潘奇库拉 二级行政中心

Panchkula (ISO: Pañckulā) is a city and district headquarter in the Panchkula district in Haryana, India. It is a satellite city of the state capital Chandigarh. Panchkula is a border city with Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh. The origin of the name Panchkula came from "the place where five irrigation canals meet". It is approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of Chandigarh, 105 km (65 mi) southwest of Shimla, 44 km (27 mi) from Ambala and 259 km (161 mi) northeast of New Delhi, the national capital. It is a part of the Chandigarh capital region or Greater Chandigarh. The Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula metropolitan region collectively forms a Chandigarh Tricity, with a combined population of over 2 million.

The city hosts the Chandimandir Cantonment, the headquarters of the Western Command of the Indian Army. It is a planned city like Chandigarh, with a sector system.

Etymology

The word is derived from the local words panch (Haryanvi: पंच, lit. 'five') and kula (Haryanvi: कुला, lit. 'canals') meaning "the city of 5 canals", possibly referring to five irrigation canals that distribute water from the Ghaggar River and these kuls pass through the Chandimandir Cantonment area to Mata Mansa Devi Mandir area. Kuls or canals were made along the contours of the hillocks in a way that they collect the water upstream and convey it downstream at the contour height higher than the actual level of the Ghaggar river at the same spot. One of the canals is called the Singh Nalla which was being beautified in 2021 by building a walking track and by planting plants and flowers.

History

The city is named after Panchkula village, which is situated on the Ambala Kalka highway, near the junction with the Chandigarh road. The city was planned and developed by the state of Haryana in the 1970s. Panchkula was supposed to be the capital.

Ramgarh Fort

The fort was built by the rulers of Kahlur State, the headquarters of which was Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. The King of Bilaspur built the Ramgarh Fort 360 years ago. In 1687, its rulers offered Guru Gobind Singh a horse, a sword, and Rs 500,000 when he was relocating his troops from Paonta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib after the Battle of Bhangani. In the 1750s, it eventually fell to the status of a fief under the Sirmur State, but became independent again in 1804. It is currently occupied by the progeny of Kalee Chand, younger son of King of Bilaspur Sangar Chand (r. 1197–1220), and runs as a heritage hotel.

Mata Mansa Devi Temple

Mata Mansa Devi Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti, in the Panchkula district of Haryana state in India.

Geography and climate

Panchkula district has a sub-tropical continental monsoon climate with hot summers, cool winters, and monsoon rainfall. It has great variation in temperature (−1 to 43 °C [30 to 109 °F]). Sometimes winter frost occurs during December and January. The district also receives winter rains from the western disturbance. The rainfall is mostly received in the monsoon. Morni hills constitute the highest point of the district as well as of Haryana. The Ghaggar is the only perennial river, which is very shallow outside of the monsoons. The mountains and hills of Kasauli are clearly visible from Panchkula.

Generally, the slope of the district is from northeast to southwest, and in this direction, most of the rivers/streams rain-fed torrents flow down and spread much gravel and pebbles in their beds. Only the Sirsa River, in Kalka Tehsil flows towards the northwest. The soils in the district are mainly light loam.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, the people of the city are overwhelmingly Hindu, with Sikh and Muslim micro minorities.

In 2011, Panchkula had 48,772 households in the city, with a population of 211,355, of which male and female were 111,731 and 99,624 respectively.

Government and politics

The city is a part of the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency represented by INC's Varun Chaudhary, and the Panchkula State Assembly constituency, represented by INC's Chander Mohan since 2024.

City administration

Panchkula municipality is governed under the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973. According to the 2011 Census, Panchkula is governed by a municipal council, but it has since upgraded to the status of a municipal corporation. The population of the municipality, as per Census 2011, is 210,175.

Since 2017, Rajesh Jogpal (HCS) headed the corporation as its municipal commissioner. In December 2019, he was transferred and replaced by IAS Sumedha Kataria. The first woman Mayor of Panchkula was Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia, who served the term from 2013 to 2018. In 2018, the state decided to hold direct elections for the post, and as of now, the mayor of Panchkula is Kulbhushan Goyal of BJP.

