Bathinda district is an administrative district in the southern part of the Indian state of Punjab. The district takes its name from its headquarters, the city of Bathinda, which is one of the oldest cities in the region and a major commercial and industrial centre in the Malwa belt of Punjab.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Punjab |
| Region | Malwa |
| Headquarters | Bathinda |
| Division | Bathinda division |
| Type | District |
Geography
Bathinda district lies in the south-western part of Punjab, in a semi-arid tract of the Malwa region. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain, historically dependent on canal irrigation drawn from the Sirhind Canal system and, more recently, from networks fed by the Bhakra system. The district shares boundaries with Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga, Barnala, Mansa and Sangrur districts of Punjab, and lies close to the Punjab–Haryana–Rajasthan tri-junction area.
Administration
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is part of the Bathinda administrative division. It is subdivided into several tehsils and sub-tehsils, including Bathinda, Rampura Phul, Talwandi Sabo and Maur, along with community development blocks for rural administration. For policing, it falls under a senior superintendent of police based at Bathinda.
History
The city of Bathinda has a long history associated with the historic Qila Mubarak, a fortress in the heart of the city traditionally linked with rulers of the early medieval period. The district area later formed part of the princely state of Patiala under the Phulkian sardars before integration into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) in 1948, and subsequently into the reorganised state of Punjab in 1956. After the linguistic reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, Bathinda continued as a district of the new Punjab state. Talwandi Sabo, located in the district, is significant in Sikh history as the seat of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, one of the five takhts of Sikhism, where Guru Gobind Singh prepared the final recension of the Guru Granth Sahib.
Economy
The district's economy combines agriculture with industry. Wheat, paddy and cotton are the principal crops, supported by canal irrigation. Bathinda is one of the largest grain markets in Punjab and is sometimes referred to as the cotton belt of the state. Major industrial establishments in the district include:
- The Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, a coal-based thermal power station.
- The Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Phulokhari, operated by HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL).
- A National Fertilizers Limited plant at Bathinda.
- Cotton ginning and spinning mills, and an active grain trade.
Transport
Bathinda is a major railway junction on the North Western network of Indian Railways, with lines radiating in multiple directions, and has been historically described as one of the largest junctions in the region by number of routes converging. The city is connected by national and state highways to Delhi, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Sri Ganganagar and Hisar. Bathinda Airport at Virk Kalan provides limited civil air services.
Defence and institutions
Bathinda hosts a significant military presence, including a major cantonment, and is the location of an Indian Air Force station. Educational and research institutions in the district include:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University
- Central University of Punjab (located at Ghudda in the district)
- Adesh University at Talwandi Sabo