Ambala

Ambala
City
Ambala Cantonment Railway Station, Haryana, India
Ambala Cantonment Railway Station, Haryana, India
Ambala is located in Haryana
Ambala
Ambala
Location in Haryana, India
Ambala is located in India
Ambala
Ambala
Ambala (India)
Coordinates: 30°23′N 76°47′E / 30.38°N 76.78°E / 30.38; 76.78
CountryIndia
StateHaryana
DistrictAmbala
Established14th century CE
FounderAmba Rajput[who?]
Named forAmba Rajput, Bhawani Amba (Goddess)
Government
 • TypeMunicipal corporation
 • BodyAmbala Municipal Corporation
 • MayorAkshita Saini (BJP)
 • Lok Sabha MPVarun Chaudhary (INC)
 • MLANirmal Singh (INC)
Anil Vij (BJP)
 • Municipal CommissionerSachin Gupta (IAS)
Elevation
264 m (866 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
207,934 (UA)
DemonymAmbalvi
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
 • Additional officialEnglish, Punjabi
 • Regional
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
1330xx,1340xx
Telephone code0171
ISO 3166 codeIN-HR
Vehicle registrationHR 01 (city), HR 04 (Naraingarh), HR 54 (Barara), HR 85 (Ambala Cantonment), HR37 (commercial)
Websiteambala.gov.in
Kos Minar near Ambala along Grand Trunk Road in Haryana

Ambala (Hindi: Ambālā, pronounced [əmbalaː]) is a city and municipal corporation in the Ambala district of Haryana, India. It is situated on the border between the states of Punjab and Haryana, in close proximity to Chandigarh, the shared capital of both states.

Geographically and administratively, the urban area is divided into two distinct parts separated by a distance of eight kilometres: Ambala Cantonment (also known as Ambala Cantt) and Ambala City, collectively referred to as the "Twin Cities". The cantonment hosts a major presence of both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. Ambala is located 200 kilometres (124 mi) north of New Delhi, India's capital, and has been designated as a counter-magnet city for the National Capital Region (NCR) to serve as an alternative centre of regional growth.

Ambala acts as a drainage divide separating the Ganges river network from the Indus river network and is surrounded by the Ghaggar and Tangri rivers to the north and south, respectively. Due to its strategic geographic position, the Ambala district is a regional transit hub for tourism. The city is situated 47 km (29 mi) south of Chandigarh, 50 km (31 mi) north of Kurukshetra, 148 km (92 mi) southwest of Shimla, 198 km (123 mi) north of New Delhi and 260 km (160 mi) southeast of Amritsar.

History

Etymology

The town is said to derive its name from Amba Rajput, who supposedly founded it during the 14th century CE. According to another version, it is named after the goddess "Bhawani Amba," whose temple still exists in the city. The English spelling Umballa has sometimes been used; this spelling was used by Rudyard Kipling in his 1901 novel Kim.

Classical era

Archaeological surveyor C.J. Rodgers found Indo-Parthian Kingdom coins as well as coins of Hunas, Mihirakula, and Toramana, which indicated that after the disintegration of the Mauryan empire, the area was taken over by Indo-Parthians and later incorporated into the domain of the Hunas.

Late medieval era

In 1709, in the Battle of Ambala, the Sikhs captured Ambala from the Mughals. The city was under the rule of Gill Jats from 1748 to 1825. It was also the capital of Nishanwalia Misl. For some time, the city was under the rule of Jawahir Singh of Mustafabad, a descendant of Desu Singh Randhawa.

British colonial era

The Ambala Cantonment

The Grand Trunk Road, at Ambala Cantonment, during the British Raj
Ambala Army Base

Ambala Army Cantonment was established in 1843 after the British were forced to leave its Karnal Cantonment following the malaria epidemic of 1841–42, as there were (at the time) no known effective means to control malaria epidemics. The cantonment houses the '2 Corps', one of the three Strike Corps of the Indian Army.

