Jhelum جہلم | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Nicknames: | |
 Map of Jhelum City | |
  Jhelum Jhelum (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan | |
| Coordinates:32°56′33″N73°43′32″E / 32.94250°N 73.72556°E /32.94250; 73.72556[1] | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Division | Rawalpindi |
| District | Jhelum |
| Founded | Before BC |
| Union Councils | 7 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | None (vacant) |
| • Deputy Commissioner | Samiullah Farooq (PAS) |
| • District Police Officer | Nasir Mehmood Bajwa (PSP) |
| Area | |
• City | 22.5 km2 (8.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 233 m (764 ft) |
| Population | |
• City | 312,426 |
| • Rank | 31st, Pakistan 21st, Punjab |
| • Demonym | Jhelumi |
| Languages | |
| • Official | |
| • Spoken | Punjabi (89%) Urdu (4%) Pashto (3%) others (4%)[citation needed] |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PKT) |
| Postal code | 49600 |
| Dialling code | 0544 |
Jhelum (also known asJehlum) (/ˈdʒiːləm/;[4]Punjabi /Urdu:جہلم) is a city on the western bank of theJhelum River inPunjab,Pakistan. Located in northernPunjab, it is the capital of theJhelum District. The city is nicknamed the "City of Soldiers" or "Land of Martyrs and Warriors" since many soldiers from the area serving in theBritish Indian Army and later, thePakistan Armed Forces. Due to this,Punjabi tribes have been characterized as a 'martial race'.[5][6][unreliable source?]
Jhelum is several miles upstream from the site of the ancientBattle of the Hydaspes between the armies ofAlexander III of Macedon andPorus. The location of the modern city of Jhelum could conceivably have been the site of the capital ofPaurava. The name of the nearby cityBucephala commemorates the death of Alexander's horse,Bucephalus.[7][a] Other notable areas nearby include the 16th-centuryRohtas Fort and theTilla Jogian complex of ancient temples. The ancientGrand Trunk Road passes through the city. According to the2023 Pakistani census, the population of Jhelum was 312,426.[3] Today, there are a number of industries in Jhelum, including a tobacco factory and wood, marble, glass and flour mills.[8]
According to theConcise Dictionary of World-Place Names, the name Jehlum is derived fromJal meaning ‘pure water’ andHam meaning ‘snow’. This refers to the water flowing through theJhelum River that originates from the snow-coveredHimalayas.[7] Historian Anjum Sultan Shahbaz recorded some theories about the nameJhelum in his bookTareekh-e-Jhelum thus:[9]
Many writers have different opinions about the name ofJhelum. One suggestion is that in ancient daysJhelumabad was known as Jalham. The word Jhelum is reportedly derived from the words Jal (pure water) and Ham (snow). The name thus refers to the waters of a river (flowing beside the city) which has its origin in the snow-capped Himalayas.
However, some writers believe that when "Dara-e-Azam" reached a certain place on the river bank after winning many battles, he fixed his flag at that place and called it "Ja-e-Alam" which means "Place of the Flag". With the passage of time it becameJhelum from "Ja-e-Alam".
According to tradition, Saeed Bin Abi Waqas, brother ofSaad Bin Abi Waqas, was sent to China to preach Islam, during his journey he arrived at the city ofJhelum, he saw the reflection of a city in the river and said "هذا جهيلم"(this is Jhelum), which means "City besides the river, in full moonlight".
Ahmed Shah Abdali also used "Jheelum" in place ofJhelum and "Harian" forKharian in his diary.
