Overview
Hisar is a city in the state of Haryana in northern India. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Hisar district and the Hisar division. Located in the western part of Haryana on the Ghaggar plain, the city is an important commercial, educational, and industrial centre, and is widely known for its steel industry and galvanised pipe manufacturing, earning it the popular epithet "Steel City of India".
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Haryana |
| District | Hisar |
| Division | Hisar division |
| Founded | 1354 CE, by Firuz Shah Tughlaq |
| Original name | Hisar-e-Firoza |
| Languages | Hindi, Haryanvi, Punjabi |
| Region | Northern India |
Etymology and foundation
The name Hisar is derived from the Arabic/Persian word meaning "fort". The city was founded in 1354 CE by the Delhi Sultanate ruler Firuz Shah Tughlaq, who built a fortified town and named it Hisar-e-Firoza, meaning "Fort of Firuz". The name was later shortened to Hisar.
Geography
Hisar lies in the semi-arid plains of western Haryana. The terrain is largely flat and agricultural, forming part of the Indo-Gangetic plain bordering the Thar Desert. The city experiences a hot, dry climate with very high summer temperatures and cool winters, and is connected by canal-fed irrigation through the Bhakra system.
History
The region around Hisar has a long history of habitation, with archaeological sites such as Rakhigarhi—one of the largest known sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation—located in the district. After its foundation in the fourteenth century by Firuz Shah Tughlaq, Hisar became a strategic outpost of the Delhi Sultanate. The fort, the Lat Ki Masjid (which incorporates an Ashokan pillar), and Gujari Mahal date from this period.
The town later passed under Mughal rule, and during the early nineteenth century came under British control as part of the Punjab Province. After Indian independence in 1947, Hisar was part of the erstwhile state of Punjab; with the reorganisation of states and the creation of Haryana on 1 November 1966, Hisar became part of the new state.
Administration
Hisar functions as the headquarters of the Hisar district and is the seat of the Commissioner of Hisar division, which also includes neighbouring districts. Civic administration within the city is carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Hisar. The city is part of the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency.
Economy
Hisar is one of the principal industrial centres of Haryana. The city is well known for its production of galvanised iron pipes, sheets, and wires, and hosts large steel and metal-related units, including operations of Jindal Stainless and Jindal Saw. Cotton ginning, textile processing, and agro-based industries are also significant. Agriculture in the surrounding region is dominated by wheat, cotton, mustard, and dairy farming, and Hisar serves as a major mandi (market town) for these commodities.
Education and research
Hisar is an important educational hub in Haryana. Major institutions include:
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), established in 1970, one of Asia's largest agricultural universities.
- Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), established in 1995.
- Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), established in 2010.
- National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), an ICAR institute.
- Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB), an ICAR institute.
Transport
Hisar is connected by National Highway 9 (formerly NH 10) linking Delhi with Fazilka, and by other state highways to Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Bathinda. The Hisar Junction railway station lies on the Delhi–Bathinda and Rewari–Bathinda lines of the Northern Railway. Maharaja Agrasen Airport, located on the outskirts of the city, has been redeveloped to operate scheduled regional flights and is being expanded as an integrated aviation hub by the Government of Haryana.