Ambala Air Force Base

Ambala Air Force Base is one of the oldest and largest airbases inherited by the Indian Air Force from the British. It was from this airbase that Spitfires and Harvards flown by instructors of the Advanced Flying Training School took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948. Subsequently, Ambala was the front line airfield for many years. This base was home to various aircraft that were inducted into the Indian Air Force like Harvards, Vampires, Ouragans, Hunters, Liberators, Spitfires, Canberra, and MiG-21. The airbase was briefly attacked in 1965 by B-57 bombers of the Pakistan Air Force. Today, the airbase houses the '7 Wing', with 2 squadrons of Jaguars and 1 squadron of Dassault Rafale.

European Cemetery

Ambala Cantonment is the location of the historic European Cemetery. It is 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Delhi and 55 kilometres (34 mi) southwest of Chandigarh.

1857 War Memorial

The First War of Independence Memorial, Ambala, also known as the 1857 War Memorial, Ambala or Shaheed Smarak Ambala, is a monument honouring the Indian rebels of 1857 First War of Independence against British colonial Company Raj in India, and spread over 22 acres (8.9 ha) on NH-44 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southeast of Ambala Cantonment Junction railway station. The memorial has four sections: an administrative building, a museum building, a library and food court, and an open-air theatre. The complex has a 63 metres (207 ft) tall lotus-shaped memorial tower at the centre. The museum showcases the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 in 22 galleries across three sections: the outbreak of war at Ambala, the expansion of war in Haryana, and the martyrs across the country. Short films and light-and-sound shows are displayed on five screens to elaborate the valour of martyrs and the circumstances of the revolution. Before the war, 50 to 60 major movements across India had taken place against the British colonial rule in India.

The war started at Ambala on 10 May 1857, 9 hours before the revolt also began at Meerut, by the Indian sepoys of 5th & 60th regiments of Bengal Native Infantry stationed at Ambala Cantonment. This is evident by the 10 May 1857 telegram to the Chief Commissioner Punjab, John Lawrence, by the Deputy Commissioner of Ambala which states "This morning, the 60th and 5th regiments were in an excited state and under arms on their parade ground. Cavalry and artillery ordered out, but no actual row. The guard over one treasury turned out under arms and were in an excited state. I ordered the police corps to be in readiness and in their own lines. I have consulted with the General, who has sent an officer of the 5th to the treasury guard to dismiss the men to their lines, if necessary. The General will not give any orders without your sanction. This step will not, I think, be necessary unless some further disturbance takes place."

The Ambala rebellion was led by Ananti Mishra, Parmeshwar Pandey, Beni Prasad, Sheikh Faiz Ul-Khan, and Bikhan Khan, who moved towards Red Fort in Delhi via Bilaspur, Sadhaura, Yamunanagar, and Saharanpur. War spread to Ambala, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Gulha Cheeka, Rohtak, Kharkhoda, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Palwal, Sohna, Rewari, and Narnaul.

The Indian revolutionaries were defeated by the British colonisers. After the war was over, the execution of Baba Mohar Singh on 5 June 1857 at Ambala Cantonment was the first recorded execution of a captured Indian rebel by the British colonial regime. The British killed 26 people, who started the revolt at Ambala, by hanging them on trees, including Sardar Mohar Singh, Kahan Singh, and Ramprasad Bairagi. British authorities burnt the villages of Bilaspur and Sadhaura as punishment for providing aid to the rebels. The 5th & 60th Regiments of the Bengal Native Infantry were also disbanded. For their participation in first war of independence, the Chaudharys and Lambardars of villages who participated in the rebellion were also deprived of their land and property, including 368 people of Hisar and Gurugram who were hanged or transported for life, and a fine was imposed on the people of Thanesar (Rs 235,000), Ambala (Rs. 253,541) and Rohtak (Rs. 63,000 mostly on Ranghars, Shaikhs and Muslim Kasai). The museum commemorates the valour and sacrifice of the Indian martyrs and the brutality of British colonial rulers.

Science Centre Museum

Aryabhatta Vigyan Kendra, a sub-regional science centre and museum on 5 acres costing Rs 40 crore, is located adjacent to the 1857 War Memorial. It houses multiple exhibits across 4 floors with 3D auditorium & planetarium, space science gallery with Indian space technology and satellites, digital adventure gallery for modern science and technology, agricultural technology, popular science, astronomical observatory with telescope for evening sky watching.