Rajput,Gurjar,Labana, andArain[10][11][12] settlers were the earliest inhabitants of Jhelum.[13] The city was the site of theBattle of the Hydaspes betweenAlexander III of Macedon and the local ruler of the region,Porus the Elder.Abisares (or Abhisara;[14] inGreek Αβισαρης), called Embisarus (EμOβισαρoς) byDiodorus,[15] was an Indian king of theAbhira tribe.[16] His descent was beyond the riverHydaspes, whose territory lay in the mountains.[clarification needed] He sent embassies to Alexander both before and after the conquest of Porus in 326 BC, although he was inclined to espouse the side of the latter. Alexander not only allowed him to retain his kingdom but also expanded it, and upon his death, appointed his son as his successor. Porus' kingdom,Paurava, was on the left bank of theJhelum River, corresponding to the limits of the presentGujrat District. TheGakhars appear to represent an early wave of conquerors from the west, who still inhabit a large tract in the mountains north of the Tilla range. Gakhars were the dominant race during the early Muslim era, and they continued to retain their independence for a long period, both in Jhelum and in the neighboring district ofRawalpindi.[13][17]
In 997 CE,Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took over theGhaznavid dynasty empire which had been established by his father,Sultan Sebuktegin. In 1005, he conquered theShahis inKabul and followed it by conquests of thePunjab region, including Jhelum. TheDelhi Sultanate and later theMughal Empire ruled the area. The Punjab region became predominantlyMuslim due tomissionarySufi saints whosedargahs dot the landscape.
The Mughals werePersianizedTurks who claimed descent from bothTimur andGenghis Khan and strengthened the Persianate culture of Muslim India. Being very few in number, the main families of MughalBarlas, descendants of Amir Timur, settled in Mong Rasool and afterward scattered to the villages of Chak Nazar, Shamaspur, Aima Afghana, Khardiyala, Chak Sikander, Malhar Muglain, Mota Garbi, andBhimber. They adopted a policy of converting the localJats and Gakhars, which was mandatory, as recorded in theBaburnama.[18] Thus, it is the Mughals who were largely responsible for the conversion of theJats toIslam.[19]
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the region fell to theDurrani Empire. After theThird Battle of Panipat, the newly emergingSikh Empire invaded and occupiedthe Jhelum District in 1808 from its Gakhar ruler,Raja Sultan Muqarrab Khan. In 1849, Jhelum passed with the rest of the Sikh territories to theBritish Raj. The British conquered Jhelum in 1849 with the assistance of the local Gakhars who resented Sikh rule.
DuringBritish rule, Jhelum was connected by theNorth-Western Railway to other cities in theIndian Empire: 1,367 miles fromCalcutta, 1,413 fromBombay, and 849 fromKarachi. According to the 1901 census, the population was 14,951 people.[20]
TheImperial Gazetteer of India described Jhelum:
The present town is of modern origin, the old town, which may have been the Bucephala of Alexander, having been, on the left or opposite bank of the river. UnderSikh rule, the place was quite unimportant, being mainly occupied by a settlement of boatmen, and at the time of annexation contained about 500 houses. It was then chosen as the site of a cantonment and as the headquarters of the civil administration. For some years, it was the seat of the Commissioner of the Division, but in 1859, his headquarters were transferred toRawalpindi. Under British rule, Jhelum has steadily advanced in prosperity and is the entrepôt for most of the trade of the District, though, since the completion of the Sind-Sāgar branch of theNorth-Western Railway, the salt trade no longer passes through it. It is an important timber dépôt, the timber from the Kashmir forests, which is floated down the river and is collected here. A good deal of boat-building is carried on. The cantonment, which is 3 miles from the civil station, contains the church and post office. The normal strength of the garrison is one Native cavalry and four Native infantry regiments. The municipality was founded in 1867. During the ten years ending 1902–3, the receipts averaged Rs. 32,100, and the expenditure Rs. 31,900. Receipts and expenditure from cantonment funds in the same period averaged Rs. 31,900 and Rs. 6,100, respectively. The chief income of the municipality in 1903-4 was Rs. 34,200 chiefly fromoctroi; and the expenditure was Rs. 41,000. The town has two Anglo vernacular schools, a municipal high school, and a middle school maintained by the American Presbyterian Mission. Besides the civil hospital, the mission also maintains a hospital.[20]
During theMutiny of 1857, 35 British soldiers of the Regular24th Regiment of Foot were killed at theBattle of Jhelum by mutineers from theHonourable East India Company's 14th Bengal Native Infantry (roughly 500 of the soldiers mutinied, with roughly 100 of theSikh soldiers remaining loyal). Among the dead was Captain Francis Spring, the eldest son ofColonel William Spring.[21] A lectern inside St John's Church shows the names of those 35 soldiers. St John's Church is located beside the river Jhelum and remains a landmark in the city. It was built in 1860 as aProtestant church and was in use throughout theBritish period. For forty years, it was closed to the public and in poor condition; however, in 2007,[when?] it was renovated and reopened and is now maintained.[22]
The British soldierWilliam Connolly won aVictoria Cross for his bravery during this battle. Mirza Dildar Baig, also known as Khaki Shah, took part in themutiny at Jhelum and was later celebrated byIndian Nationalists. He was captured and arrested with the remaining mutineers by authorities inKashmir and later hanged near the riverJhelum. His grave is in a shrine in Jhelum Dildarnagar, and a small town inUttar Pradesh is also named after him.
