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Ambala (Hindi: अम्बाला, Punjabi: ਅੰਬਾਲਾ)
is a city and a municipal council in Ambala district in the
state of Haryana, India. The city is located on the border
of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically;
Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt (cantonment) and
Ambala City, a approximately 6-7 kilometers apart from each
other. It has a large Indian Army and Indian Air Force
presence within the confines of its cantonment area. Due to
its geographical location, the Ambala district plays an
important role in local tourism. Tourists to Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir have to
cross through Ambala whether by road or rail. Ambala is a
city and a municipal council in Ambala district in the state
of Haryana, India. The city is located on the border of the
states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically; Ambala
has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt (cantonment) and Ambala
City, a approximately 6-7 kilometers apart from each other.
It has a large Indian Army and Indian Air Force presence
within the confines of its cantonment area. Due to its
geographical location, the Ambala district plays an
important role in local tourism. Tourists to Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir have to
cross through Ambala whether by road or rail. is a city and
a municipal council in Ambala district in the state of
Haryana, India. The city is located on the border of the
states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically; Ambala
has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt (cantonment) and Ambala
City, a approximately 6-7 kilometers apart from each other.
It has a large Indian Army and Indian Air Force presence
within the confines of its cantonment area. Due to its
geographical location, the Ambala district plays an
important role in local tourism. Tourists to Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir have to
cross through Ambala whether by road or rail.
History
As per ancient Indian history,
Aryan people had resided at
Ambala at some point in time.
There was a very popular place
called Sarudhna near Ambala,
which was the Aryan country's
capital at that time. Ambala was
given the status of a district
in the year 1847.
The Ambala Cantonment was
established in the year 1843
after the British abandoned its
cantonment at Karnal, following
the malaria epidemic of 1841-42.
The cantonment houses the ‘2
Corps’ one of the three Strike
Corps of the Indian Army and is
of immense strategic importance.
Ambala was constituted as a
district in the year 1847, and
was formed by merging the jagir
estates of hitherto independent
chieftains whose territories had
lapsed or had been confiscated
by the British Indian
Government. In its 160 years of
existence as a district, Ambala
has witnessed many changes in
its boundaries. In its heyday
the district boundaries extended
across tehsils of Ambala,
Naraingarh, Jagadhri, Pipli,
Kharar, Mohali, Ropar and
Nalagarh. Kalka-cum-Kurari
State, Pinjore, Manimajra,
Kasauli & Sanawar were also
merged into the district at
different points of time.
Ambala Air Force Base is one of
the oldest and largest airbases
that were inherited from the
British by the IAF. It was from
this airbase that Spitfires and
Harvards flown by Instructors of
the Advanced Flying Training
School took part in the 1947-48
Kashmir Operations.
Subsequently, Ambala was the
front line airfield for many
years. It was home to various
aircraft that were inducted into
the Indian Air Force. Vampires,
Ouragans, Hunters, etc. all flew
from this base. The airbase was
briefly attacked in 1965 by
Pakistan Air Force's B-57
bombers. Today, the Airbase
houses the ‘7 Wing’ with
squadrons of Jaguars and MiG-21
Bisons. Ambala airfield has a
war memorial called 'Frozen
Tear' dedicated to all aircrew
who lost their lives in times of
war and peace flying missions
from the airfield.
Origins of the name
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There are quite a few interesting
beliefs about the origin of Ambala:
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Some historians believe Ambala owes
its name to King Singh; the founder of Ambala who was an
Amb Rajput
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Some believe that it was named after
the goddess "Amba" whose temple is located in the city
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Ambala was originally called "Ambwala",
Amb meaning mango in the native language (so, city of
Mangoes) some believe that it was named after the death
of great rajput kumber singh amb wale so the name has
given ambala for giving the honour to great rajput
Some people believe that Ambala got its name from
Ambalika, mother of Pandu(father of Pandvas of the
Mahabharat),with ancient times names of villages n town
were kept on Kings n Queens.
Ambala at a glance
Today's Ambala District with an area of 1568.85 km² is a
pale shadow of its original immense size.
The Ambala District now comprises two subdivisions (Ambala &
Naraingarh) and three tehsils (Ambala, Barara & Naraingarh).
It has a population of 16 Lakhs, which is about 5% of the
total population of Haryana. It is bound by Mohali and
Patiala districts of Punjab, Sirmaur District of Himachal
and Yamunanagar & Kurukshetra districts of Haryana. Ambala
district is represented by 5 Assembly Constituencies and 1
Lok Sabha Constituency.
Transport
The district is very strategically located and serves as
a gateway to Haryana for States of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh,
J&K, and U.T. Chandigarh. 5 National Highways (NH 1, 22, 65,
72 and 73) pass through Ambala. NH1 (Delhi-Amritsar-Attari/
Pakistan Border) is the most important highway to Delhi for
the areas north of Haryana. NH22 starts from Ambala and
links NH1 to Shimla and beyond right up to China border at
Shipkila. NH65 also starts at Ambala and links NH1 to Hissar
and onwards to Jodhpur & Pali in Rajasthan.
Ambala is a divisional headquarters of the Northern Railway
Zone and is an important railway junction. The Ambala
Cantonment railway station was founded on the junction of
the Delhi-Kalka and Ludhiana-Saharanpur lines. The historic
Delhi-Ambala-Kalka railway line dates back to 1889 while the
Ludhiana-Saharanpur line was built in 1870. Situated 200 km
north of Delhi, this town is extremely well connected by the
rail and road network. Ambala is a major railway junction.It
has 12 railway platforms and a daily passage of about 250
trains.It also best rest stay for north India's tourist. G.T.
