Ambala

Ambala
Ambala; अम्बाला; ਅੰਬਾਲਾ; Umballa
	City
	Ambala Cantonment Railway Station
	Ambala Location in Haryana, India
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Country	India
State	Haryana
District	Ambala
Established	14th century CE
Founded by	By Amba Rajput
Named for	Bhawani Amba (Goddess)
Area
• Total	1,568.85 km2 (605.74 sq mi)
Elevation	264 m (866 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	207,934 (UA)
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Punjabi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	1330xx,1340xx
Telephone code	0171
Vehicle registration	HR01(private), HR37(commercial)
Sex ratio	869/1000
Website	ambala.nic.in

Ambala (/əmˈbɑːlə/) is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border with the state of Punjab and in proximity of the state capital Chandigarh. Politically; Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantonment (Ambala Cantt) and Ambala City, approximately 3 kilometers apart, therefore it is also known as "Twin City".^{[citation needed]} It has a large Indian Army and Indian Air Force presence within its cantonment area. Ambala separates the Ganges river network from the Indus river network and is surrounded by two rivers – Ghaggar and Tangri – to the north and to the south. Due to its geographical location, the Ambala district plays an important role in local tourism, being located 47 km (28 miles) south of Chandigarh, the state capital, 148 km (93 miles) southwest of Shimla, 198 km (121 miles) north of New Delhi and 260 km (155 miles) southeast of Amritsar.Gurudwara Manji Sahib is also situated in Ambala.

History

The Grand Trunk Road, at Ambala Cantonment, during the British Raj

It is said that Ambala District was founded by Amba Rajput during the 14th century AD.^[2] Another version is that the name is a corruption of Amba Wala meaning the mango-village, from mango groves which existed in its immediate neighborhood.^{[citation needed]} Still, another version is that the District has taken its name after goddess "Bhawani Amba" whose Temple still exists in Ambala city.^{[citation needed]}

The Ambala Cantonment

Ambala Cantonment was established in 1843 after the British were forced to leave its Karnal Cantonment following the malaria epidemic of 1841–42 in as there were not any known effective means to control malaria epidemic in those days. The cantonment houses the '2 Corps', one of the three Strike Corps of the Indian Army.

European Cemetery

Ambala Cantonment is location of historic Ambala European Cemetery.

Formation Ambala district

Ambala was given the status of a district in 1847, formed by the merging of 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. Previously it extended across tehsils of Ambala, Saphera, Jagadhri, Pipli, Kharar, Ropar and Nalagarh. Kalka-cum-Kurari State, Pinjore, Mani Majra, Kasauli & Sanawar were also merged into the district at different times.

Ambala Air Force Base

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 B-57 bombers of the Pakistan Air Force. Today, the Airbase houses the '7 Wing' with squadrons of Jaguars and MiG-21 Bisons. A unit of the French-made Dassault Rafale will be based at Ambala air base.^{[citation needed]}

Hanging of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse

In November 1949 Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse was hanged at Ambala Central Jail^[3] along with Narayan Apte, a co-conspirator. Ambala Cantt is also mentioned in Kim (novel) by Rudyard Kipling.

Demographics

As of 2011^[update] India census, Ambala UA had a population of 207,934 consisting of 112,840 males and 95,094 females, a ratio of 843. there were 20,687 children 0-6 and Ambala had an average literacy rate of 89.31%, with 91.76% of males and 86.41% of females literate.^[1]

Cloth Market

"Cloth Market" is the charm of the city, which draws shoppers from surrounding areas. The cloth market has a dense cluster of 900-1000 wholesale shops.^{[citation needed]}

The market possesses a wide range of cloth items:

Hand-loom
Silk and Sarees
Suitings and Shirtings
All kinds of dress material

The areas surrounding the market thrive on this market for occupation.^{[citation needed]} Market provides all kinds of cloth tailoring related and other transportation occupations to semi-urban areas around. This market remains closed on Thursday, Holi, Republic Day, Independence Day and Dussehra are the only other days the market remains closed.