The railway bridge on the river Jhelum was built in 1873 by the British engineer William St. John Galwey. He also made the great Empress Victoria Bridge over the riverSutlej. DuringWorld War I, theJhelum District "stood first" among districts in recruiting for the British war effort, with greater financial assistance from the British government channeled into the area in return.[23]
The predominantly Muslim population supported theMuslim League and thePakistan Movement. After theindependence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhsmigrated to India, while Muslim refugees from India settled down in theJhelum District.
As well as being district capital, Jhelum city is also the headquarters ofJhelum Tehsil. The city of Jhelum is administratively subdivided into sevenunion councils:[24] Jhelum-I, Jhelum-II, Jhelum-III, Jhelum-IV, Jhelum-V, Jhelum-VI and Jhelum-VII.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 38,567 | — |
| 1961 | 52,585 | +3.15% |
| 1972 | 70,157 | +2.66% |
| 1981 | 106,462 | +4.74% |
| 1998 | 147,392 | +1.93% |
| 2017 | 190,425 | +1.36% |
| 2023 | 312,426 | +8.60% |
| Sources:[25] | ||
As of the 2023 census of Pakistan, the population of Jhelum city, including the Jhelum cantonment, was about 312,426 people.[26] It is the 31st-largest city of Pakistan with respect to population. The total area of the city is about 22 km2 (8.5 sq mi). The population density is 261 people per sq. km, and the population growth rate is 1.51, which is very low compared to other urban areas of Pakistan. The majority of the population, 98.47%, percent is Muslim. Of the minorities in Jhelum, Christians are the largest, making up 1.36% of the district's population.
The literacy rate of Jhelum is among the highest in Pakistan. At 79%, it is only lower than that of Islamabad and neighbouringRawalpindi,[27] and is somewhat higher than the average literacy inPunjab province (58%).[27] The literacy rate has increased from 38.9% in 1981. The rate is much higher in the urban areas for both males and females. 84% of the population have electricity and 96% have access to water.[28] TheHuman Development Index of Jhelum is 0.770, which is the highest inPakistan afterKarachi.
