Balachaur
|
Balachaur ਬਲਾਚੌਰ |
|
|---|---|
| city | |
 Balachaur
|
|
| Coordinates: 31°04′00″N 76°19′00″E / 31.0667°N 76.3167°ECoordinates: 31°04′00″N 76°19′00″E / 31.0667°N 76.3167°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Punjab |
| District | Nawanshahr |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 18,106 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Punjabi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | PB 20 |
Balachaur is a tehsil and nagar panchayat in the Nawanshahr district of Punjab, India.
A Rajput raja Raj Dev along with his family came here to meditate. He was related to the family of the King of Jaipur. He soon named the tehsil after his son, Balraj as Balachaur. Raj Dev died in 1596 and people built his tomb in the tehsil to worship him as Baba Balraj. A committee named as "Balraj Mandir Committee" was created in 1949 and its president was Zaildar Balwant Singh. The current president is Rana Purshotam Singh. In 1539, Sher-Shah-Suri took the blessing of Raj Dev before attacking Humayun.
Lt-General Bikram Singh, G O C, XV Corps, from Siana near Balachaur defended Ladakh and Chushul, died when an Alouette (also called the HAL Cheetah) helicopter of the Indian Army crashed on 22 November 1963 near Poonch city in the 2.5 km radius of the ceasefire. He is considered the bravest and most efficient General of the Indian Army. In memory of this Great Sikh General, a chowk of Jammu city has been dedicated in his name. Known as Bikram Chowk, it is the largest chowk in Jammu city. A statue has been erected in the middle of this chowk by the Sikh Sangat of Jammu. After his death, his native village was renamed, Siana Bikram Singh. The helipad at the Headquarters of Northern Command in Udhampur has been named Bikram Helipad.
A village named Chandpur Rurki in Balachaur is the native village of Kuldip Singh Chandpuri who received Mahavir Chakra. A Hindi film named 'Border' starring Sunny Deol was also made on his contributions in the battle of Longewala. Chandpuri and his company of 120 soldiers, defended the post, in spite of considerable odds, against the 2000–3000 strong assault force of the 51st Infantry Brigade, backed by the 22nd Armored Regiment.
As of 2001[update] India census, Balachaur had a population of 18,106. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Balachaur has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Balachaur is an important place for the nearby villages because it is a tehsil. It has Punjab government offices, which serve the local villagers. Earlier, there was no higher education in Balacahur, but there is now a college called Baba Balraj Government College. It is near Bains Charitable Hospital.
...
Wikipedia