Jalalpur Jattan

Jalalpur Jattan
جلالپور جٹاں

Saqib Minar is the notable tower of the city

Map of Jalalpur Jattan
Coordinates: 32°38′31.0″N 74°12′11.9″E / 32.641944°N 74.203306°E / 32.641944; 74.203306Coordinates: 32°38′31.0″N 74°12′11.9″E / 32.641944°N 74.203306°E / 32.641944; 74.203306
Country  Pakistan
Province Punjab
District Gujrat
Population (17.01.2012)
 • Total 93,883
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Calling code 053

Jalalpur Jattan (Urdu: جلالپور جٹاں‎) is a small city and municipality of the District Gujrat in the province of Punjab, Pakistan about 20 km distance from Kashmir.[1]

History

When Alexander the Great defeated King Porus,[2] he established two towns one near Jehlum river and another near Chenab river. The latter, present day Jalalpur Jattan was named Shaklanagar an amalgamation of Greek and Sanskrit words meaning the city of beauty.[3] These cities were settled by people from his multinational armies, which included a majority of Greeks. These Indo-Greek cities and their associated realms thrived long after Alexander's departure. Later, Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji and his forces stayed here to suppress the invasion of Mongols and he renamed the city to Jalalabad after his name. The name was once again changed to Jalalpur Jattan by the notable Jatts of their time said to be Zabardast Khan and Ajmer Khan.[4]

During Sikh Empire, the town gained significant importance. There is a place in Jalalpur Jattan built by Chandragupta Maurya in 300 BC.[4] Local historians believe that Chandragupta had built a fort in Islam Garh, a suburban village of Jalalpur Jattan. The original name of the village could not be ascertained but the fort became famous as Islam Garh Fort with the passage of time. The fort of Islam Garh had remained under Aurangzeb Alamgir, Ahmed Shah Abdali, and Ranjit Singh and their forces.[4] The fort had been the mint of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore in 1832. Only some deteriorated remains of the fort exists today.

There is also an ancient city within the territories of the city, now a town known as Kula Chor. Excavations in the area revealed that Kula Chor was the mint of the Maurya Dynasty.[5]

In 1908, Jalalpur Jattan was made a municipality or municipal committee, the fully representative body.[6][7] The city was granted tehsil status in February 2015.[8]

Climate

Sky view from the city
View of Sadhu Neighbourhood
Circular road of Sadhu Mahallah
Factory building

The town has moderate climate. The average temperature of the city is 23.9 °C. During the peak of summer, the daytime temperature shoots up to 45 °C, but the hot spells are relatively short due to the proximity of the Azad Kashmir mountains. During the winter, the minimum temperature may fall below 2 °C. The rainfall in the city is remarkable, with precipitation even during the parched months. The average rainfall is 802 mm.[9]

Economy

Cell sites located in Ittefaq Colony, Jalalpur Jattan
View of Saqib Mosque tower from an intersection of Sadhu Mohalla

The city is famous for its cottage industry of textile[10] and its local sweets called Khatai. Jalalpur Jattan connects Gujrat with multiple cities through the Jalalpur–Gujrat Road.

Jalalpur Jattan is head office of the Sadar Circle Gujrat.

Cantonment

Jalapur Jattan has a small cantonment area, which has its importance due to its proximity with the line of control and important strategic cities of Azad Kashmir like Chamb, Kot Jamil and important headworks of river Chenab such as Head Marala.

See also

References

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