About District
The Jalandhar District consist of 5 tehsils/subdivisions viz. Jalandhar-I, Jalandhar II, Nakodar, Phillaur and Shahkot. Besides, there are 5 sub-tehsils, viz. Adampur, Bhogpur, Kartarpur, Goryan and Nurmahal. The district is divided into 11 development blocks, viz, Jalandhar East, Jalandhar West, Bhogpur, Adampur, Nakodar, Shahkot, Phillaur, Nurmahal, Lohian, Rurka Kalan and Mehatpur. According to 2000-2001 figures of District Statistical Office, the district has 956 inhabited villages.
Jalandhar – A city of Basties, Kots & Gates
The town as it grew up to 1947 had the characteristic of its own. It had 12 kots, 12 gates and 12 bastis. The Kots were predominantly Hindu while bastis were mostly Muslims. The kots, which also mean Mohallas. Each Kot had its own gate. Only a few of these basties, Kots and gates have so far survived. Jalandhar a town of antiquity, and a seat of government several times in the past, regained its lost glory of ancient times in 1947 when following the partition it was made the administrative headquarter of Punjab but lost too soon when the administrative offices were shifted first to Shimla and finally to Chandigarh.
| Principal Basties | Kots | Gates |
|---|---|---|
| Basti Danishmandan, originally Ibrahimpur, founded by Ansari Sheikhs from Kani Kuram in A.D.1606 | Kot Kishan Chand | Mai Hiran Gate |
| Basti Sheikh Darvesh, popularly called Basti Sheikh, originally Surajabad, founded by Sheikh Darvesh and Ansari Sheikh from Kani Kuram in A.D.1614 | Kot Lakhpat Rai, earlier known as Kot Daulat Khan | Balmiki Gate |
| Basti Guzan, founded in the reign of Shah Jahan by Baraki Pathans of the Ghuz section, discipline of Sheikh Darvesh. They first settled in Jalandhar, then in Basti Sheikh. Subsequently, they purchase lands from Lodhi Afghans, Saiyads and Sheikhs, and built a bazar of their own | Kot Sadat Khan | Neela Mahal Gate |
| Basti Bawa Khel, originally called Babapur, was founded in A.D. 1620-21 by Baraki Pathans of the Baba Khel section | Kot Achhi | Jaura Gate |
| Basti Pirdad is an offshoot of Basti Baba Khel | Kot Chimbian | Khingran Gate |
| Basti Shah Kuli and Basti Shah Ibrahim are also Baraki settlements of Shah Jahan’s reign | Kot Pakshian | Saidan Gate |
| Basti Mithu Sahib appears to have been founded a little later than Basti Sheikh Darvesh by Mian Mithu Sahib, a Khalil Mattezai Pathan from the neighbourhood of Peshawar | Kot Bahadur Khan | Phagwara Gate |
| Basti Nau,adjoining Basti Shah Kulli, was founded after the Sikh conquest of the region in 1759 | Kot Mohammad Amin now known as Shivraj Garh | Sheetla Gate |
| Kot Sadiq | Khodian Gate | |
| Kot Badal Khan | Dehalvi Gate | |
| Kot Fazal Karim | Shah Kuli Gate | |
| Kot Asman Khan | Lahore Gate |
An ancient monument in the City is the temple of Vrinda, wife of Jalandhara, in the Kot Kishan Chand locality. It is now also known as Tulsi Mandir. On one side of the temple is a tank which is said to have been the bathing place of the demon Jalandhara.
At some distance is the temple of Gupha, with the image of Annapurna, the goddess of plenty, installed in it. Also nearby lies the Brahm Kund and some temples dedicated to Shiva.
Near the Balmiki gate is the Sheetla Mandir, said to be as old as the City of Jalandhar. Within its premises are also two small old temples of Hanuman and Shiva.
Shiv Mandir : Situated at Gur Mandi, Shiv Mandir is reputed to have been built by a Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi near Masjid Imam Nasar.
The old Devi Talab has been renovated and, in its centre, a new temple has been built. An old temple of goddess Kali also stands by the side of the Devi Talab.