Sohna

Sohna
city
Sohna
Location in Haryana, India
Sohna
Sohna (India)
Coordinates: 28°15′N 77°04′E / 28.25°N 77.07°E / 28.25; 77.07Coordinates: 28°15′N 77°04′E / 28.25°N 77.07°E / 28.25; 77.07
Country  India
State Haryana
District Gurgaon
Elevation 212 m (696 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 27,571
Languages
 • Official Hindi
 • Spoken Ahirwati
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 122103
Vehicle registration HR-72
Website haryana.gov.in

Sohna also known as Greater Gurugram or South Gurugram is a City and a municipal committee in the Gurgaon district of Haryana, India. A popular tourist weekend and conference retreat, it is on the highway from Gurgaon to Alwar near a vertical rock. Sohna is known for its hot springs and Shiva temple. The town derived its name from gold dust which was found in the sand of streams after heavy rains. Its population is about 30,000. Sohna is 15 minutes from Badshahpur. More than 60 villages came under tehsil of Sohna. Sohna tehsil is part of Ahirwal Region. [1]

History[2]

Sohna, which, according to historical records, traces its origin from 11th century onwards, was occupied by three races in succession: namely the Kambhos, the Khanzadas and the Rajputs. Gazetteers mention that Nawab Qutb Khan Khanzada defeated the Kambhos and took over the town in 1570. The Khanzadas were expelled in 1620 by the Sisodia Rajputs. The Rajputs migrated to Sohna, obeying the orders their patron saint who appeared in their dream indicating Sohna as their place of settlement.

A unique feature of the town is its hot springs, which are believed to be operational from and visited by pilgrims since 1647. These were rediscovered in 1872 by the British who developed the surrounding tank, after realizing its medicinal value. Shiv Kund, as it is known today, is covered by a domed construction, and delivers its water into a large cistern. The spring has now been channelled into concrete pools. The tank is considered sacred by the Hindus and is thronged by people who come to take a dip in the holy water on days of solar and lunar eclipses. Further, the tank is also known for its medicinal value of curing of skin diseases.

The present town was founded by Raja Sawan Singh. The town has several historic remains, including those belonging to the earlier Kambhos, an old fort wall on the hill in a picturesque location overlooking the town and several impressive tombs and mosques in red sandstone and quartzite in Tuglaq and Lodhi styles. The beautiful 400-year-old tomb called Lal Gumbad is located in the vicinity of Ansal’s Orchid Estate. Driving through the farmhouse properties on the outskirts of the town, it presents a picturesque view. Made entirely of stone, the structure has a 12-pillared (barakhamba) hall in the entrance arcade that is made of red sandstone crowned with a dome. Attached behind this is the main tomb in stone masonry with a larger dome, exhibiting hybrid architectural styles from Tughlaq and Lodhi periods. A number of such tombs are present throughout the town of Sohna, although this one is truly exceptional in the area.

Demographics

Two slender, grey wading birds with red heads
Sarus cranes at Sultanpur National Park

In the 2001 India census,[3] Sohna had a population of 27,571. Males were 53 percent of the population, and females 47 percent. Sohna has a literacy rate of 63 percent, higher than the national average of 59.5 percent. Male literacy is 70 percent, and female literacy 54 percent. Seventeen percent of the population is under age six. Tejpal Tanwar of the BJP is the MLA for Sohna.[4]

Transport

Sohna is connected to Gurgaon via Sohna Road. Although the town is not directly connected to the Delhi Metro, bus service exists to the metro.[5]

Economy

Roz-ka-Meo industrial estate

ROz-ka-Meo industrial area is a main industrial area in Sohna.[6] It falls in the influence zone of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Amritsar Delhi Kolkata Industrial Corridor, Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and Delhi Western Peripheral Expressway in NCR region.

Infrastructure

The 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) stretch of the six-lane Sohna (South Gurgaon) road from Rajiv Chowk to Badshahpur is damaged due to faulty design, according to experts from the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI); its design is inadequate for the traffic load. The Haryana government has drawn up a South Gurgaon Master Plan 2031, which will regulate housing.[7][8]

Real estate development

A master plan for the town[9] was introduced in 2012. Divided into 38 sectors, the plan covers residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, transport, communications, utilities, public and semi-public use, open spaces and agricultural and conservation zones.[10]

Tourist attractions

Damdama Lake is known for its boating and picturesque surroundings.[11] Sohna, in the foothills of the Aravalis, is known for hot-water springs in an ancient Shiva temple. The temple was built by the Baba lakhi shah Banjara Banjara. A Gangasnan mela (fair) is held each November at the temple, and a fair is held each July and August to celebrate Teej.(Dinesh Shahwana)