| Religious group | 1881[30][31][32] | 1891[33]: 68 [34] | 1901[35]: 44 [36]: 26 | 1911[37]: 23 [38]: 19 | 1921[39]: 25 [40]: 21 | 1931[41]: 26 | 1941[29]: 32 | 2017[42] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Islam | 11,369 | 53.86% | 7,373 | 57.25% | 8,322 | 55.66% | 10,470 | 53.21% | 10,816 | 59.89% | 13,980 | 59.49% | 19,416 | 58.5% | 185,323 | 97.3% |
Hinduism [c] | 7,966 | 37.74% | 4,250 | 33% | 4,350 | 29.1% | 5,824 | 29.6% | 5,379 | 29.78% | 6,304 | 26.83% | 8,936 | 26.92% | 50 | 0.03% |
Sikhism | 1,460 | 6.92% | 1,064 | 8.26% | 2,074 | 13.87% | 3,029 | 15.39% | 1,497 | 8.29% | 2,581 | 10.98% | 3,950 | 11.9% | N/a | N/a |
Jainism | 0 | 0% | 28 | 0.22% | 15 | 0.1% | 25 | 0.13% | 33 | 0.18% | 69 | 0.29% | 146 | 0.44% | N/a | N/a |
Christianity | N/a | N/a | 153 | 1.19% | 190 | 1.27% | 326 | 1.66% | 334 | 1.85% | 565 | 2.4% | 619 | 1.86% | 4,560 | 2.39% |
Zoroastrianism | N/a | N/a | 9 | 0.07% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
Judaism | N/a | N/a | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
Buddhism.svg) | N/a | N/a | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
Ahmadiyya | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 533 | 0.28% |
| Others | 312 | 1.48% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 124 | 0.37% | 5 | 0% |
| Total population | 21,107 | 100% | 12,878 | 100% | 14,951 | 100% | 19,678 | 100% | 18,060 | 100% | 23,499 | 100% | 33,191 | 100% | 190,471 | 100% |
In the2023 census, 83.05% of the population identified theirmother tongue asPunjabi, 10.74% identifiedUrdu, 4.37% identifiedPashto, while 1.84% spoke other minor languages (mostlySindhi andSaraiki).[43]
Lying at 32°56′ North latitude and 73°44′ East longitude, Jhelum is located a 1 hour and 30 minute drive from the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, and a 3 hour drive from the capital ofPunjab,Lahore. Jhelum is linked with these cities through theNational HighwayN-5. Several cities are within 1 to 2 hours drive includingGujrat (home to fan manufacturing),[44]Gujranwala,[45]Chakwal, andMirpur.
Jhelum has amonsoon-influencedhumid subtropical climate (KöppenCwa) and is extremely hot and humid in summer, and pleasant and generally dry in winter. The maximum recorded temperature in the pre-monsoon season of April to June is 49.2 °C (120.6 °F), whereas in winter the lowest temperature recorded is −0.6 °C (30.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is about 900 millimetres (35 in), which is much below the required level given the extremely high evaporation levels. Nevertheless, in the rainy season, water torrents flow from the north to theJhelum River very rapidly and cause damage to the crops, bridges, and roads. This is responsible for the soil erosion in the district.[46]
Over the years, global climate change has affected Jhelum as well as any other place on Earth. Below, comparison charts from Weatherbase and NOAA show the difference in rainfall between 1990 and 2015:
| Climate data for Jhelum (1991-2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 18.9 (66.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 27.4 (81.3) | 33.5 (92.3) | 38.7 (101.7) | 39.9 (103.8) | 36.1 (97.0) | 34.8 (94.6) | 34.6 (94.3) | 32.7 (90.9) | 27.3 (81.1) | 21.8 (71.2) | 30.7 (87.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) | 15.4 (59.7) | 20.4 (68.7) | 25.9 (78.6) | 31.0 (87.8) | 33.0 (91.4) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.3 (86.5) | 29.2 (84.6) | 25.1 (77.2) | 19.1 (66.4) | 14.0 (57.2) | 23.9 (75.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 8.5 (47.3) | 13.2 (55.8) | 18.3 (64.9) | 23.2 (73.8) | 26.0 (78.8) | 26.2 (79.2) | 25.8 (78.4) | 23.7 (74.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 10.9 (51.6) | 6.3 (43.3) | 17.1 (62.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 41.5 (1.63) | 58.6 (2.31) | 58.2 (2.29) | 43.5 (1.71) | 27.1 (1.07) | 67.3 (2.65) | 254.5 (10.02) | 235.0 (9.25) | 98.0 (3.86) | 22.9 (0.90) | 10.1 (0.40) | 16.1 (0.63) | 915.8 (36.06) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 5.8 | 12.0 | 10.4 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 61.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 66 | 61 | 58 | 49 | 39 | 43 | 67 | 73 | 66 | 59 | 63 | 67 | 59 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | — | — | — | — | — | 265.2 | 232.4 | 230.9 | — | — | 219.2 | 194.8 | — |
| Source:NOAA,[47]Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1961-1995)[48] | |||||||||||||
The biggest floods in Jhelum in recent years were in1992. Jhelum city and surrounding areas were almost completely submerged under flood waters.
