Haldwani

The name "Haldwani" is an anglicised version of the Kumaoni word "Halduvani" (literally "forest of Haldu"), named after the tree of "Haldu" (Kadamb),[3] known to botanists as Haldina cordifolia. The Haldu trees were found in abundance prior to deforestation for agriculture and settlement. The place was regionally known as Halduvani until George William Traill took over as Commissioner of Kumaon and renamed it to Haldwani in 1834.[4]

The Bhabhar region, where the city is located, has historically been a part of the Kingdom of Kumaon. The region came under the dominion of Kumaon, when King Gyan Chand of Chand Dynasty visited Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century. Later, the Mughals tried to take over the hills, but their attempts received a setback due to the difficult terrain.[5]

In the early 1600s, the Haldwani region was sparsely populated. It was inhabited by people of a Native tribe known as the Buksa.[6] The Terai area southward consisted of thick forests, and was used as hunting grounds by the Mughals.

Founding and 19th century

Ironworks in Kaladhungi at the turn of 1862/1863.

In 1816, after the British defeated Gorkhas, and gained control of Kumaon by the Treaty of Sugauli, Gardner was appointed the Commissioner of Kumaon. Later George William Traill took over as Commissioner and renamed Halduvani as Haldwani in 1834.[4] Though British records suggest that the place was established in 1834, as a mart for hill people who visited the Bhabhar (Himalayan foothills) region, during the cold season.[7] The township, formerly located in Mota Haldu, had only thatched houses. Brick-houses began to be built only after 1850. The first English middle school was established in 1831.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Haldwani was briefly seized by the rebels of Rohilkhand,[8]^:19 soon martial law was declared in the region by Sir Henry Ramsay (the Commissioner of Kumaon), and by 1858, the region was cleared of the rebels.[5][9] The Rohillas, who were accused of attacking Haldwani, were hanged by the British at Phansi Gadhera in Nainital.[10] Later, Ramsay connected Nainital with Kathgodam by road in 1882. In 1883–84, the railway track was laid between Bareilly and Kathgodam. The first train arrived at Haldwani from Lucknow on 24 April 1884.[11]^:38[12]

Before the formation of Nainital district in 1891, it was part of the Kumaon district, which was later renamed Almora district.[13] The Town Act was implemented here in 1885 and Haldwani was declared a municipality on 1 February 1897. The Tehsil office was opened here in 1899, when it became the tehsil headquarters of the Bhabhar, one of four divisions of the Nainital district,[5] and included 4 towns and 511 villages; and had a combined population of 93,445 (1901), spread over 1,279 sq. miles.[14]

20th and 21st centuries

Haldwani as a part of the United Province, 1907–1909

In 1901, with a population of 6,624, Haldwani was the headquarters of the Bhabhar region of Nainital District, in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, and it also used to become the winter headquarters of the officers of the Kumaon Division and the Nainital District.[7] The Arya Samaj Bhavan was built in 1901 and Sanatan Dharm Sabha in 1902.[11]^:38 The Municipality of Haldwani was disestablished in 1904, and Haldwani was constituted as a Notified area.[11]^:38 The first Hospital of the city was opened in 1912.[15]^:183

Haldwani hosted the second session of the Kumaon Parishad in 1918.[8]^:23[15]^:252 Protests against the Rowlatt Act and for Coolie-Begar Abolition were held all over the city in 1920 under the leadership of Pt. Tara Datt Gairola Raibahadur.[8]^:23[16] Many processions were carried out in the city between 1930 and 1934 during the Civil disobedience movement.[16] In 1940, at the Haldwani conference, Badri Datt Pandey voiced for granting special status to the mountainous regions of Kumaon in the United Provinces, thus, giving a way to the future Uttarakhand movement.

Haldwani was a mid-sized town, with a population of about 25,000, in 1947, when India became Independent from the British Rule. Haldwani became a part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was electrified in 1950.[17] The 2nd battalion of the Naga Regiment, affectionately known as Head Hunters, was raised at Haldwani on 11 February 1985.[18] Haldwani played a major role in the Uttarakhand movement. The town was spearheading the agitation, which often ended up in violence and also in police firing and brutality.[19]

40 human skeletons and 300 'grave-like structures' were discovered in Haldwani's Golapar area on 9 May 2017 during the construction of the Haldwani ISBT.[20] The Skeletons were speculated to be the remains of the Rohilla chieftains from Bareilly who fought against the British in 1857 and were killed by the British army or of those who died of epidemics, malaria or famine.[21] However forensic tests later revealed the Skeletons to be only two-year old.[22]