Formation of Ambala district

Ambala was given the status of a district in 1847, formed by the merging of the jagir estates of independent chieftains whose territories had lapsed or had been confiscated by the British Indian Government. In its 160 years of existence as a district, Ambala has witnessed many changes in its boundaries. Previously, it extended across tehsils of Ambala, Chandigarh, Jagadhri, Pipli, Kharar, Ropar, and Nalagarh. Kalka-cum-Kurari State, Pinjore, Mani Majra, Kasauli, and Sanawar were also merged later into the district at different times.

Post-independence

Hanging of Nathuram Godse

In November 1949, Mahatma Gandhi's alleged assassin Nathuram Godse was hanged at Ambala Central Jail along with Narayan Apte, a co-conspirator.

Geography

Climate

Ambala has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen: Cwa), with a monsoon season that is considerably wetter, hotter, and more humid than the mild, dry winter.

Climate data for Ambala (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 29.1
(84.4)		 33.9
(93.0)		 41.7
(107.1)		 45.0
(113.0)		 47.8
(118.0)		 47.8
(118.0)		 46.7
(116.1)		 43.9
(111.0)		 40.6
(105.1)		 39.4
(102.9)		 35.6
(96.1)		 29.4
(84.9)		 47.8
(118.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.1
(64.6)		 22.5
(72.5)		 27.7
(81.9)		 35.1
(95.2)		 38.4
(101.1)		 37.9
(100.2)		 34.5
(94.1)		 33.5
(92.3)		 33.1
(91.6)		 31.7
(89.1)		 26.9
(80.4)		 21.0
(69.8)		 30.0
(86.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.4
(54.3)		 16.1
(61.0)		 21.0
(69.8)		 27.4
(81.3)		 31.1
(88.0)		 31.7
(89.1)		 30.1
(86.2)		 29.3
(84.7)		 28.2
(82.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 19.4
(66.9)		 14.3
(57.7)		 23.8
(74.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)		 9.6
(49.3)		 14.3
(57.7)		 19.6
(67.3)		 23.8
(74.8)		 25.5
(77.9)		 25.7
(78.3)		 25.1
(77.2)		 23.3
(73.9)		 17.8
(64.0)		 11.8
(53.2)		 7.5
(45.5)		 17.5
(63.5)
Record low °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 3.7
(38.7)		 9.4
(48.9)		 13.9
(57.0)		 17.8
(64.0)		 19.4
(66.9)		 20.0
(68.0)		 15.6
(60.1)		 8.3
(46.9)		 1.8
(35.2)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 −1.3
(29.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 30.7
(1.21)		 35.9
(1.41)		 29.4
(1.16)		 20.1
(0.79)		 35.3
(1.39)		 111.4
(4.39)		 257.0
(10.12)		 228.0
(8.98)		 136.5
(5.37)		 14.3
(0.56)		 6.5
(0.26)		 15.4
(0.61)		 920.5
(36.24)
Average rainy days 2.0 2.4 2.0 1.7 3.0 5.5 8.7 8.9 5.5 0.8 0.4 0.8 41.7
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 66 55 45 29 30 44 68 72 66 52 53 63 53
Source: India Meteorological Department

Demographics

Religion in Ambala city
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 81.94%
Sikhism
 
 14.59%
Jainism
 
 1.44%
Islam
 
 1.25%
Others
 
 0.78%

As of 2011 India census, Ambala, UA had a population of 207,934, consisting of 112,840 males and 95,094 females, a ratio of 843. There were 20,687 children ages 0–6, and Ambala had an average literacy rate of 89.31%, with 91.76% of males and 86.41% of females literate.

