Ambala

History

Etymology

The town is said to derive its name from Amba Rajput, who supposedly founded it during the 14th century CE. According to another version, it is named after the goddess "Bhawani Amba," whose Temple still exists in Ambala city. The English spelling Umballa has sometimes been used; this spelling was used by Rudyard Kipling in his 1901 novel Kim.

Classical era

Archaeological surveyor C.J Rodgers found Indo-Parthian Kingdom coins as well as coins of Hunas, Mihirakula, and Toramana, which indicated that after the disintegration of the Mauryan empire, the area was taken over by Indo-Parthians and later incorporated into the domain of the Hunas.

Late medieval era

In 1709, the Battle of Ambala was fought, and the Sikhs captured Ambala from the Mughals. It was under the rule of Gill Jats from 1748 to 1825. It was also the capital of Nishanwalia Misl. For some time, it had been under the rule of Jawahir Singh of Mustafabad, a descendant of Desu Singh Randhawa.

British colonial era

The Ambala Cantonment

Ambala Army Base

Ambala Army Cantonment was established in 1843 after the British were forced to leave its Karnal Cantonment following the malaria epidemic of 1841–42, as there were not any known effective means to control malaria epidemics in those days. The cantonment houses the '2 Corps', one of the three Strike Corps of the Indian Army.

Ambala Air Force Base

Ambala Air Force Base is one of the oldest and largest airbases that were inherited from the British by the Indian Air Force. It was from this airbase that Spitfires and Harvards flown by Instructors of the Advanced Flying Training School took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948. Subsequently, Ambala was the front line airfield for many years. This base was home to various aircraft that were inducted into the Indian Air Force like Harvards, Vampires, Ouragans, Hunters, Liberators, Spitfire, Canberra, and MiG-21. The airbase was briefly attacked in 1965 by B-57 bombers of the Pakistan Air Force. Today, the Airbase houses the '7 Wing', with 2 squadrons of Jaguars and 1 squadron of Dassault Rafale.

European Cemetery

Ambala Cantonment is the location of the historic European Cemetery. It is 200 km north of Delhi and 55 km southwest of Chandigarh.

1857 War Memorial

1857

First War of Independence Memorial, Ambala, also 1857 War Memorial, Ambala, Shaheed Smarak Ambala, costing Rs300 crore in the honour of Indian rebels of 1857 First War of Independence against British Colonial company raj in India, is spread over 22 acres on NH-44. The complex has a 63m-tall memorial tower at the centre. The museum showcases the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 in 22 galleries across three sections: outbreak of war at Ambala, expansion of war in Haryana, and the martyrs across the country. Short films and light-and-sound shows will be displayed on five screens to elaborate the valor of martyrs and the circumstances of the revolution. Before the war, 50 to 60 major movements across India had taken place against the British Colonial rule in India.

The war started at Ambala on 10 May 1857, 9 hours before the revolt also began at Meerut, by the Indian sepoys of 5th & 60th regiments of Bengal Native Infantry stationed at Ambala Cantonment. This is evident by the 10 May 1857 telegram to the Chief Commissioner Punjab, John Lawrence, by the Deputy Commissioner of Ambala which states "This morning, the 60th and 5th regiments were in an excited state and under arms on their parade ground. Cavalry and artillery ordered out, but no actual row. The guard over one treasury turned out under arms and were in an excited state. I ordered the police corps to be in readiness and in their own lines. I have consulted with the General, who has sent an officer of the 5th to the treasury guard to dismiss the men to their lines, if necessary. The General will not give any orders without your sanction. This step will not, I think, be necessary unless some further disturbance takes place."

The Ambala rebellion was led by Ananti Mishra, Parmeshwar Pandey, Beni Prasad, Sheikh Faiz Ul-Khan, and Bikhan Khan, who moved towards Red Fort in Delhi via Bilaspur, Sadhaura, Yamunanagar, and Saharanpur. War spread to Ambala, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Gulha Cheeka, Rohtak, Kharkhoda, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Palwal, Sohna, Rewari, and Narnaul.

The Indian revolutionaries were defeated by the British Colonisers. For their participation in first war of independence, the Chaudharys and Lambardars of villages who participated in rebellion were also deprived of their land and property, including 368 people of Hisar and Gurugram who were hanged or transported for life, and a fine was imposed on the people of Thanesar (Rs 235,000), Ambala (Rs. 253,541) and Rohtak (Rs. 63,000 mostly on Ranghars, Shaikhs and Muslim Kasai). The museum commemorates the valor and sacrifice of the Indian martyrs and the brutality of British Colonial rulers.

Formation of Ambala district

Ambala was given the status of a district in 1847, formed by the merging of the jagir estates of hitherto independent chieftains whose territories had lapsed or had been confiscated by the British Indian Government. In its 160 years of existence as a district, Ambala has witnessed many changes in its boundaries. Previously, it extended across tehsils of Ambala, Chandigarh, Jagadhri, Pipli, Kharar, Ropar, and Nalagarh. Kalka-cum-Kurari State, Pinjore, Mani Majra, Kasauli, and Sanawar were also merged later into the district at different times.

Post-independence

Hanging of Nathuram Godse

In November 1949, Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was hanged at Ambala Central Jail along with Narayan Apte, a co-conspirator.

