The name of the district is derived from its headquarters Sirsa. It is said to be one of the oldest places of North India and its ancient name was Sairishaka, which finds mention in Mahabharata, Panini’s Ashatadhayayi and Divyavadan. In Mahabharata, Sairishaka is described as being taken by Nakula in his conquest of the western quarter. It must have been a flourishing city in the 5th century B.C. as it has been mentioned by Panini.
Location :
The district lies between 29 14 and 30 0 north latitude and 74 29 and 75 18 east longitudes, forming the extreme west corner of Haryana. It is bounded by the districts of Faridkot and Bathinda of Punjab in the north and north east, Ganga Nagar district of Rajasthan in the west and south and Hisar district in the east. Thus it touches the interstate boundaries on three sides and is connected with its own state only in the eastern side.
The terrain of Sirsa district may be broadly classified from north to south into three major types i.e. Haryana Plain, alluvial bed of Ghaggar or Nali and Sand dune tract. The characteristics of the three are briefly described below :
Haryana Plain – The Haryana Plain is a vast surface of flat to rolling terrain and extends southward to the northern boundary of the alluvial bed of the Ghaggar. It covers over 65 percent of the area of the District. The elevation of the surface from east to west varies from 190 to 210 meters above the mean sea level. The most diagnostic feature of the Haryana Plain is the presence of palaeo channels which set the occurrence of sand dunes in this terrain unit apart from those in the dune tract. The plain is traversed by numerous dune complexes and shifting sands.
Alluvial bed of Ghaggar – Nali : A clayey surface of almost flat, featureless plain bordered in the north and west by the Haryana Plain and in the south along the sound dune tract, is a manifestation of the misfit nature of the present day Ghaggar. Waterlogging is a serious problem in many parts of this flat surface of impervious clay of great thickness. At places, swamps support a high density of tall grass.
Sand dune tract – Third tract covers the southern most part of the district. The area is northward extension of the sand dunes of Hisar District and GangaNagar District of Rajasthan. The dunes are locally called tibbas. Tibbas around Ellenabad are 9 Meters high; Naugaza Tibba at the border of Rajasthan is 17 Meters high; Tikonta tibba is some 14 Meters high and one south of Shahpuria is 13 Meters high. All tibbas are broad based transverse ridges, some more than 3 Kilometers long without a break. Linear to complex ridges, short to fairly long but narrow at the crests, and generally 2 to 5 Meters high are also present throughout the sandy stretch of the land
At a Glance :
Total Area
Sq.Km.
4277
Sub Divisions
Number
3
Tehsils
Number
4
Sub-Tehsils
Number
2
Blocks
Number
7
Cities
Number
1
Towns
Number
4
Villages
Number
330
Village Panchayts
Number
334
Population (As Per Census 2011 ) :
Total Population
Number
1295189
Total Male Population
Number
682582
Total Female Population
Number
612607
Total No of Households
Number
246571
Rural Population
Number
975941
Urban Population
Number
319248
Percentage of Urban Population
Percentage
24.64%
Density
Number
303 Per SquKms
Growth Rate(1991-2001)
Percentage
15.99%
SC Population
Number
387381
Sex Ratio
F : M
897 : 1000
Literacy (As Per 2011 Census) :
Literate Persons (R) 6 Yr & Above (Rural)
Number
559635
Literate Persons (U) 6 Yr & above (Urban)
Number
223262
Total Literate Persons
Number
782897
Literacy Rate
Percentage
68.82
Literacy among Males
Percentage
76.43%
Literacy aming Females
Percentage
60.40%
Workers :
Cultivators
Number
164297
Agricultural Labour
Number
147042
Household Inds. Workers
Number
11952
Other Workers
Number
178712
Total Main Workers
Number
399169
Marginal Workers
Number
102834
Total Main & Marginal Workers
Number
502003
Health :
Hospital/Dispensaries/Health Ctrs. / Subcentres (As per census 2011)
Number
228
Med. Officers
Number
83
Ayurvedics Unani
Number
38
Maternity & Child Welfare Centers
Number
72
No. of Sterlisation Cases (2013-14)
Number
4459
Availability of Potable Water in Villages
Number
327
Birth & Death Registration Offices
Number
18
Roads (2013-14) :
Metalled
Km
2161
Unmetalled
km
2
Villages Connected
Number
327
Post Offices (2011 Census) :
Post Office
Number
67
Sub Post Office
Number
124
No. Of PO’s Per Lacs Population
Number
22.46
Veterinary Facilities (2013-14) :
Very. Hospitals
Number
59
Vety. Dispensary
Number
172
Vety. Surgeon
Number
55
Fisheries Development (2013-14) :
Area Stocked
Hects.