Road (NH-1, National Highway 1) passes through Ambala Cantt
and Ambala City.
Geography
Ambala is located at 30.38°N 76.78°E. It has an average
elevation of 264 metres (866 feet).
Market
The wholesale textile market
of Ambala City is famous all
over India and it is the biggest
wholesale market in Asia. The
new textile market is situated
near Aggarsain Chowk. The Galaxy
mall was recently inaugurated in
Sector 7, Ambala City. It
includes Fun Cinema, Reebok,
Madame, Archies, Hues, Mc
Donalds. Due to its strategic
position Ambala has always been
travellers favourites stop over
place to eat. The most famous
places to have the best
delicacies are Puran Singh Ka
Dhaba, Amar Palace, Choupal, The
USA Gardens, Maharaja, RGs, Jain
Soda Water and Standard
Restaurant.
Places of interest
There are many shrines in
and around Ambala City, Kaali
Maata Mandir, popularly known as
"kaali baadi "at Labbu wala
talab on ghel road, Shiv Mandir
near old civil hospital,
including Bhawani Amba Temple
(named after the goddess) and
Jainism temple 110 years old
located in middle of old ambala
city. Ambala sweet market
formerly known as Halwai Bazar
is also very famous.It has
individual lane for all
dishes(Parantha gali, gol gappa
gali,kulche wale)
Ambala is home to many Gurdwaras
(Sikh temples), some of which
have historical importance. The
Badshahi Bag Gurudwara, Sis Ganj
Gurudwara, Manji Sahib Gurudwara,
Labhuwala Talaah, Sat Sangat
Sahib Gurdwara, Panjokra Sahib
Gurudwara in Panjokhra village
(7 km. far from ambala city) are
the historical gurudwaras here.
In Ambala Cantt, one can visit
Patel Park, in Army area.
These are associated with Guru
Gobind Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur
and Guru Hargobind respectively.
ICHHA POORAK DHAM is a Gurudwara
dedicated to Shaheed BABA DEEP
SINGH JI is situated at village
Devinagar, 2 kilometers away
from Ambala City.
There are also the popular
Muslim shrines of Lakhi Shah and
Taqwal Shah, Saint Paul's Church
and a British, Christian
cemetery.
Chandigarh is a 45 km (30
minutes drive) from Ambala.
Kalka is situated on the
national highway (number 22)
Ambala-Shimla.
Panchkula is a newly built city
on the Ambala-Kalka national
highway and Ambala-Kalka railway
line near Chandigarh.
Pinjore comes under the
Panchkula district and is known
for its exquisite gardens.
Kurukshetra (the battle of
Mahabharata was fought here) is
also just 45 minutes drive from
Ambala Cantt.
Ambala is also known as Sikh
jatt place & in the villages
they have taste of Punjab virsa
as well as Haryana's culture
Karnal is situated on the
national highway (NH-1) which is
80KM from Ambala.
District administration
The Deputy Commissioner, an
officer belonging to the Indian
Administrative Service, is the
overall in-charge of the General
Administration in the district.
He is assisted by a number of
officers belonging to Haryana
Civil Service and other Haryana
state services.
The Superintendent of Police, an
officer belonging to the Indian
Police Service, is responsible
for maintaining Law & Order and
related issues in the district.
He is assisted by the officers
of the Haryana Police Service
and other Haryana Police
officials.
The Deputy Conservator of
Forests, an officer belonging to
the Indian Forest Service, is
responsible for the management
of the Forests, Environment and
Wild-Life in the district. He is
assisted by the officers of the
Haryana Forest Service and other
Haryana Forest officials and
Haryana Wild-Life officials.
Sectoral development is looked
after by the district
head/officer of each development
department such as PWD, Health,
Education, Agriculture, Animal
husbandry, etc. These officers
are from various Haryana state
services.
In Ambala City there is a
special court of CBI. All
investigation of CBI in Haryana
comes under this coutrt.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,
Ambala had a population of
139,222. Males constitute 53% of
the population and females 47%.
Ambala has an average literacy
rate of 76%, higher than the
national average of 59.5%; with
55% of the males and 45% of
females literate. 11% of the
population is under 6 years of
age. Before the Partition there
was a large population of Muslim
residents, but they were forced
to leave due to violence. 70% of
the Ambala population are Sikhs.
During the late 1980s Sikh
militants had a strong hold of
Ambala and much of Harayana area
and made it very dangerous for
visitors to travel the northern
parts of India.
Click to Enlarge
Education
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S. A. Jain (PG) College
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D.A.V. College
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MDSD Girls College
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Sohal Lal D.A.V. College of Education
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Dev Samaj College for women
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Govt. College
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G.M.N. College
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Arya Girls College
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SANATAN DHARAM COLLEGE
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Professional education:
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AIMT Ambala for MBA and MCA.
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Ambala College of Engineering ..Mithapur
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Emax Group of College..for B.Tech,
MBA etc.
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Shivalik institute of Technology
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Ambala has a branch for institute of
chartered accountants of India. prominent school in
Ambala
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D.A.V. School* Kendriya Vidyalayas in
Ambala Cantt
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Air Force School and Army School in
Ambala Cantt
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Jesus and Mary Convent
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P.K.R. Jain School, Ambala City
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Army Public School, Ambala Cantt
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Thaper education center,iqbal ganj
road,ambala cantt
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Sh..
Vinod Sharma
M.L.A., Ambala
Ambala Yellow Pages
Telephone Directory
Ambala Property Bazar
College Ranking
STD Code
0171
Pin Code
133 001
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