sciences, 27A Commissioner road
- Gujranwala College of Commerce, Satellite town, Sialkot road
- Superior Science College, Satellite town
- Federal Science College, Wapda town
- Renaissance College, Satellite town
- AL-Mashrqi Science Colleges, Kangniwala
- National Science and Commerce Colleges, Satellite town
- Crescent Science Colleges, Satellite town
- Jinnah Lyceum Campus College, Wapda Town
- Christian Technical Training Center, Khoker ki
- Swedish Institute of Technology, G.T Road
- Faran Institute of Technology, Kheli
Some more photos of gujranwala city