Auto rickshaws are a common mode of transport for short routes within the city. Many of the new rickshaws in the city usecompressed natural gas (CNG) instead of the petrol engines, as CNG isenvironmentally cleaner and cheaper than petrol.Manual rickshaws are another important mode of transportation. Older horse drawn tongas are now defunct, although some can still be privately commissioned. Taxis and privately commissioned small passenger carrying vans are available.Daewoo Express Bus Service and other bus services operate from the city to the entire country.[49]
The Jhelum Railway Station was built in 1928 duringBritish rule before the independence of Pakistan. It was connected by theNorth-Western Railway to other cities in the Raj. Jhelum is on the main line ofPakistan Railways, and linked to whole country through railway lines across Pakistan. The nearest international airport is theIslamabad International Airport, which is approximately 110 km by road from Jhelum. TheSialkot International Airport is approximately 100 km by road from Jhelum. A small airport calledGurha Salim Airport is situated 13 km (8 mi) from the city centre. It is not being used by any commercial airlines, but only for military purposes.[50]
Rohtas Fort is a garrison fort built by the Afghan kingSher Shah Suri. This fort is about 4 km in circumference and is situated in a gorge approximately 18 km NW of Jhelum and 7 km fromDina.
The old city has a labyrinth of narrow streets and bazaars. Opposite theCMHJhelum Cantt is the CMH Masjid Jhelum mosque.
Located in thecantonment area isSt. John's Church, Jhelum which was built in 1860. There was a local stadium near Gul Afshan Colony, which was changed to acricket stadium namedZamir Jaffri Cricket Stadium. Altaf Park, which was constructed in 1994–95, is in very close proximity to the cricket stadium. Nearly 100 m from Shandar Chowk, in the center of city, isMajor Akram Shaheed Memorial Park. MajorMuhammad Akram Memorial Library is located in this park. This is also the site of a parade which takes place every year on 6 September on the occasion ofDefence Day.
Lehri Nature Park is located 10 kilometers away fromG. T. Road between Jhelum andIslamabad. It is 30 kilometers from Jhelum and 90 kilometers from Islamabad, in the hillyPothohar region.
TheMangla Dam is located on theJhelum River about 30 km (19 mi) from Jhelum, and is thesixth largest dam in the world. It was constructed in 1967 across theJhelum River.
Rasul Barrage is located on the Jhelum River about 30 km downstream from Jhelum. Two major water canals originate at the Rasul barrage: the Rasul-Qadirabad link canal, which is also called the Lower-Jhelum link canal, and the Rasul-Shahpur branch canal. The area around the Rasul barrage lake is also a picnic spot.
Located within the city is a golf course called the River-View Golf Club, where national golf tournaments are held regularly.
There is a cricket and football stadium,Zamir Jaffri Cricket Stadium, where district level tournaments are held. In October 2008,Pakistan Cricket Board upgraded this stadium for regional events.[51]
Jhelum has six degree colleges for women, 10 degree colleges for men, six co-education colleges, six commerce colleges, one law college, numerous higher secondary schools, and over 150 high schools. It also has a campus of Punjab University, Punjab University Jhelum Campus, near Rathiyan, Kala Gujran, and Satellite Town Jhelum.[52]
TheUniversity of the Punjab has established a campus in Jhelum offering programs related to business, commerce, law, and computer science. The literacy rate of Jhelum is high in comparison to other cities of the Punjab. Sixty-five kanals of land was allocated to establish this campus by Government ofPunjab.[53] Jhelum also has two sub-campuses of theVirtual University of Pakistan, Virtual University Campus at Civil Lines opposite City Church, and a private virtual campus, Wings Institute of Learning. Virtual University of Pakistan inaugurated its own campus in Jhelum in March 2012, which is located in the middle of the city.
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Jhelum travel guide from Wikivoyage
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