Paonta Sahib

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Paonta Sahib | type = city | latd = 30.45 | longd = 77.62
state_name = Himachal Pradesh
district = Sirmaur
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 389
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 19,087| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 91-1704
postal_code = 173025
vehicle_code_range = HP 17
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Paonta Sahib is a small town in the south of Sirmour district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is an important religious spot for Sikhs and a bustling industrial town. Major industries are cement (Cement Corporation of India, Rajbhan), pharmaceuticals (Ranbaxy Pvt ltd), textiles (Malwa cotton and spinning mills of Oswal group) and chemicals.

The city has a large Gurudwara on the banks of the river Yamuna, the river being the boundary between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

History

The Gurudwara has linkages to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and the Sikh leader Banda Bahadur. Its original name was Paontika. "Paon" in Hindi means feet and "tika" in Hindi means became stable. It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh's horse stopped at this place on its own and he decided to stay here. He wrote many Sikh religious books here and then went to Anandpur Sahib to establish the Khalsa Panth. The Gurudwara also houses a museum which contains a lot of antiques and weapons used by Guru Gobind Singh during his stay.

Geography

Paonta Sahib is located at coord|30.45|N|77.62|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/11/Paonta_Sahib.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Paonta Sahib] ] . It has an average elevation of 389 metres (1,276 feet). It is on the banks of the river Yamuna, the river being the boundary between the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It is situated near the towns of Nahan in Himachal Pradesh, Yamunanagar in Haryana and Dehradun in Uttaranchal. It is on the western extreme of the Doon valley a distance of about 55 k.m from Dehradun.

Climate

Paonta Sahib has a sub-tropical continental monsoon climate characterized by a seasonal rhythm, hot summers, slightly cold winters, unreliable rainfall and great variation in temperature (0 °C to 40 °C). In winters, frost sometimes occurs during December and January. It also receives occasional winter rains from the western disturbance.

Average temperatures
* Summer: Temperature in summers may rise high to maximum of 40°C. Temperature generally remains 35°C to 40°C.
* Autumn: In Autumn, temperature may go to high to maximum 36°C. Temperature usually remains between 16°C to 27°C in autumn. Lowest temperature may go to 13°C.
* Winter: Winters are quite cool. However, it may sometimes gets chilly. Average temperature in winters (November to February) remains at (max) 7°C to 15 °C and (min) 0°C to 5°C.
* Spring: Climate remains quite pleasant in spring season. Temperature remains (max) 16°C to 25°C and (min) 9°C to 18°C.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Paonta Sahib had a population of 19,087. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Paonta Sahib has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 72%. In Paonta Sahib, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

chools and Colleges

Guru Nanak Mission Public School,THE SCHOLARS' HOME, DAV Public School, Bibi jeet kaur school, GOVT.SEN.SEC. SCHOOL for boys in Taruwala, GOVT.SEN. SEC.SCHOOL for girls in paonta sahib, Saraswati Vidyamandir, Doon Valley School, are the major schools.

SGGS Govt Degree college, BKD College (Degree and B.Ed) for women's and Dental College are the major colleges.

A polytechnic institute is also proposed to be opened shortly for the ever growing demand for technical education in the region.

Transport

Paonta Sahib is on national highway 72 connecting Chandigarh and Dehradun. To Nahan 45 km., Shimla to Paonta Sahib 258 km., Chandigarh to Paonta Sahib 132 km. Nearest railway station is Dehradun 45 km away and nearest airport is Dehradun(Jolly Grant Airport) 70 km. There is frequent bus service from nearby towns. Rickshaws are common for travelling short distances, especially by school-going children, housewives and the elderly. Auto rickshaws are limited, and most often ply to and from on main roads.

References

External links

* [http://www.himachalpradesh.us/paontasahib/index.php www.himachalpradesh.us]
* [http://www.himachaltourism.nic.in/sirm.htm www.himachaltourism.nic.in]