Kotkapura
Kot Kapura is a historic city in Faridkot district, some 50 km from Bathinda, 40 km from Moga and 30 km from Muktsar in the state of Punjab, India. It is the largest city in the Faridkot District and has a large cotton market. It takes around 15 minutes by bus from Faridkot, 4 hours by road from Chandigarh and 2.0 hours from Ludhiana, and 8 hours from New Delhi by train to reach the city. It is a central city on route to Ganganagar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Firozpur, etc. Kot Kapura takes its name from its founder, Nawab Kapur Singh, and the word 'Kot', meaning a small fort – literally the 'Fort of Kapura'. The city is known for its "Dhodha Sweet" and "Atta Chicken" both of which are exported outside India.
Kot Kapura
ਕੋਟਕਪੂਰਾ | |
|---|---|
City | |
  Kot Kapura Location in Punjab, India | |
| Coordinates: 30.5833°N 74.9°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Punjab |
| District | Faridkot |
| Founded by | Kapura |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.25 km2 (6.66 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 208 m (682 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 91,979 |
| • Density | 5,300/km2 (14,000/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Punjabi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 151204 |
History
Bhallan, founder of the Faridkot principality, was an ardent follower of Guru Har Gobind, the 6th Sikh Guru. He helped Guru Har Gobind Ji in the Battle of Mehraj, but died issueless in 1643. He was succeeded by his nephew, Kapura, who founded the town of Kot Kapura in 1661. Nawab Kapura was the chaudhry of eighty-four villages. Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, en route from Machhiwara, after staying at Dina and after short stopovers at various other places, reached Kot Kapura and asked Nawab Kapura Brar for his fort to fight the pursuing Mughal army. Kapura was a Sikh, but did not want to earn the ire of the Mughals by helping Guru Gobind Singh openly in his war with them; otherwise, the famous last battle of Muktsar (Khidrane Di Dhaab; now a historic town) between Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughal army would have been fought at Kot Kapura. However, Nawab refused the fort to the guru.
Climate
The climate of the Kotkapura is, on the whole, dry and is characterized by a very hot summer, a short rainy season, and a cold winters. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from November to March. This is followed by the summer season which lasts until about the end of June. The period from July to mid-September constitutes the south-westerly monsoon season. The latter half of September and October may be termed the post-monsoon or the transition period.
Demographics
The city is home to about 92 thousand people out of which 53% are Male and 47% are female. Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in the city with some people speaking Hindi and its dialects. Hindus contribute 52% of the total population and are the largest religious community followed by Sikhs which contribute 47% to the total population. Literacy Rate of the city is around 77%
Transport
Railways
Kotkapura Junction railway station serves the city as its Railway Station. It is connected with the cities of Bathinda, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Muktsar through railway lines. Many long route trains pass through Kotkapura on its way.
Roadways
Kotkapura is connected to almost all the big cities of Punjab through Road travel. Kotkapura Bus Stand is hub for buses to the nearby cities. Cycle rickshaw and E-Rickshaws are the major form of transport within the city. State Highway 16 which connects Moga and Malout passes through the city.
Air
Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar and Bathinda domestic airport are the nearest, about 90 km away.
Education
Schools
City has major schools with boards Punjab School Education Board and Central Board of Secondary Education. Few schools also offers Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) education.
Major Schools includes DAV Public School and Dasmesh Public School which are some of the oldest schools in the city offering CBSE education. City also has separate Government schools for boys (Dr Hari Singh Sewak Sen. Sec. School) and girls (Dr. Chanda Singh Marwah Govt. Sr. Sec. School), which provide sports facilities as well as education.
Colleges
Colleges in the city offers education ranging from Nursing to Commerce and from Arts to Engineering.
Malwa College of Nursing is a reputed college in the state offering degrees in Nursing and acquires its name from Malwa region in Punjab.
Places To Visit
- Fun Plaza
- Durga Mandir
- Gurdwara Godavari Sar Patshahi
- Shiv Gufa Mandir
- Shri Radha Krishna Mandir
- Fort of Kot Kapura
- Gurudwara Patshahi Dasvin [Historical Gurudwara: Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited this place]
- Shri Guru Ravidas Mandir
Kot Kapura Today
Kot Kapura, like many other small towns in India, is undergoing modernization. Shastri Market or Maheshwari Street established by Bansi Dhar Maheshwari (1875-1935) is one of the most populous and largest markets in Punjab. Kot Kapura has also been called the 'City of White Gold' due to its cotton market, which was once the largest cotton market in Asia. The town is famous for sweet called Dhodha and savoury dish named Atta Chicken.
Kot Kapura was famous for its ever-closed railway crossing gate on the Kot Kapura–Muktsar highway. However, a flyover has saved the town from this notorious landmark.