Fazilka, Punjab, India

🇮🇳 Fazilka, also known as Bangla, is a city and a municipal council in Punjab, India. In 2011, it was made the headquarter of the newly created Fazilka district. The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAPI) project originating in Turkmenistan will have its last station in Fazilka.

History The municipality of Fazilka was formed with Punjab Government Notification No. 486, on 10 December 1885. The town was added to the Ferozepur district in 1884. On 25 July 2011, Fazilka was declared a District by the Government of Punjab with Gazette Notification No. 1/1/2011-RE-II(I)/14554.

Before partition, 50% of Fazilka's population was Muslim. All of them left India for Pakistan in 1947. Most of the villages around Fazilka were dominated by Bukhari Syeds (including the village of Baik Sharif), Jaat of kerian, Muslim families, mainly the Bodla, Watto, Sahoo Rajpoot, Kalya Rajpoot and Chistis clans.

Many people from Fazilka pay an annual visit to Katas Raj Temples — a Hindu holy site in Pakistan, the site of an ancient Shiva Temple — usually in August.

Location Fazilka is a border town 10 km east of India-Pakistan border, it is also located near the tri-junction of 3 states within India, namely Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan.on the India. Within India, it is 100 km west of Bathinda, 210 km south-west of holy city Amritsar, 210 km south-west of industrial city Ludhiana, 210 km south-west of state capital Chandigarh, 240 km north-west of NCR CM city Hisar, 400 km north-west of national capital Delhi.

International border crossing India's Sadiqui Check Post on the India-Pakistan border is manned by the Border Security Force (BSF). The Sadiqui Integrated Check Post (Sadiqui ICP) is a crossing and check post 14 km east of the India-Pakistan border jointly managed by India and Pakistan border forces. Across the Indian village is Sulemanki Headworks on the Satluj River, inside Pakistan just 2 km east of Sadiqui ICP. This crossing is also called the Sadiqui-Sulemanki border crossing.

After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the crossing was closed. As of 2017, it was closed, and people of the area have been demanding the opening of the Sadiqui-Sulemanki border crossing for trade to bring prosperity.

According to the agreement, no construction is allowed by either country, including bunkers, etc. within 150 meters of the border.

Sadiqui-Sulemanki border ceremony At the Sadiqui-Sulemanki border crossing, a 40-minute beating retreat flag ceremony is held every day at 6 pm since 1970. It is jointly held by the military of both nations, Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Pakistan Rangers. It is open for the public and tourists as a tourist attraction. It is similar to the other border ceremonies at Atari-Wagah and Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala in Punjab and Munabao-Khokhrapar in Rajasthan. According to the Indian officials, "At Sadiqi, the BSF personnel and Pakistani Rangers march and lower the national flags in their respective territories, while at Wagah and Hussainiwala, their counterparts cross the Radcliffe Line, shake hands and lower the flags".

On India's Independence Day on 15 August, nearly 45,000 people from India arrive to witness the border ceremony. Fazilka, like many towns on the India-Pakistani border, has suffered difficulties dating back to the Partition of India in 1947. The Radcliffe Line, the border recommended by departing British colonial authorities, divides natural resources, and people. During the ceremony, kin of families separated during partition of India arrive to waive at each other to show affection. Till 2012 they were allowed to meet and embrace but this practice was stopped due to security reasons the authorities on both sides of the border used to allow the family members to meet, hug and shake hand with each other but the practice was later on discontinued apparently due to security reasons.

Asafwala war memorial The Asafwala War Memorial, also called Asafwala Shaheedon Ki Samadhi, a war memorial and samadhi (shrine) spread over 5 acres Asafwala War Memorial 10 km north-east of Sadiqui-Sulemanki border ceremony and 4 km south-west of Fazilka on Fazilka-Sadiqui Road, is dedicated to martyrs of Indian Army of Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 who sacrificed their lives and saved Fazilka town from falling in the hands of Pakistan Army. Memorial, built in 1972, is dedicated to soldiers who fought here who mainly belonged to the 67 Infantry Brigade's battalions consisting of 4 Jat Regiment, 15 Rajput Regiment and 3 Assam Rifles. This is a unique war memorial which also has the relics of the war heroes who repulsed the Pakistani attack, saved Fazilka, but sacrificed their lives. Apart from the martyrs relics, the memorial also has photos of all the martyrs, and busts of 4 decorated war heroes.

Railway The first railway line through the town was set up in 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the ascension to the throne by Queen Victoria. Fazilka was connected by railway to McLeod Ganj (now in PakMandi Sadiqganj) on the route to Bahawalnagar and then to Bahawalpur. Fazilka was connected by railway to Amruka (now in Pakistan) through Chaanwala. The tracks from Fazilka to McLeod Ganj and from Fazilka to Chaanwala are now closed, perhaps removed.

Fazilka Junction railway station is connected to Ferozepur and Bathinda junctions of Northern Railways. A new 43 km long railway line to Abohar towards the south has been constructed to shorten the distance to Bikaner by over 100 km. Trains on the new railway line to Abohar began running in July 2012. An express train started between Sri Ganganagar and Firozpur via Abohar and Fazilka in November 2012 on this track.

Roads National Highway 7 passes through Fazilka. NH 7 connects to NH 9 at Malaut which leads to Delhi via Mandi Dabwali, Hissar and Rohtak. The state highway runs from Fazilka to Ferozepur and from Fazilka to Malout. Both are good roads.

It is 100 km from Bhatinda where it connects to Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway, Pathankot–Ajmer Expressway, NH-9 to Hisar and Delhi.

Air Amritsar international airport and Bathinda domestic airport are the nearest, about 90 km away.

Intra-city-Ecocabs Fazilka have a public bus transport system. Cycle rickshaws are the available means of transport in the city. These rickshaws are now dispatched by Fazilka Centre.