The municipality of Haldwani has an official population of 156,078 people,The region is dominated by the native Kumaonis and migrants of various states including uttarpradesh bihar punjab bengal, hence a major population belonging to various religions and regions are present in haldwani as per provisional data released by the 2011 census.[2][27] The 2017 estimate, on the other hand, predicted a population of 291,338.[34] The population of the municipality area, combined with outgrowths was 201,461, and the urban agglomeration of Haldwani-cum-Kathgodam had a population of 232,095, out of which males were 121,409 and females were 110,686.[35][36]

Hinduism is the majority religion in Haldwani with 60.84% followers.[2] Islam is second most popular religion in city with approximately 35.89% following it.[2] In Haldwani, Christianity is followed by 0.89%, Sikhism by 2.19%, Jainism by 0.09%,and Buddhism by 0.09%.[2] Around 0.01% stated 'Other Religion', approximately 0.07% stated 'No Particular Religion'.[2]

Government Medical College, Haldwani was established in 1997.

As of 2011, Haldwani has a total of 198 Government financed educational institutions, including 73 Primary Schools, 25 middle schools, 25 secondary schools and 25 senior secondary schools. Besides these, there are several institutions of higher education, including 2-degree colleges affiliated with the Kumaun University, Nainital and a medical college affiliated with the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University, Dehradun. The Government Medical College, Haldwani was established in 1997 as Uttarakhand Forest Hospital Trust Medical College, and is a residential & co-educational college recognised by the Medical Council of India and Government of India.[37]

Haldwani is home to the Uttarakhand Open University, which was established by an Act Of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly on 31 October 2005.[38] The university, located in Teenpani neighbourhood of the city, is the only open university in the state. More than 140 courses are available at the university; prominent ones being Journalism and Mass Communication, Hotel Management, Tourism Management, Business Management, Education, Jyotish, karmakand and other traditional courses.

Well connected with the Indo-Gangetic plain by road (to New Delhi, Dehradun and Lucknow) and rail (New Delhi, DehraDun, Lucknow and Kolkata), Haldwani is an important commercial hub. It is home to one of the largest vegetable, fruit and foodgrain markets in Kumaon. Being the gateway to most of Kumaon and parts of Garhwal, it is an important revenue center of Uttarakhand based on its advantageous location as a base depot for goods in transit to the hills. The Gaula river is exploited for a large quantity of boulders, sand and gravels every year, and forms an important revenue source for both the government and local business.

Haldwani is a municipal corporation governed by a mayor–council system. The municipal area is divided into 60 territorial constituencies known as wards. The Municipal Corporation is made up of a Wards Committee, where each ward has one seat. Members, known as Councillors, are elected to the Wards Committee on the basis of adult franchise for a term of five years, as provisioned by the 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution relating to urban local governments.[39] The 'Nagar Nigam Haldwani' is a unicameral legislative body, comprising sixty Councillors, and the Mayor. In addition to the elected Councillors, the committee also includes fifteen Councillors nominated by the state government and four additional members; the three MLA(s) and MP from the city.

The Town Act was implemented in Haldwani in 1885 after which, it was declared a municipality on 1 February 1897. The Municipality of Haldwani was soon disestablished and Haldwani was constituted as a 'notified area' in 1904.[7] In 1907, it got the status of town area.[40] The Haldwani-Kathgodam Municipal Council was established on 21 September 1942, and was upgraded to a Municipal corporation on 21 May 2011.[41] Currently it is the third largest Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttarakhand after Dehradun and Haridwar.

The city is represented in the Lok Sabha by a representative elected from the Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar Constituency. Bhagat Singh Koshyari, from BJP, is the current Member of Parliament from Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar.[42] He won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections by 284,000 votes against K.C. Singh Baba from the Congress, . The Current MLA and Leader of Opposition is the very Senior Legislature Dr Indira Hridayesh who is widely acknowledged to have developed the face of modern Haldwani which she has represented 3 times since the formation of Uttrakhand .at.[42] Generally considered a Congress Stronghold, the Congress has registered a victory from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar eight times since 1951.[43] While BJP won this seat two times, other political parties had managed three victories.[43] The city elects three members to the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, from the 'Haldwani Vidhansabha constituency' comprising wards no 1 to 40, 'Kaladhungi Vidhan Sabha Constituency' (partially) comprising wards no 41 to 55 and 'Lalkuan' Vidhan Sabha constituency (Partially) comprising wards no 56 to 60. http://newstodaynetwork.com/nagar-nigam-haldwani/

Rampur Road connects Haldwani to Rampur via Rudrapur and Bilaspur

UTC buses bound for ISBT Anand Vihar at the Haldwani Bus Station.