Economy

Employment

Panchkula IT Park (also known as Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructural Development Corporation Technology Park) is the state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate information technology in the city. It spreads over 74 acres developed by HSIIDC situated in sector 22 on the foothills of Shivalik Hills or outer Himalayas and on the banks of the Ghaggar River. It is well connected to Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

Tourism

There are various tourist attractions in and around Panchkula, including:

Mata Mansa Devi Mandir is one of the most prominent temples in North India and is dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti.

Bhima Devi Temple Site Museum, nicknamed Khajuraho of North India for its erotic sculptures, comprises the restored ruins of an ancient Hindu temple dating from between the 8th and 11th century AD.

Nada Sahib is a Sikh Gurudwara in the Panchkula district of the Indian state of Haryana. Situated on the banks of the Ghaggar-Hakra River in the Sivalik Hills.

Sports

Panchkula has its own Sports Complex in Sector 3 includes Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium, Panchkula Golf Course, Olympic Athletic Track, and other multi-purpose facilities for sports.

Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium has a cricket stadium, badminton hall, football ground, athletic Track, and accommodation facilities for the sportsperson. It also boasts of a state-of-the-art modern international standard Astroturf laid Hockey Stadium with lights for eager hockey enthusiasts.

Panchkula Golf Course was set up in 2003 over 135 acres of land. This 18-hole golf course is located in sector 3 in the foothills of Shivalik Hills on the banks of the Ghaggar River, just off the Himalayan Expressway.

Education

Colleges

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Sector 23

Government College, Panchkula Sector 1

Government College for Girls, Panchkula Sector 14

Govt. Polytechnic Panchkula

Mother Teresa Saket College of Physiotherapy, Chandimandir Cantonment

State Institute of Engineering & Technology, Panchkula.

BSEH affiliated school

Shri Jainendra Gurukul Sr Sec School, Panchkula, Sector 1, (Established 1929)

CBSE affiliated school

The Bharat School, Panchkula, Sector 8

Amravati Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School, Amravati Enclave

Army Public School, Chandimandir Cantonment

Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15

Blue Bird, Panchkula, Sector 16

CL DAV, Sector 11

DAV Public School, Panchkula, Sector 8

DC Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7

Doon Public School, Sector 21

Hallmark Public School, Sector 15

Hansraj Public School, Sector 6

Haryana Model School, Sector 10

Holy Child School, Morni Rd

Jainendra Public School, Sector 1

Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 (KV1), Chandimandir Cantonment

Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 (KV2), Chandimandir Cantonment

Litera Heritage School, Sector-14, Ext.-2, Panchkula

Healthcare

Government run hospitals

Command Hospital, Chandimandir Cantonment

General Hospital, Panchkula Sector 6

Government Pet Animal Medical Center Cum Teaching Hospital, Sector 3

Saket Orthopedic Hospital, Sector 1

Private hospitals

Alchemist Hospital, Sector 21

Alchemist Eye Institute, Sector 21

Ameerpet Dental Hospital, Sector 16

Blessings Hospital, Sector 15

Cloudnine Hospital, Sector 5, Panchkula

Chakravarty Nursing Home, Sector 10

Charitable Diagnostic Centre, Sector 4

Clove Dental, Sector 20

Dhawan Hospital, Sector 7

Drishti Eye Hospital, Sector 10

Gokul Surgical Hospital, Sector 15

Gulmohar IVF & Fertility centre, Sector 7

Happy Family Hospital, Sector 5 MDC

Institute of Reproduction & Child Cares, Sector 17

Ivy Hospital, Sector 5C MDC

Jindal Nursing Home, Sector 17

Kare Partners Mother And Child Hospital, Sector 2

Malhotra Super Specialty Hospital, Sector 25

Mind Peace Clinic Sector 14

Mirchia Hospital Sector 15

Noheria Nursing Home, Sector 8

Ojas Hospital, Sector 26

Orthomax Hospital, Sector 15

Paras Hospital, HSIIDC Park, Sector 22

Paras Bliss Hospital Sector 5 MDC

Notable people

Meenakshi Chaudhary - Indian actress, model and beauty pageant winner

Dolly Guleria - Punjabi folk and Sufi singer, daughter of Nightingale of Punjab Padma Shri awardee Surinder Kaur

Ved Prakash Malik - four star general who commanded the Indian Army during the Kargil War

B.S. Sandhu - former director general of police, Haryana