Holidays Travel Guide

History


Prehistoric times
Year     Events
40,000 BC     People began living in man-made shelter huts in northern Punjab and central Asia (Bactria)
7,000 BC     There is evidence of people growing barley in this area and raising sheep and goats. People began living in mud-brick dwellings in villages, some of which are still in existence.
5,500 BC     Inhabitants learned to make pottery from burnt clay, a technique that is scarce but still alive today.
3,000 BC     Farming villages began appearing in the Bathinda area, most of which still exist today.
2,600 BC     Farmers in the area made use of the plough; exactly as it is still used in some Bathinda areas today.
1,500 BC     Cities of the area were abandoned, but the rural villages thrived and survived. Indo-Aryans arrived in the area.
800 BC     Indo-Aryans spread in the area and began clear-cutting forests.
600 BC     Area inhabitants began use of elephants in warfare.
125 BC     A Scythian tribe known as Sakas invaded Punjab from Balochistan and Sind.
15 AD     The Kushan Kingdom was restored in the area.
[edit] Birth of modern Bathinda

It is believed that Rao Bhatti established the modern town of Bathinda in the Lakhi jungle area in the third century, and it was captured from him by the Brars. Bala Rao Bhatti inhabited the city in 965 AD, naming it Bhatti vinda after his surname. The city also remained the capital of Raja Jaipal. Later the city name was changed to Bhatinda and now a days it is known as Bathinda.

In 1004, Mahmud of Ghazni besieged the local fort, which was located on the route from the northwest into the rich Ganges valley. In 1189, Muhammad Ghori attacked and occupied the fort of Bathinda. Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the ruler of this region, managed to recover possession of the fort thirteen months later in 1191 after a fierce battle.

Razia Sultan, the first female ruler of India, was imprisoned at Bathinda in April, 1240. She was released in August of that year through the efforts of Altunia, the local governor. Both Altunia and Razia married but were killed by robbers near Kaithal on October 13[citation needed].

The Sidhu-Brars were thrown out of Bathinda during the Lodhi's rule, but were restored to the area by Babur. A few years later, Roop Chand, a staunch Sikh, came onto the scene of Punjab history. Phul, the second son of Roop Chand, started the practice of langar (community kitchen) for the people in the Lakhi jungle area and built a fort around 1654.

With the formation of the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) on May 5, 1948, Bathinda District came into existence on August 20, 1948. Its headquarters was originally at Faridkot, but relocated to Bathinda in 1953.

After 1953, many changes were made to Bathinda District's geographical boundaries. Muktsar and Mansa districts were separated from Bathinda.