Himachal Pradesh and Punjab are major parts from which shopkeepers come to this market. Silk and Sarees are one of the major type of cloth sold by volume. Ambala used to be a hub of hand-loom factories, man operated industry, which has almost vanished.

This market is regarded as the largest cloth trading market in the sub-continent (Asia).^{[citation needed]}

Science Market

Ambala is known as city of scientific instruments.^[2] It is a major scientific products market and is a hub for products like glass apparatus, microscopes, laboratory equipment etc. Ambala constitutes nearly 34% of the total production of scientific instruments produced in India.^{[citation needed]}

Education

Ambala has a number of schools colleges and vocational institutes.

Vocational / job oriented institutes in Ambala

Zenith Institute, Sector 8, Ambala City
NGPA CA CPT coaching institute, Cantt Road, Prem Nagar, Ambala City
ICA The institute of computer accountant, Jain Nagar, Ambala City
OM Sai Para medical institute, Model Town, DMLT,BSc MLT, Ambala City
TCIL IT Ambala City Jain Nagar
SIMT for Guru Jambheshwar University, Model Town, Ambala City
ARC web and graphic designing institute, Ambala City
NIIT Ambala Cantt.(Now Closed)
Modi Institute of Informatics and National Development, (MIIND), Rai Market, Ambala Cantt
Afterdoor Solutions LLP(ADS), Sector 9, Ambala City

Schools affiliated to the ICSE

St. Paul's High School
Bell Toll Public High School

Schools affiliated with CBSE

Springfield Public School

Cecil convent Junior, Model Town, Ambala City
Cecil convent sr.sec.school, Ambala Cantt
Indian Public School
Lord Mahavira Jain Public School
DPS Ambala
Chaman Vatika Sr. Sec. School
Springfield Public School
Convent Of Sacred Heart International
Convent of Jesus & Mary (CJM)
SD Vidya School
L.S.S.D Girl's high school
Bhartiya Public School
P.K.R. Jain Senior Secondary Public School
P.K.R Jain Vatika School
M.D.A.V. Public School
Ambala Public Sen. Sec. School (APS)
A.S. Sen. Sec. School
Riverside D.A.V. Public School
Army Public School (APS)
Air Force School
Saint Joseph School
Tulis Public Senior Secondary School
K. V no 1
K. V no 2
K. V no 3
K. V no 4
sewa samiti little angel convent, machhounda Ambala cantt.
DC model high School
Miki Model Senior Secondary School
Major R. N. Kapoor D.A.V. Public School
SA Jain Sr. Model School
Mind Tree School
G.M.N. Public School
S.T. JOSEPH SCHOOL
Police D.A.V public school

Schools affiliated to Haryana Board

Sohan Lal DAV Senior Secondary School
Dua National Model

These schools follow the same syllabus as CBSE (the NCERT books).

Kurukshetra University affiliated colleges

SD College, Ambala

S.A. Jain College
Arya Girls College
DAV College (Lahore)
Gandhi Memorial National college
Government College
Sanatan Dharma College (S.D. College).
Shri Diwan Krishna Kishor Sanatan Dharma Adarsh Sanskrit College, Ambala Cantt.
MDSD Girls College
Govt. Girls College
Shri Aatmanand Jain College, Ambala City

Engineering colleges affiliated to Kurukshetra University

Modern Institute of Engineering & Technology (Shahabad, Mohri)
Ambala College of Engineering & Applied Research (Est. 2002)
Education Maximum School of Engineering and Applied Research, Kalpi Naraingarh road.
Education maximum institute of engineering and technology ' Kalpi Naraingarh road
Guru Nanak Institute Of Technology, Hema Majra Road Sohana village (Mullana)
Galaxy Global SAHA
Hindustan
ICL
Kalpi
Ram Mulakh IET
Haryana Engineering College
Shivalik Institute of Engineering and Technology (Alliyas Pur)