Religious groups in Ambala City (1868−2011)
Religious
group		 1868 1881: 520  1891: 68  1901: 44  1911: 20  1921: 23  1931: 26  1941: 32  2011
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Hinduism 27,008 53.27% 34,522 51.17% 40,339 50.87% 39,601 50.36% 38,192 47.66% 37,765 49.48% 39,945 46.13% 50,679 47.19% 159,912 81.94%
Islam 19,570 38.6% 27,115 40.19% 30,523 38.49% 32,149 40.88% 31,641 39.49% 31,448 41.2% 38,089 43.99% 47,881 44.59% 2,431 1.25%
Christianity 1,362 2.69% N/a N/a 4,899 6.18% 3,610 4.59% 5,918 7.39% 2,373 3.11% 3,138 3.62% 1,054 0.98% 739 0.38%
Sikhism 1,235 2.44% 1,867 2.77% 2,407 3.04% 2,168 2.76% 3,392 4.23% 3,622 4.75% 4,143 4.78% 4,926 4.59% 28,471 14.59%
Jainism N/a N/a 410 0.61% 1,119 1.41% 1,096 1.39% 957 1.19% 1,083 1.42% 1,269 1.47% 1,814 1.69% 2,816 1.44%
Zoroastrianism N/a N/a N/a N/a 6 0.01% 14 0.02% 31 0.04% 30 0.04% 2 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a
Buddhism N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 5 0.01% 5 0.01% N/a N/a 55 0.03%
Judaism N/a N/a N/a N/a 0 0% N/A N/A 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% N/a N/a N/a N/a
Others 1,521 3% 3,549 5.26% 1 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1,008 0.94% 729 0.37%
Total population 50,696 100% 67,463 100% 79,294 100% 78,638 100% 80,131 100% 76,326 100% 86,592 100% 107,383 100% 195,153 100%

Economy

Cloth Market

The Cloth Market is considered to be the largest textile market in this region. The market is known for catering to wedding-related shopping. The most commonly bought items are sarees and silk clothing.[better source needed]

Transport

Ambala is connected to all of the other major cities of north India. It is an interchange for various commuters for all neighbouring states.

National Highway NH 44, popularly known as GT road and earlier known as NH 1, passes through Ambala and connects it to the national capital (Delhi), Panipat, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. NH 152 connects Ambala to the state capital, Chandigarh, and Kaithal. Apart from the interstate service, Ambala also houses one of the oldest local bus services in Haryana, which is run by both Haryana roadways and private companies. Other means of local transportation include auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

Roadways

Bus service is the major means of public transport in this district. The Ambala depot came into being on 1 August 1950. The office of the General Manager is situated on the premises of the depot workshop at Ambala City. Ambala depot has a sub-depot at Naraingarh.

Presently, Haryana Roadways, Ambala has 200 buses, which carry about 34.88 lakh passengers daily and cover a distance of about 19000 km daily. Out of these, the total distance covered on interstate routes is 24,711 km (15,355 mi) and 41.469 km (25.768 mi) are operated within Haryana every day.

The new bus stand at Ambala Cantt was inaugurated on 12 July 1999, and the total land of the bus stand is 6.7 acres (2.7 ha). Bus stands in this district exist at Ambala City, Naraingarh, and Barara as well. A sub-depot level workshop has also been provided at Naraingarh. 'Yatri Niwas' exists on the campus of the Ambala Cantt bus stand for the convenience of commuters who wish to stay for the night.

Besides the Haryana Roadways buses, the government has issued permits to private operators on local routes. Presently, 60 buses are plying in Ambala district. The bus stand is very near to Ambala Cantt Jn. (railway station). Most of the buses plying on GT road (NH1) stop in front of the railway station.

Railways

Ambala is a divisional headquarters of the Northern Railway Zone and is an important railway junction. Ambala Cantt station is among the top 100 booking stations in India. Several railway stations serve the city:

The Ambala Cantonment railway station was founded on the junction of the Delhi-Kalka and Ludhiana-Saharanpur lines. The historic Delhi-Panipat-Ambala-Kalka railway line dates back to 1889, while the Ludhiana-Saharanpur line was built in 1870. Situated 200 km (120 mi) north of Delhi, the city is well connected by the rail and road network.[citation needed]

Ambala Cantt railway station is the main station of the city and well-connected with the major cities of India. Kalka-Shimla Railway, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, also comes under Ambala division.