1228
Total Production
Tonns.
7096
Total Receipt
Rs Lacs
1387775
Agriculture & Irrigation(2013-14) :
Average Annual Rainfall
Millimeter
262.5
Cultivable Area
Hect(000)
404
Net Area Sown
Hect(000)
396
Net Area Irrigated
Hect(000)
369
Average size of Holding
Hect
2.80
Food Grain
Tonns.(000)
1687
Total Cotton Production
Tonns.(000)
706
Fertilizer Cosumption
Tonns.
21735
Pesticides Consumption
Tonns.
360
Tractors
Number
24243
Tube wells & Pump Sets
Number
62902
Electrified Tubewells
Number
44221
Co.Operative Societies
number
1848
Banks (2013-14) :
Commericial Bank
Number
78
Centeral Co-Operative Banks
Number
1
Centeral Co-op Bank Branch
Number
41
P.L.D. Banks
Number
6
Regulated Market
Number
6
Average No of Villages served Per Regulated Market
The name of Haryana instantly conjures up the image of a State which astonishingly combines both-antiquity and plenty. The Vedic land of Haryana has been a cradle of Indian culture and civilization. Indian traditions regard this region as the matrix of creation of northern altar’ where Brahma performed the pristine sacrifice and created the universe. This theory of creation has been confirmed to a large extent by archaeological investigations carried out by Guy E. Pilgrim in 1915, who has established that 15 million years ago, early man lived in the Haryana Shivaliks. The Vamana Purana states that King Kuru ploughed the field of Kurukshetra with a golden ploughshare drawn by the Nandi of Lord Shiva and reclaimed an area of seven Kosas.
Replete with myths, legends and vedic references, Haryana’s past is steeped in glory. It was on this soil that saint Ved Vyas wrote Mahabharata. It was here, 5,000 long years ago that Lord Krishna preached the gospel of duty to Arjuna at the on set of the great battle of Mahabharata:”Your right is to do your duty and not to bother about the fruits (Outcome) thereof !” Since then, this philosophy of the supremacy of duty has become a beacon to succeeding generations.
The Mahabharata knows Haryana as the land of plentiful grains (Bahudhanyaka) and immense riches (Bahudhana). Before the Mahabharata war, a battle of ten kings took place in the Kurukshetra region. But it was the Mahabharata fought for the highest values of righteousness which gave to the region world-wide fame because of the profound and sophisticated thought expounded in the holy Bhagavadgita by Lord Krishna recited to the quivering Arjuna.
The region has been the scene of many a war because of its being ‘A Gateway to North India’. As years rolled by, successive streams of the Huns, the Turks and the Tughlaqs invaded India and decisive battles were fought on this land. At the end of the 14 century, Tamur led an army through this area to Delhi. Later, the Mughals defeated the Lodhis in the historic battle of Panipat in the year 1526. Another decisive battle was fought in the year 1556 at this very site, establishing the supremacy of the Mughals for centuries to come.
Towards the middle of the 18th century, the Marathas had established their sway over Haryana. The intrusion of Ahmed Shah Durrani into India, culminating Maratha ascendancy and the rapid decline of the Mughal empire, leading ultimately to the advent of the British rule.
Indeed, the history of Haryana is the saga of the struggle of a virile, righteous, forthright and proud people. From ancient times, the people of Haryana have borne the main brunt of invaders and foreign hordes with their known traits if bravery and valour. They have survived many an upheaval, upholding the traditional glory and greatness of the land to this day. The epoch-making events of yore, the martyrdom in the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, the great sacrifices in the freedom struggle, and the display of outstanding valour, unflinching courage, and heroism in recent years are all in keeping with the character of this land of action. Bold in spirit and action, the people of Haryana have formed a bulwark against forces of aggression and anti-nationalism.
Haryana has always remained a rendezvous for diverse races, cultures and faiths. It is on this soil that they met, fused and crystallized into something truly Indian. Hindu Saints and Sikh Gurus have traversed the land of Haryana spreading their message of universal love and brotherhood. Sihi in Faridabad, the birth place of great Hindi poet Surdas, is another nucleus of culture in Haryana while the legend of Lord Krishna is very evident in the lives of the people. The love for cattle and the abundance of milk in the diet of Haryanavis persists to this day which gave to the region world-wide fame.
