Overview
Palwal district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Haryana. It lies in the southern part of the state, in the National Capital Region (NCR), and forms part of the Faridabad division. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Palwal, a historic settlement on the Delhi–Mathura corridor.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Haryana |
| Division | Faridabad |
| Headquarters | Palwal |
| Region | National Capital Region (NCR) |
| Type | District of Haryana |
Formation
Palwal was carved out as a separate district on 15 August 2008, becoming the 21st district of Haryana. It was previously part of Faridabad district. The bifurcation was intended to bring administration closer to a largely rural and agrarian population in the southern fringe of the NCR.
Geography
The district is situated on the alluvial plain south of Delhi. It is bordered by Faridabad district to the north, Gurugram and Nuh districts to the west, the state of Uttar Pradesh (across the Yamuna) to the east, and the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh to the south. The terrain is largely flat and cultivable, drained by the Yamuna and a network of canals from the Agra Canal system.
Administration
The district is divided into sub-divisions and tehsils centred on the principal towns of Palwal, Hodal, and Hathin. Major urban centres include:
- Palwal – district headquarters and main commercial town.
- Hodal – market town on National Highway 19 (the old Grand Trunk corridor to Mathura/Agra).
- Hathin – tehsil town in the western part of the district.
Local self-government in rural areas is organised through the Palwal Zila Parishad, panchayat samitis, and gram panchayats, while urban areas are administered by municipal councils and committees.
Connectivity
Palwal lies on National Highway 19 (formerly NH-2), part of the Delhi–Mathura–Agra axis, and is served by the Delhi–Mathura section of the North Central Railway, with Palwal Junction being a major suburban terminus. It is one of the southern terminals of the Delhi suburban rail network. The Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway, also known as the Western Peripheral Expressway, terminates near Palwal, linking it to Manesar and Kundli around Delhi. The under-construction Delhi–Mumbai Expressway also passes through the district.
Economy
The economy is predominantly agrarian. Principal crops include wheat, mustard, paddy, bajra, and sugarcane, supported by canal and tubewell irrigation. Dairy farming and livestock rearing are widespread. Industrial activity is concentrated around Palwal town and along the NH-19 corridor, with units in engineering goods, food processing, textiles, and footwear. Proximity to Delhi and Faridabad has encouraged growth of warehousing, logistics, and small-scale manufacturing.
History and significance
The town of Palwal is associated in tradition with the Mahabharata-era settlement of Apelava, linked to the demon Palambasura. In the modern era, Palwal is remembered as the place where Mahatma Gandhi was arrested by the British authorities in April 1919 while travelling to Punjab during the Rowlatt Satyagraha; this was his first arrest in India. A memorial in Palwal commemorates the event.
Historically the area formed part of successive North Indian polities, including the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, and later came under Maratha and then British control as part of the Punjab province. After the reorganisation of states it became part of Haryana in 1966, within the Faridabad/Gurgaon belt, before its elevation to a separate district in 2008.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census of India, Palwal district had a predominantly rural population, with Hindi as the principal language and Haryanvi widely spoken. The district has a significant Meo Muslim population, particularly in the Hathin tehsil, which forms part of the broader Mewat cultural region together with neighbouring Nuh district.
Education and institutions
The district hosts several state government schools, polytechnic institutes, and colleges affiliated to universities in Haryana. The K. R. Mangalam University and other private institutions operate campuses in the wider Palwal–Sohna belt, and the district is within commuting range of higher education centres in Faridabad and Delhi.
Related topics
- Haryana
- Faridabad division
- Faridabad district
- Nuh district
- National Capital Region (India)
- Kundli–Manesar–Palwal Expressway
- Mewat
- Palwal
References
- Wikidata entity: Q2724926
- Government of Haryana, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management – district notifications.
- Census of India, 2011 – District Census Handbook, Palwal.