About Ludhiana

About Ludhiana

Ludhiana is the largest city in the state.Ludhiana district is one of the 20 districts in the state of Punjab in Northwest India. Ludhiana city, which is district headquarters, is the hub of industry in Punjab. Ludhiana is one of the most centrally located cities of Punjab, which falls in the Malwa region of the State of Punjab. It is sited on the Grand Trunk Road from Delhi to Amritsar.Ludhiana is known as the “Manchester of Punjab” because it is the industrial hub of Punjab. Ludhiana is a well known NRI district of Punjab with a large population living abroad in Canada, U.K and U.S.

It is an important pilgrimage center as there are many historic Gurudwaras. In Cultural & Educational fields, too, Ludhiana holds an outstanding place. Punjab Agricultural University, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College & Christian Medical College, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital are some of the premier educational & research institutes. Really, Ludhiana offers a mesmerizing quick look into the world of machines tempered with a thriving human touch.

HIstory of Ludhiana

Ludhiana or Lodiana, is called after the Lodis, which dynasty ruled at Delhi from A.D. 1451 to1526. The Two Lodi Chief, Yusaf khan and Nihang Khan, deputed by Sikandar Lodi (A.D.1489-1517) to restore order in the region, fixed head-quarters on the present location of Ludhiana city, which was at the time on more than a village called Mir Hota. Legend has it that Yusaf crossed the Satluj to check the Khokhars, who were then plundering the Jalandhar Doab, and settled at Sultanpur; Nihang Khan remained at Mir Hota as the Emperor’s lieutenant and called the place Ludhiana. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Ludhiana became an important British cantonment. Initially, in 1805, Maharaja Ranjit Singh had occupied Ludhiana. However, in 1809, the British decided to curb his advance eastwards and sent troops to confront him. Ranjit Singh was forced to sign the treaty of ‘perpetual friendship’ with the British, which confined his activities to the right bank of the Sutlej. British troops were permanently stationed in Ludhiana and the Cis-Sutlej states came under British protection.

Many leaders of the Indian freedom movement came from Ludhiana. Prominent among them were Lala Lajpat Rai, Sardar Kartar Singh Saraba, Baba Santa Singh and Maulana Habibur Rehman. Ludhiana has contributed five chief ministers, namely Bhim Sen Snahan, Justice Gurnam Singh, Gian Singh Rarewala, Lachaman Singh Gill and Beant Singh.