Haryana emerged as a separate State in the federal galaxy of the Indian Republic on November 1,1966. With just 1.37% of the total geographical area and less than 2% of India’s population, Haryana has carved a place of distinction for itself during the past three decades. Whether it is agriculture or industry, canal irrigation or rural electrification, Haryana has marched towards modernity with leaps and bounds. Today, it enjoys the unique distinction in India of having provided electricity, metalled roads and potable drinking water to all its villages within record time. Haryana is among the most prosperous states in India, having one of the highest per-capita income in the country.
District at a Glance
District –
Headquarters –
State
Area in Sq Km (Census 2011)
Total –
Rural –
Urban –
Population (Census 2011)
Population –
Rural –
Urban –
Male –
Female –
Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 males) –
Density (Total, Persons per sq km) –
Constituencies (ECI)
Assembly
Loksabha
Official Website –
Tourist Places :
1. ROHTAK :
Rohtak city is the headquarter of Rohtak Tehsil and Distt. It is situated on Delhi Hisar N.H.10. The ruins of the ancient town at Khokrakot prove that perhaps the town is as old as Indus valley Civilization as the Minar finds at Khokhrakot are typical of Indus Valley sites. It is also Identified with Rohitika,mentioned in the Mahabharta. It was quite possibly the capital of Bahudhanyaka the kingdom of yaudheyas. In the vinaya of the Mulasarvasti-vadins, Jivaka is represented as taking journey from Taxila in the north west of Bhadramkara, Udumbasa, Rohitaka and Nathura in the Ganga Doab. The ancient highway carried the trade of the ganga valley to Taxila passing through Rohitika to Sakala. The existance of the town during the rule of Kushanas is testified by the recovery of Khushana Pillar Capital decorated with carving of winged lions and riders. The Pillar capital represents the sculplor’s excellence in his professional skill. An example of a lion capital of 1-2 century A.D., it resembles the lion capital in the British museum at London, famous for its inscriptions. The riders on it are similar to the riders on elephant at Karle cave and figures at Sanchi Gateway. It is a significant example of the sculptural art of Haryana towards the beginning of the Christian era. Clay mounds of coins discovered at Khokhrakot have thrown important light on the process of casting coins in ancient India. The coin moulds of the later Yadhyayas of the 3-4 century A.D. have been discovered in large number here of the same and subsequent dates are several cly sealings. A Gupta terraacota plague and a head of later date have also been discovered. The town continued to flourish till the 10th century A.D.as coins of samanta Deva, the Hindus King of kabul have been found here. At present, there is one University, one PGIMS, the institutes of prestige. The rewri of this town are famous.
2. ASTHAL BOHAR :
Asthal bohar is stuated 6-7 Km east of Rohtak city on Rohtak-Delhi N.H.10. the place is know for its math and ancient finds sculptured stone idols. According to a legend, Pooran Bhagat of Sialkot and disciple of Guru Gorakhnath, came hare and founded this nplace. after being neglected, the Math was revided in 1791 or so,when Baba Mast Nath came here. Now here are Ayurvedic Degree College, Free Hospital, Business Management Institute, Engineering College and other institutions being run by Math.
3. MEHAM :
Meham town is situated 30 km.west of Rohtak city on Rohtak Hisar N.H.No.10. Tradition assigns the settement of the town to Mahabharta period when it was a site of big fort. Later it was re-founded by Rai Ballu, a Power Rajput, before the reign of prithi Raj Chauhan. It is said to have been destroyed by Mohammad Gauri. But this place of antiquity is not historically recovered before the reign of Akbar, when he gave it in Jagir to Shahbaz Khan, an Afgan. later in the reign of Aurangzeb, it was santched from Afgans by the Rajputs Ancient monuments in the town includs a bain or baoli(well with steps leading to it) and two mosques i.e. jama Masjid and Pirzada Masjid. The baoli is having 101 steps and has suits of rooms neer the well. An inscription on a marble slab records the fact that it was made by Sidu, a chobdar in A.D.1656-57. It is made of Kankar ( Gravel) and sand stone. It is ,however, not the oldest baoli of the town, having been built to replace another one which had fallen into disuse due to change in the alignment of Delhi Hisar Road. The new baoli is towards the south of the town, while the old one is towards east. the jama Masjid,was constructed in the time of Humayu in A.D.1531, as seen from the inscription under the pulpit stairs. Outside and over the south arch is another scription of the time of Aurangazeb, A.D. 1667-68, stating that the mosque has built by Khawaja Rahmet Ullah. Two Arabic inscriptions also show that a mosque existed there even before the rein of Humayu. The pirzada Masjid is a small Masjid towards south of Jama Masjid built in the reign ofd Babar by Sheikh Yasaf of Hisar as per inscription