Zirakpur is a town and municipal council in the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) district of the Indian state of Punjab. Located on the south-eastern edge of the Chandigarh metropolitan region, it has emerged in recent decades as one of the fastest-growing satellite settlements adjoining the union territory of Chandigarh, lying at the junction of major highways connecting Chandigarh with Delhi, Patiala, Ambala and Shimla.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Punjab |
| District | Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) |
| Type | Town / Municipal Council |
| Region | Chandigarh Tricity / Greater Mohali |
| Languages | Punjabi, Hindi |
Zirakpur lies in the south-eastern part of Punjab, abutting the boundaries of Chandigarh and the Panchkula district of Haryana. It forms part of the conurbation popularly referred to as the Tricity, which comprises Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula along with their adjoining suburban towns. The terrain is part of the Punjab plain, sloping gently from the Shivalik foothills to the north-east towards the alluvial flatlands to the south-west.
The town occupies a strategic transport node:
This convergence of highways has historically given Zirakpur the character of a roadside settlement, later expanded into a substantial residential and commercial hub.
Zirakpur is administered by a Municipal Council under the Government of Punjab. The council is responsible for local services such as roads, sanitation, water supply, street lighting and building regulation. The town falls within the Mohali Lok Sabha constituency framework and is part of the broader Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) planning region for matters of urban planning and infrastructure.
The municipal area includes a number of villages and neighbourhoods that have been absorbed into the urban fabric, including:
Zirakpur's economy is dominated by real estate, retail, hospitality and small-scale services. Proximity to Chandigarh, comparatively lower land prices, and connectivity along multiple highways have driven extensive residential development, including high-rise apartment complexes, gated townships and mixed-use commercial projects. The highway frontage hosts numerous showrooms, hotels, banquet halls, restaurants and shopping malls catering to traffic between Chandigarh and the surrounding region.
The town is associated with Gurdwara Nabha Sahib, a historic Sikh shrine located in the village of Nabha Sahib within the municipal limits. The gurdwara commemorates a visit by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, and draws pilgrims from across the region.
Zirakpur is significant as a representative example of peri-urban growth around Chandigarh. From a roadside village it has transformed into a densely populated suburb that absorbs much of the housing demand spilling over from Chandigarh and Mohali, while also serving as a gateway town for travellers entering Punjab from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.