Haldwani is known as the Gateway to Kumaon.[44] The most commonly used forms of transport in Haldwani include government owned services such as railways and buses. Complementing these government services are bus routes operated by KMOU (Kumaon Motor Owner's Union), as well as privately operated taxis and auto rickshaws.

Rail

13019 Howrah - Kathgodam Bagh Express at Haldwani Railway Station.

There are direct rail links to many parts both in and outside the state to all major junctions. All trains start from Kathgodam railway station which is a terminal of North Eastern Railway's Izzatnagar Division and then reach Haldwani Railway Station and proceed towards Lalkuan Junction Railway Station. In 1883–84, the railway track was laid between Bareilly and Kathgodam. The first train arrived at Haldwani from Lucknow on 24 April 1884.[12] Later, the railway line was extended to Kathgodam. Indian Railways is planning shorter rail track via Ramnagar-Kotdwar-Haridwar instead of the present track via Rampur-Moradabad.

Massive development plans for the city are on final Stage, owing to its importance in the state there are various other project in pipeline.

• This include building of additional infrastructure like International stadium, flyover, bus terminus, Asia's biggest Zoo and industrial complex. Greater Haldwani is carved out in Golapar region of Haldwani which will be future Smart Sub city alike Dwarka in Delhi.
• Haldwani is said to be a fast-growing educational hub of Uttarakhand. Many new institutions are open in lower Haldwani areas.
• Since, the success of 108 mobile medical van services across the province, the Govt. is planning to expand this service in a better way for the more populated Haldwani city. Haldwani's forests which bear the best timber (cite?) anywhere in India and South Asia, are for now in a motion of significant demand because of their best quality. Government is also planning to keep the forestry as green as it was.
• ISBT and International Zoo are also multi crore infrastructure projects that are underway and due for completion by 2017.
• According to market experts Haldwani is future city of Uttarakhand which has high business potential due to Friendly business atmosphere and safety provided to Entrepreneurs and Businessmen. One Can also have Aerial view of Nearby tourist destination Nanital by chopper services available from Greater Haldwani Stadium in Golapar .

Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium is located in Haldwani. The stadium, having a capacity of 25000 people, was inaugurated on 18 December 2016 by Harish Rawat, the then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.[58] It is spread over an area of 70 acres and has cricket and football grounds, a track for 800-metre race, a hockey field, Badminton courts, a lawn tennis court, a Boxing ring and a swimming pool.

Haldwani will host the 38th National Games in 2018.[59] The city also hosted a state-level football championship,[60] and the first edition of CWE (Continental Wrestling Entertainment) pro-wrestling series,[61] in 2016. Haldwani will be the second city after Delhi in northern India to have more than one international stadium.

Haldwani, along with other areas of the Kumaon division, is served by the Almora station of the All India Radio.[62] The first relay centre of Akashwani FM will be set up in Haldwani city on 1,560 sqm of land.[63] The relay centre will broadcast FM radio programmes of the All India Radio round the clock within a range of 70 km.[64] Internet Services are provided by BSNL, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel,[65] Idea Cellular and Reliance jio. Hello Haldwani community radio broadcasts programmes on education, agriculture, health and local traditions from the campus of Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani.[66]

Haldwani is a hidden paradise of Uttarakhand. Here are the best places you can explore in this otherwise undiscovered part of the mountainous state of India: 1. Kathgodam In Kumaoni, Kathgodam stands for timber depot. Kathgodam may be a railway station for most tourists traveling on to more popular destinations, but it has an interesting history. Direct trains from cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, and Jammu Tawi to Kathgodam provide easy access to travelers to the Kumaon Himalayas. When you step out of the station and wait for your cab to take you to Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora or any of a number of places that are accessible from Kathgodam, take a step back to appreciate what may be the most beautiful railway station in India.[67] 2. Jeolikot The village is one of the best places to visit in and around Haldwani and is the perfect embodiment of the peace offered by the Himalayas. In fact, locals claim that yogis like Swami Vivekananda meditated here.[67] 3. Walkway Mall want to go shopping on this hill vacation. On the Bareilly Nainital road, the Walkway is the only commercial mall in Haldwani. Walkway is a great place to chill out after a long day of visiting the Haldwani tourist places.[67] 4. Devbhoomi Adventureland looking for some fun places to see in Haldwani then you must explore Devbhoomi Adventureland. It is a perfect place to have a fun day trip with your families and friends. You can opt for the many adventurous rides.[67] 5. Sanjay Van Forming a part of the Tanda Region, Sanjay Van is nothing less than a paradise for nature lovers. Surrounded by thousands of trees and foliage, Sanjay Van is the best place to visit in Haldwani for a picnic with the family.[67]

• Haldwani city guide
• Haldwani city guide