The Sports city of India

Jalandhar is known for its sportmen as well as its sports industry, its steel and iron re-rolling mills, rubber goods, electric goods, automobile parts, and sewing machines factories and handloom products.

If there exists an ancient city with a modern face, then Jalandhar fits the description. A town of great antiquity, Jalandhar today is a highly industrialized center of commercial activity. It also claims the privilege of being the sports city of India as not only has it produced some of our finest sports people but also world class sports equipment which is produced here. In fact, 12 of India's greatest hockey players have come from a single village, Sansarpur, in Jalandhar district.

Historical evidence suggests that in 185 B.C., Jalandhar defined the northwestern boundry of Pushyamitra Sunga's kingdom. Jalandhar also finds mention in accounts of King Harsha's reign which began in 606 A.D. Udita, the King of Jalandhar, appears to have been his vassal. During the 9th century, Jalandhar was a small but independent kingdom known as Trigarta.

Jalandhar continued to flourish under the Mughals and played a prominent role in the freedom struggle as many patriots were born here.

Jalandhar boasts of many historic monuments. Prominent among them are the mausoleum of Iman Nasir, the fort at Phillaur which once served as Maharaja Ranjit Singh's line of defence against the British, a Shiv Mandir which dates back to the Lodhi era and the Gurudwara at Kartarpur. The Gurudwara at Kartarpur (16 km from Jalandhar town) was built by the Fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Devji in 1656 A.D. Every year, a fair is held on the birth anniversary of the Guru when a large number of devotees gather to pay homage.

Another popular annual event is the Har ballabh Sangeet Sammelan held in the last week of December at the Devi Talab. Baba Harballabh, born in a Brahmin family at Bajwara, Hoshiarpur, shifted to Jalandhar and became Swami Tulja Girl's discip;e. In 1875, he began the Sangeet Mela in the memory of his Guru and the tradition continues strong even today. Prominent exponents of classical music, both vocal and instrumental gather to provide a feast of music.

Shiv Mandir : Situated Gur Mandi, Shiv Mandir is reputed to have been built by a Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi near Masjid Imam Nasar.

Harballabh Fair : The most notable event in Jalandhar is the annual national Harballabh Fair which is held every year from 26th to 29th of December. Harballabh is THE oldest festival of Indian Classical Music in the world. Prominent exponents of classical music, both vocal and instrumental, from all over the country gather to provide a rare feast of music for the connoisseur. The Sangeet Sammelan is held in the premises of Devi Talab one and a half kms. from the Railway Station. Even Mahatma Gandhi was attracted to the festival in 1929.

Jalandhar has been in the thick of the fight for freedom from the British Raj and has produced many patriots. A Desh-Bhagat Memorial Hall has been constructed here to perpetuate the memory of such martyrs.

Catholic Cathedral (Jalandhar Cantt.) : The rare cathedral initiated by representatives of His Holiness, the Pope is the only one of its kind in the East. Its cosmo-cultural design is a tribute to the Punjabi tradition.

Nurmahal : Nurmahal is a small town 13 kms. from nakodar. A Mughal Serai got constructed by Nurjehan, the famous queen of Jehangir and known as Serai Nurmahal, here, is worthseeing.

Khatkar Kalan : The 50th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam S. Bhagat Singh was observed by setting up a commemorative 'memorial Museum' on March 23, 1981. This museum is situated at Khatkar kalan, on Nawanshehar-Banga road in Jalandhar district which is 100 kms. from Chandigarh, 30 kms. from Phagwara and 55 kms. from Jalandhar.

Kartarpur : About 16 kms. from Jalandhar towards Amritsar, Kartarpur, is known for its grand furniture industry. It was founded by the 5th Guru Arjun Dev Ji in 1656 A.D. The Gurudwara here is worth-seeing where every year on the birth anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji a great fair is held.

Kartarpur is also known as the birth place of Swami Virjanand who was the teacher of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the illustrious founder of the Arya Samaj. A memorial (Guru Virjanand Smarak) has been constructed here in his memory.

Nakodar : Nakodar is known for 2 beautiful 17th century Tombs. One of these protected monuments, known as the tomb of 'Ustad', the teacher, is the Mohd. Momin Hussain, a musician in the service of Khan-e-Khana during, his pupil, the Shagird.