Engineering colleges affiliated to MM University

MM Engineering college Mullana
MM Engineering college Sadopur

Management colleges

MM Institute of Management
AIMT College of Management

Medical college

MM University

Education college

Sohan Lal College of Education
Tulsi College of Education
Mahabir College of Education
P.K.R. College of Education
Surya College of Education
S.D. College of Education

Transport

Ambala is connected to all of the other major cities of north India including Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Shimla. It is a big interchange for various commuters for all neighbouring states.^{[citation needed]} The Ambala Cantt bus stand sees roughly 50,000 commuters daily.^{[citation needed]}

National highway NH 1 popularly known as GT road passes through Ambala and connects it to National capital Delhi and Amritsar. NH 22 connects it to state capital Chandigarh and Shimla.

Apart from the Interstate service, Ambala also houses one of the oldest local bus service in Haryana, which is run by both Haryana roadways and private companies. Other means of local transportation include auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

Roadways

Bus service is the major means of public Transport in this district. Ambala depot came into being on 1.8.1950. The office of the General Manager is situated in the premises the depot workshop at Ambala City. Ambala depot has a sub depot at Naraingarh.

Presently, Haryana Roadways, Ambala has 209 buses, which carry about 34.88 Lacs passengers daily and cover a distance of about 19.79 Lacs Km daily. Out of these, total distance covered on interstate routes is 24,711 km and 41,439 km are operated within Haryana every day. The total staff of the depot (including that of sub depot Naraingarh) is 1085.

New Bus Stand at Ambala Cantt was inaugurated on 12.7.1999 and the total land of bus stand is 6.7 acre. Bus stands in this district exist at Ambala City, Naraingarh and Barara as well. A sub depot level workshop has also been provided at Naraingarh. 'Yatri Niwas' exists in the campus of Ambala Cantt. bus stand for the convenience of the commuters who wish to stay for the night.

Besides, the Haryana Roadways buses, government has issued permits to private operators on local routes. Presently 51 such buses are plying in Ambala district. Bus stand is very near to Ambala Cantt Jn. (Railway station). Most of the buses plying on GT road (NH1) stop in front of Railway station.

Railways

Ambala is a divisional headquarters of the Northern Railway Zone and is an important railway junction. Ambala Cantt station is among top 100 booking stations of India. The city is served by three railway stations:

Ambala Cantt [UMB] (Junction on Delhi-Kalka line and Moradabad-Ambala line/Ambala-Attari line)
Ambala City [UBC] (On Ambala-Attari line)
Dhulkot [DKT] (on Delhi-Kalka line)

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 well connected by the rail and road network.^{[citation needed]}

Ambala cantt railway station is main station of the city and is well connected with major cities of India like Delhi, Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Lucknow, Kanpur Howrah, Patna, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ajmer, Surat, Chennai, Pune and many more. Kalka-Shimla Railway which is UNESCO's World Heritage site also comes under Ambala division.

Ambala Cantonment Railway Station serves maximum Shatabdi Express after New Delhi. Ambala railway station was mentioned in the famous story 'The Woman on Platform 8' by Ruskin Bond, although in reality, there in no platform no 8 in Ambala Cantt.

Entertainment

Movie halls

Fun Cinemas, Galaxy Mall Ambala City
Minerva Complex, Big Bazaar, Ambala Cantt
Capital Cinema, Ambala Cantt
Nigar Cinema Hall, Ambala Cantt

Notable residents

Sushma Swaraj

References

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↑ The Times (London), page 3, 16 November 1949

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[3] The Times (London), page 3, 16 November 1949

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v t e Ambala district topics
Cities and towns	Ambala Ambala Cantonment Mullana Barara Naraingarh
Transport	Ambala Air Force Base NH 1 NH 65 NH 73
Lok Sabha constituencies	Ambala