Ambala is a city located on the border of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically and geographically Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt (cantonment) and Ambala City, a few kilometers apart from each other. It has a large army and air-force base within the confines of its cantonment area.
Due to its geographical location, the Ambala District plays an important role in local tourism. It is the main entry to Haryana for the tourists of Punjab, Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir and the union territory Chandigarh; and vice-versa.
People
Though Ambala falls in the Haryana state, much of the population is Punjabi. It is this example that is most often feted by true Punjabis, and by Sikhs in particular, of the injustices committed by the Indian Government in the States Reorganisation Act of 1962. The overwhelming majority of Ambala's population are Punjabi speaking, with there being a very significant population of Sikhs, comprising anywhere between 35-40% of the population.
But, with the course of time, Ambala has been successful in building an identity of its own, and securing a place in some of the fast developing cities of Haryana.
People of Ambala are very helpful. When you enter Ambala, you instantly know because of their hospitality
History
As per ancient Indian history,
Aryan people had resided at Ambala at some point in time and during the middle century, there was a very popular place called
Sarudhna near Ambala, which was the country's capital at that time. Ambala was given the status of a district during
British rule, in the year
1847.
Origins of the Name
There are quiet a few interesting beliefs about the origin of Ambala:
- It was found by an Amb Rajput, in the 14th century, and thus the name.
- It was named after the goddess "AMBA" whose temple is located in the city.
- Ambala was originally called "Ambwala", Amb meaning mango in the native language (so, Village of Mangoes)
Location
Ambala is a major junction in northern India after the national capital
Delhi. G.T. Road (NH-1, National Highway 1) passes through Ambala Cantt. Situated about 200 km north of Delhi, this town is extremely well connected by the rail and road network.
Industry and Business
Ambala Cantt is known for its scientific & surgical instruments
manufacturing industry. The clientele of this industry includes an impressive list of prestigious colleges of India in addition to the overseas clients.
Ambala district has industries in metal casting, kitchen mixer grinder manufacturing, and submersible motor pump manufacturing.
Ambala is also famous for its wholesale cloth market, which sells one of the best cloths in the region and at the cheapest prices.
Education
Within the last decade, Ambala has seen the opening of some fine schools and colleges that impart modern education.
Schools like Convent of Jesus and Mary, Army School, S.A Jain senior Model school, Air Force School, S.A.Jain Girls School, Bhartiya Public School, K.Vs, SD Public School(all in Ambala Cantt) and DAV Public School, Ambala City have been known for their academic results in Tenth and Twelfth Class CBSE Board examinations. Boarding Schools like Chaman Vatika and Springfield Schools have been attracting students from as far as Dubai.
Of these, Army School boasts to be the best in the region for its excellence. Its hardworking and efficient staff Kum Kum Chopra (Eng), Mrs. Neeraj Taneja (Phy), Mr. J. Varghese (Eco), Mr. Harmeet Singh (Maths), Mrs. Nirmal Sharma (Hindi) and etc.. has been the key reason for this achievement. The school has been known for its great disciplinarian nature and also for it academics merged with extra curricullar activities
There are two Polytechnics, both of them in Ambala City,
Government Polytechnic|
*, Ambala City, this one is Co-Education, and Government Polytechnic for Women. Both of them provide Haryana Government Recognised Diploma and come under the Directorate of Technical Education, Haryana.For all Kinds of Janampatris Horoscope, Kundli, Milan and Internet results of all schools and colleges the most popular destination is 'Bhatia Communications Ph 01714005643, 4004642 and contact person is Mr. Saurabh Bhatia.
The opening of Medical and Engineering Colleges in and around Ambala have made it a hot-spot for students throughout Haryana. Ambala boasts of having one of the four medical colleges in the state. This Medical College comes under MMEC
*. MMEC hosts many courses, both in Engineering and Bio-Sciences. Another Engineering College in Ambala is ACE, Ambala College of Engineering & applied research.
Other colleges in Ambala are S.D.College, G.M.N. College, Government Post Graduate College, in Ambala Cantt, D.A.V.College, S.A.Jain College *in Ambala City. S.D.College ranks among the best in the region.
Institutions apart, Ambala is a home to a famous few who have made their mark in the field of education like Mr.K. L. Gomber and Mr. K. L. Gogia. (Authors of Fundamental Physics)
Places of interest in Ambala
There are many shrines in and around Ambala City. There is a temple, Bhawani Amba Temple, named after the goddess
Bhawani. Ambala is home to many
Gurdwaras (
Sikh temples), some of which have historical importance. The Badshahi Bag Gurudwara, Sis Ganj Gurudwara, Manji Sahib Gurudwara, Labhuwala Talaah, Sangat Sahib Gurdwara are the historical gurudwaras here. These are associated with
Guru Gobind Singh,
Guru Tegh Bahadur and
Guru Hargobind respectively. There are also the popular
Muslim shrines of Lakhi Shah and Taqwal Shah, Saint Paul's Church and a British,
Christian cemetery. Patel Park in Ambala Cantt and City Park in Ambala City have beautiful gardens.
You can also visit the Subhash Chandra Bose Park in Subhash Colony, Ambala Cantt. It is recently created.
Narayan Garh
Narayan Garh is the headquarters of one of Ambala's sub districts. It was found by the king of Sirmor (Himachal Pradesh),
Raja Laxmi Narayan. After the decline of
Mughal empire, the king of Sirmor build a palace in Kulshan and named it Narayan Garh, hence the name.
Restaurants and Hotels
Due to its strategic position, the last five years have seen the mushrooming of umpteen eateries in Ambala. The oldest and the most famous is the Puran Singh ka Dhaba, on the GT Road. Other popular joints are Maharaja Dhaba, Choupal, Party Line out door caterers Rama Building, Ambala Cantt Ph 9896091616 (M),The USA Gardens,Food Court, Drive in 22 Resorts ,RGs, Bikaner Sweets,Sharma Bhojnalya, Jain Soda Water and Baithak and Standard Restaurant (oldest of all estb 1937). And yes!! how can one forget the everamazing DELUXE Restaurant and Sagar Ratnam. Two shopping Malls are also coming up, each in Ambala Cantt and City.
Places of interest around Ambala
- Chandigarh is a 50 km (1 hour drive) from Ambala.
- Kalka is situated on the national highway Ambala-Shimla.
- Panchkula is a newly built city on the Ambala-Kalka national highway and Ambala-Kalka railway line near Chandigarh.
- Pinjore is a religiously historical local.
- *(National Capital of India)is just 200kms. from it.
- * (it is said that the battle of MAHABHARATA was fought here) is also just I hour drive from Ambala Cantt
Cities and towns in Haryana | Districts of Haryana | Haryana
अम्बाला | Ambala | Ambala
Amabala is also the name of a renowned Indo/Pak sweet manufacturer in London UK and various other locations. The original owners of this successful business were born in the town of Ambala and hence named their store the same.