Ambala Cantonment railway station serves maximum Shatabdi Express after New Delhi. Ambala railway station was mentioned in the famous story 'The Woman on Platform 8' by Ruskin Bond, although in reality, there is no platform 8 in Ambala Cantt.

Airways

Air transport in Ambala is presently served by Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport located about 45 km north of the city, which is the nearest major airport to the city and provides domestic and limited international connectivity.

Ambala Domestic Airport has also been developed at Ambala Cantonment through a civil enclave at the Ambala Air Force Station under the Government of India's UDAN regional connectivity scheme. The airport infrastructure and terminal building have been completed and the airport is awaiting inauguration and commencement of commercial flight operations.

Education

Ambala has a large number of schools and colleges. Notable colleges are as follows:

Notable people

A 1990 Soviet postage stamp of Kim Philby, a British MI6 officer and double agent for the Soviet Union, born in Ambala, British India.
Sushma Swaraj

Notes

  1. ↑ 1868-1941: Data for the entirety of the town of Ambala, which included Ambala Municipality, Ambala Civil Lines, Sadar Bazar Ambala Municipality, and Ambala Cantonment.: 30 
  2. 1 2 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis

References

  1. ↑ "Ambala Municipal Corporation". June 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 52nd report (July 2014 to June 2015)" (PDF). Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  4. ↑ IANS (28 January 2010). "Haryana grants second language status to Punjabi". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Chaba, Anju Agnihotri (25 September 2021). "Punjab: Rich in culture but politically neglected, Puadh region now hopes it will finally get its due". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 April 2026.|
  6. ↑ "Dialects of Haryanvi".
  7. 1 2 Haryana Gazetteer, Revenue Dept of Haryana, Chapter V.
  8. ↑ Bajwa, J.S.; Kaur, R. (2007). Tourism Management. APH Publishing Corporation. ISBN 9788131300473.
  9. ↑ "Bibliomania: Free Online Literature and Study Guides". Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Sagoo, Harbans (2001). Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty. Deep & Deep Publications.
  11. ↑ Siṅgha, Bhagata (1993). A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Singh, Khazan (1970). History of the Sikh Religion. Department of Languages, Punjab. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  13. ↑ Sharma, Suresh K. (1 February 2006). "Haryana: Past and Present". Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788183240468. Retrieved 30 May 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  14. ↑ "No.5 Squadron, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "No.14 Squadron, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "No.17 Squadron, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nagpal, Bhavey (12 May 2023). "Ambala's 1857 War Memorial likely to be opened by year end". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Panel of historians meets to discuss 1857 memorial in Ambala". Times of India. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shaheed Smarak to commemorate unsung heroes, tell untold stories, The first big step towards freedom, The Triune, 10 May 2025.
  20. ↑ Satish Chandra Mittal, 1986, Haryana, a Historical Perspective, p58.
  21. ↑ Haryana: Vij initiates construction works of Aryabhatta Regional Sub-Centre and Museum in Ambala, Times of India, 28 May 2020.
  22. ↑ The Times (London), page 3, 16 November 1949
  23. ↑ "Station: Ambala Climatological Table 1991–2020" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1991–2020. India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M63. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Ambala City Population Census 2011 – Haryana". www.census2011.co.in.
  26. 1 2 "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI PUNJAB". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  27. ↑ (India), Punjab (1868). "Report on the census of the Punjab taken on 10th January, 1868". p. 66. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057644. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  28. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057656. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  29. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. JSTOR saoa.crl.25057657. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "Census of India, 1891 General Tables British Provinces and Feudatory States Vol I". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1901 VOLUME I-A INDIA PART II-TABLES". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  32. ↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1911 VOLUME XIV PUNJAB PART II TABLES". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  33. ↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1921 VOLUME XV PUNJAB AND DELHI PART II TABLES". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  34. ↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1931 VOLUME XVII PUNJAB PART II TABLES". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  35. ↑ "About Cloth Market". Yatra.com. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  36. ↑ "How to Reach | District Ambala, Government of Haryana | India". Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  37. ↑ "Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport". Chandigarh International Airport Limited. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  38. ↑ "Ambala domestic airport will be inaugurated soon: Vij". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 May 2026.