The hot springs in the temple are strongly sulphurous, and their temperature varies from 46 to 51.7 °C (114.8 to 125.1 °F). According to legend, Arjun (one of the five Pandav brothers) dug the wells when he was thirsty. Sohna is believed to have been the abode of hermits and the main kund (tank), Shiva Kund, is said to have medicinal properties. Devotees consider it sacred, and during eclipses and Somavati Amavasya they gather here to bathe in the water.[12] The hilltop Barbet Resort, operated by Haryana Tourism, has sauna and steam-bath facilities, a small swimming pool, a park, lodging and a restaurant overlooking the town.[13]

The unfinished Bharatpur Hill Fort on Aravalli Range was built by the king of Bharatpur State between 1700 and 1857.[14] The highway 71B from Palwal via Sohna to Rewari via Bhiwadi passes over these hills and through the gap in the right and left flanks of bastions of the fort.[15] Badan Singh extended his territory and was succeeded by Suraj Mal, his nephew, under whom the power of the Jat people reached its zenith. Suraj conquered a large portion of north-central India, including the imperial cities of Agra and Delhi. The Jats were fickle allies, making and breaking alliances with the Mughals, the Mahrattas and the British, losing territory to all three but gaining Deeg in the process. In accordance with an agreement with the British, construction of the Sohna fort was halted by the Jat rulers of Bharatput. Other source mention that the fort was built 700 to 800 years ago by the king Sawan Singh after he married queen Pulwa and he had named the fort as Sohan Garh (Fort of Sohan).[16] After 1761 Maratha Empire subjugated Mughals of Delhi, Marathas granted the jagir (fief) of parganas of Sohna, Taoru, Nuh, Hodal, Palwal, Tapukara, Kotqasim, Pataudi and Baol (Bawal) to Rao Tej Singh.[17] During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, British Raj army under the command of Jaipur British resident Major William Fredrick Eden, aided by the Jaipur State troops, reconquered Rewari from the rebels, and Bakshi of Jaipur's troops slayed the rebel thanedar of Sohna, burnt down several Meo villages and rescued 30 Europeans.[18] There is another fort at Indor village in Rajasthan on Haryana border.

The Gora Barak Mosque has a minaret (khamba in Hindi).[19] The Quto Khan ki Masjid, built from local red sandstone, is in ruins.[19] The Shah Nazam al haq Tomb was built over a Hindu temple.[20][21] The tomb has an inscription dating it to 1461,[19] during the reign of Bahlul Khan Lodi of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Material from the Hindu temple was used to build the tomb.[20] It stands on a high platform with stone steps on one side leading to the entrance, inside which is a pillared hall. Decorative features include inscriptions in Arabic, pointed Islamic arches and floral patterns.[22] Educator Syed Ahmad Khan's grandfather is buried here, and notable Muslims were buried in the tomb complex of their favorite Sufi pirs.[22]

Lal Gumbaz (Red Dome) and Kala Gumbaz (Black dome) are west of the town.[19] The Kamboj ruins were left by the Kamboj people, who were influential with the Persians, Afghans and Sayads during the Middle Ages.[19]

References

See also

Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.elections.in/haryana/
  2. ↑ "HT Gurugram". m.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  3. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  4. ↑ http://haryanaassembly.gov.in/MLADetails.aspx?MLAID=768
  5. ↑ "Ground realty of Sohna Road". The Times Of India. 19 January 2011.
  6. ↑ 2000, National Capital Region Directory, Page 472.
  7. ↑ "Sohna Road design faulty, not in tune with traffic load: CRRI - The Times of India". The Times Of India.
  8. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Haryana/Huda-begins-drain-work-ahead-of-rainy-days/Article1-803922.aspx%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  9. ↑ http://www.newprojectssohna.com/sohna-master-plan.html
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Monsoon brings drying Damdama Lake back to life". The Times of India. 27 September 2010.
  12. ↑ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000218/haryana.htm#2
  13. ↑ Haryana Tourism - Barbet Resort
  14. ↑ Archive gallery pictures of unifished fort of Sohna
  15. ↑ Sohna Old Hill Fort
  16. ↑ "Love Jihad: The change of religion of the woman was done by taking Kashmir.", Jagran news paper, 2 September 2017.
  17. ↑ Maj gen SD Yadava, 2006, "Followers of Krishna: Yadavas of India", Lancer Publishers & Distributors, pp. 53, ISBN 8170622166.
  18. ↑ Jadunath Sarkar, 1984, "A History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938", Orient Longman, pp. 342, ISBN 8125003339.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India by Manohar Sajnani, Volume 1, page-98
  20. 1 2 Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them - authored by Shourie, Narain; Dubashi, Swarup and Ram Goel
  21. ↑ Mewat heritage walk
  22. 1 2 Times of India: decaying Shah Nazam al Haq tomb
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