Abohar is a city and municipal corporation in the Fazilka district of Punjab, situated southeast of Fazilka. It lies near the India–Pakistan border. According to the 2011 Census of India, Abohar’s population was 145,302.
History
In
Book II of the Ain-i-Akbari,
Abohar (Persian: ابوهر, transliterated as
Abuhar) appears as a
pargana under the
Sarkar of Sirhind, within the
Subah of Delhi. The Sarkar of Sirhind was an important administrative and military division of the Delhi Subah, functioning as a strategic gateway to the empire’s northwestern frontiers. Abohar’s classification as a pargana reflects its established role as a fiscal jurisdiction, with defined territorial limits, inhabited settlements, and assessed land (
zamin) revenues.
[*Ain-i-Akbari*, Book II; Sirhind Sarkar is listed under Subah of Delhi; sarkar area c. 11,650 mi², revenue c. 160,790,549 dams. Cite:]
Connections with Firoz Shah Tughluq
This city developed a deeper connection with
Tughlaq dynasty. Firoz Shah Tughluq's mother Bibi Naila was from Abohar and Tughlaq's court historian Shams-i Siraj 'Afif lived here.
Ibn Battuta's mention
Ibn Battuta when travelled India, he mentioned in his book as 'Abohar was the first town in the
Hindustan, even it was in a desert', when he travelled in 1341 A.D.
But this varies translation to translation of the Rehla.
British Colonial Era
During the British era in India, it was the hub of horse breeding and a major cotton trade centre having business with Karachi and other
mandis.
Geography
Location
Abohar, located approximately 32 kilometres (19.8 miles) south of
Fazilka, is the nearest border town to
Fazilka. It serves as a connection point between the two Indian states of
Punjab and
Rajasthan. Within
India, Abohar is situated 75.6 kilometres (47 miles) west of
Bathinda, 258 kilometres southwest of the holy city of
Amritsar, 217 kilometres southwest of the industrial city of
Ludhiana, 300 kilometres southwest of the state capital
Chandigarh, and 373 kilometres northwest of the national capital,
New Delhi.
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Indian census, Abohar had a population of 145,302, of which 76,984 were males and 68,318 were females.
Literature
Abohar is the hometown of writers Asium Hesidros and Erika Kukkar, who co-authored the political fiction novel
May I Exist? Pending Review. The novel explores political themes and societal questions through fiction.
According to Amazon rankings, the book reached the Top 7 in the Political Fiction and Satire categories in Brazil.
Both authors belong to Abohar, which illustrates the city’s contribution to contemporary literary activity and its connection to wider political and cultural discussions through fiction.
Religion
The majority of the people living in Abohar follows
Hinduism, with a significant
Sikh minority.
Languages
Punjabi language is the official language of the city and is spoken by the majority.
Other major languages spoken are
Bagri language and
Hindi.
Wildlife sanctuary
Abohar is home to the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, which provides a free-range sanctuary for
. The open sanctuary is spread over an area of 18,650 hectares across farmlands and villages.
The sanctuary is also home to
Albizia lebbeck, Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, A. tortilis,
Nilgai,
porcupines, hares, and jackals.
