February 03, 2009

Realignment of G.T. Road In 19 th Century by British Brought Importance to Jullundur

Sher-e- Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839. East India Company annexed Doab, including Jullundur, after the First Anglo Sikh war in 1846.In 1858 the control passed from East India Company to British Crown. It was in the immediately following period that two very important developments took place which made Jullundur a very important town of Punjab.

The first was the construction of the Railway Line with two very important rail-cum- road bridges over Sutlej ( Phillaur ) and Beas ( Beas).

Second development was the realignment of the G.T. Road. The earlier G.T. Road or the Mughal Road bypassed Jullundur. This old Mughal Road from Phillaur passed through Nurmahal; then Nakodar ( and Dakni Sarai). There is a remarkable brick Mughal bridge on this old G.T. Road at Dakni Serai on Bein rivulet.

The Pattan ( crossing point by boats ) for Beas was at Goindwal Sahib connecting Tarn Taran , Amritsar, Lahore and others

Thus, Jullundur ( with a very important British army Cantonment ) came to be placed on the main railway line and G.T.road highway connecting Delhi with Lahore and beyond to Kabul etc..

As a corollary the earlier important and historic towns of Nurmahal, Nakodar, Bundala, Dakni Serai etc. lost their importance and became satellite towns of Jullundur

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