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Abohar

DAV College Abohar
DAV College Abohar Image: Wikimedia Commons. YG / CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Abohar is a city and municipal corporation in the Fazilka district of the Indian state of Punjab. Located in the south-western corner of Punjab, near the border with Rajasthan, it is one of the largest cities in the Malwa region and an important agricultural and trading centre. The surrounding countryside is known for the cultivation of cotton, wheat and the famous Abohar kinnow, a citrus fruit that has come to be closely associated with the town.

Key facts

Country India
State Punjab
District Fazilka
Region Malwa
Civic body Municipal Corporation, Abohar
Languages Punjabi, Hindi
Known for Kinnow cultivation, cotton trade

Geography

Abohar lies on the southern edge of Punjab, with the Rajasthan border close to the south and west. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain, part of the broader Indus–Sutlej basin. The climate is semi-arid, with hot summers, cool winters and limited rainfall, which has made canal irrigation from the Sutlej system central to the area's agriculture. Sand dunes typical of the adjoining Thar fringe are visible in parts of the rural belt around the city.

Civic administration

The city is administered by the Municipal Corporation of Abohar. Abohar also serves as the headquarters of the Abohar tehsil and is a sub-divisional town within Fazilka district, which was carved out of Ferozepur district in 2011. The Abohar Vidhan Sabha constituency sends a representative to the Punjab Legislative Assembly, and the area falls within the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy

Agriculture and agro-based trade dominate the local economy. Abohar is one of the principal kinnow-producing belts in India, and large quantities of the fruit are graded, packed and dispatched from the town to markets across the country. Cotton, wheat and guar are the other major crops, and the city has a substantial cotton ginning and trading industry. Dairying, pulses and oilseeds also contribute, and Abohar's grain market (mandi) is among the busier ones in the region.

Transport

Abohar is connected by road to Bathinda, Sri Ganganagar, Fazilka and Malout, and lies on national and state highway corridors that link Punjab with northern Rajasthan. Abohar railway station, on the Northern Railway network, provides services towards Bathinda, Sri Ganganagar, Delhi and other destinations. The nearest major airports are at Bathinda and Chandigarh.

Demographics and culture

The population of Abohar is largely Punjabi-speaking, with significant Hindi usage and a sizeable community with roots in neighbouring Rajasthan, reflecting the city's border location and trading character. The cultural life shares features with both the Malwa Punjabi belt and the adjoining Bagri-speaking tracts. Hindu and Sikh communities form the majority, and local festivals follow the wider Punjabi calendar including Lohri, Baisakhi, Diwali and Gurpurabs.

Notable features

  • Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, a community-managed sanctuary in the surrounding villages, notable for its population of blackbuck protected by the Bishnoi community.
  • The kinnow-growing belt of Abohar, often cited as among the largest contiguous citrus-producing regions in India.
  • Active grain and cotton mandis that draw produce from across south-western Punjab and adjoining Rajasthan.

References