Geography

Climate

The climate is a humid subtropical climate (Koppen: Cwa), with the monsoon season being noticeably rainier than the rest of the year, along with being much hotter and more humid than the winter, which is mild/cold and dry.

| Jan record high C = 29.1 | Feb record high C = 33.9 | Mar record high C = 41.7 | Apr record high C = 45.0 | May record high C = 47.8 | Jun record high C = 47.8 | Jul record high C = 46.7 | Aug record high C = 43.9 | Sep record high C = 40.6 | Oct record high C = 39.4 | Nov record high C = 35.6 | Dec record high C = 29.4 | year record high C = 47.8 | Jan record low C = -1.3 | Feb record low C = -0.6 | Mar record low C = 3.7 | Apr record low C = 9.4 | May record low C = 13.9 | Jun record low C = 17.8 | Jul record low C = 19.4 | Aug record low C = 20.0 | Sep record low C = 15.6 | Oct record low C = 8.3 | Nov record low C = 1.8 | Dec record low C = -0.6 | year record low C = -1.3 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240408025145/https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf | archive-date = 8 April 2024 | access-date = 7 July 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf | archive-date = 5 February 2020 | access-date = 1 March 2020}}

Demographics

India census, Ambala UA had a population of 207,934, consisting of 112,840 males and 95,094 females, a ratio of 843. There were 20,687 children ages 0–6, and Ambala had an average literacy rate of 89.31%, with 91.76% of males and 86.41% of females literate.

Economy

Cloth Market

The Cloth Market is considered to be the largest textile market in this region. The market is known for catering to wedding-related shopping. The most commonly bought items are sarees and silk clothing.

Transport

Ambala is connected to all of the other major cities of north India. It is a big interchange for various commuters for all neighbouring states.

National Highway NH 44, popularly known as GT road and earlier known as NH 1, passes through Ambala and connects it to the national capital (Delhi), Panipat, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. NH 152 connects Ambala to the state capital, Chandigarh, and Kaithal. Apart from the Interstate service, Ambala also houses one of the oldest local bus services in Haryana, which is run by both Haryana roadways and private companies. Other means of local transportation include auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

Roadways

Bus service is the major means of public transport in this district. The Ambala depot came into being on 1 August 1950. The office of the General Manager iss situated on the premises of the depot workshop at Ambala City. Ambala depot has a sub-depot at Naraingarh.

Presently, Haryana Roadways, Ambala has 200 buses, which carry about 34.88 Lac's passengers daily and cover a distance of about 19000 km daily. Out of these, the total distance covered on interstate routes is 24,711 km and 41.469 km are operated within Haryana every day.

New Bus Stand at Ambala Cantt was inaugurated on 12 July 1999, and the total land of bus stand is 6.7 acre. Bus stands in this district exist at Ambala City, Naraingarh, and Barara as well. A sub-depot level workshop has also been provided at Naraingarh. 'Yatri Niwas' exists on the campus of Ambala Cantt bus stand for the convenience of the commuters who wish to stay for the night.

Besides the Haryana Roadways buses, the government has issued permits to private operators on local routes. Presently, 60 buses are plying in Ambala district. The bus stand is very near to Ambala Cantt Jn. (railway station). Most of the buses plying on GT road (NH1) stop in front of the railway station.

Railways

Ambala is a divisional headquarters of the Northern Railway Zone and is an important railway junction. Ambala Cantt station is among the top 100 booking stations in India. The city is served by three railway stations:

• Ambala Cantt [UMB] (Junction on Delhi-Kalka line and Moradabad-Ambala line/Ambala-Attari line)
• Ambala City [UBC] (On Ambala-Attari line)
• Dhulkot [DKT] (on Delhi-Kalka line)

The Ambala Cantonment railway station was founded on the junction of the Delhi-Kalka and Ludhiana-Saharanpur lines. The historic Delhi-Panipat-Ambala-Kalka railway line dates back to 1889, while the Ludhiana-Saharanpur line was built in 1870. Situated 200 km north of Delhi, this town is well connected by the rail and road network.

Ambala Cantt railway station is the main station of the city and well-connected with the major cities of India. Kalka-Shimla Railway, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, also comes under Ambala division.

Ambala Cantonment railway station serves maximum Shatabdi Express after New Delhi. Ambala railway station was mentioned in the famous story 'The Woman on Platform 8' by Ruskin Bond, although in reality, there is no platform 8 in Ambala Cantt.

Education

Ambala has a large number of schools and colleges. Notable colleges are as follows:

• Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala
• D.A.V. College (Lahore), Ambala City
• E-Max School of Engineering and Applied Research
• Government Polytechnic College, Ambala
• Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana
• Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur
• Philadelphia Hospital & School of Nursing, Ambala
• Sanatan Dharma College (S.D. College)
• Shri Atmanand Jain Institute of Management and Technology

Notable people

• Zohrabai Ambalewali
• Hansraj Behl
• Urvashi Butalia
• Simi Chahal
• Juhi Chawla
• Parineeti Chopra
• Swadesh Deepak
• Navneet Kaur Dhillon
• Sanjeev Kapoor
• Manpreet Kaur
• Nasir Kazmi
• Sucheta Kripalani
• Shalabh Kumar
• Selja Kumari
• Talib Dehlavi
• Kim Philby
• Ash K. Prakash
• Om Puri
• Saghar Siddiqui
• Sanjiv Sam Gambhir
• Sushma Swaraj
• Zeba

Notes

References

References

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