Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a city in
Punjab,
Pakistan with a population of 1,384,100 (2003). It is located at 32.16
0 North, 74.18
0 East. The district is an area of 3198 sq. m. Gujranwala is the 5th largest city in Pakistan. Punjabi is the daily used language here, however English and Urdu are extensively used too. The city has also always been known for it's famous wrestling which is why it is also called
The City Of Wrestlers. Food is enjoyed by all in Gujranwala. Hotels and restaurants prepare the top quality foods for their customers which are always popular such as tikka's and kebabs.
Gujranwala has a very large agricultural market, from grains and sugarcanes to melons. The main crops grown here are wheat, cotton, rice, barley and millet. The World's best quality rice is grown here. Gujranwala is playing a major roll to support the economy of Pakistan. It is a large industrial city. It also has a very large agricultural market from grains and sugarcanes to melons. Cotton, woolen textile, rice mills, vegetable oil mils, industrial machinery, fan manufacturing, motor industry, washing machine industry of wooden work, electric goods, poultry feed, soap, ball point rubber tire and tube, metal utensils, melamine utensils, cutlery, kitchen ware, ceramics tiles, sanitary wares, sanitary fittings and steel pipe industries are included. The major exports of the city are Rice, textiles, carpets, transformers, garments, goods of glass, electric fans, sanitary fittings, surgical equipment, hosiery, leather products, metal utensils, auto parts sanitary wares and fittings. The world's best quality rice is grown here too
This is where Gujranwala is located in Pakistan
History
Gujranwala is about 500 years old. This was first called Khanpur Shansi. A tribe called the Jaat Tribe Gujar lived here. They reached such a dominant stage that the town was then named Gujranwala. Both the British and the Sikh's had power over Gujranwala at one point. The Sikhs established their Empire in the Punjab. This was after the death of the Mughal Emporer Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1707. After his death, the country had a lot of governmental changes. Charat Singh (head of one of the Sikh clans) stayed in Gujranwala in 1763. He died in 1774. His son took over after him. Charat's grandson became to be the best leader in Punjab history. His name was Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He ruled the areas between the banks of the Gambian to the Khyber and from Kashmir to Multan. He was the most powerful Sikh ruler. In 1850 he died and the Sikh Empire was divided. This was a good opportunity to the British of East India Company to put an end to this Sikh rule. The area was then taken over by the British in 1849. They built a railway line here which connected Gujranwala with other cities of Punjab. This made trading more easier for people. This British rule was until 1947, when Pakistan had it's independance. This was when the Sikhs and Hindus moved to India and the Muslims of the Eastern-Indian Punjab moved to Gujranwala.
In 1951 Gujranwala became the capital of the district. Gujranwala's hydroelectic project provides power from the Chanab River. It's also home to the International cricket stadium called Jinna Stadium. It also has many hospital and several colleges affiliated with the University of the Punjab. In 1996 a new railway was made in Gujranwala which is shown below:
External Links