Sargodha History, Pakistan

Sargodha, Pakistan – History

Sargodha is an agricultural city located in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Sargodha is regarded as the center of agriculture and trade. There are different concepts and theories about the history of this city. Some of the archeological findings indicate that this area has been inhabited for a long time. After Arab Muslims entered this region, the people of Sargodha, Sialkot, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and other cities of the Punjab province embraced Islam.

Some believed that the name may be derived from the Sanskrit Svargadhā. Some believe that Sargodha is derived from a legend about a sacred pool of Hindus where a Hindu Sadho”Godha” lived for a long time. After the death of Godha, Hindu Worshipers from all parts of the subcontinent visited this place and offered their rituals.

According to etymology, Amritsar means a pool of Nectar and if we apply etymology on Sargodha it means a pool of Godha. Hindu sadho “Godha” also owned a famous well known as Gol Khūh. After many years of use, the well was not used any more and it has now been replaced by a Market.

The Gol Khūh name is changed to Gol Chowk. During the British rule, Sargodha was a small town, but with the passage of time it grew and eventually it got the status of a city. Due to the geographical location of the city, the British Royal Air Force established an airbase here. The citizens of Sargodha and Lahore were awarded Nishane Istaklal after the Indo-Pak war of 1965.

In the British Raj, the district of Sargodha expanded and includes many other towns and suburbs including Kirana Pahari, Sillanwali and Shahpur etc. Pakistan Air Force has it’s headquarter in Sargodha.

It is also known as "Shaheeno Ka Shahar". In the Indo-Pak War of 1965, Sargodha was on the frontline. Sargodha is a planned city of Pakistan like Faisalabad and Islamabad. Sargodha is rich in agriculture.

The city of Sargodha has many monuments of historical and cultural importance. Guided tours can be arranged to explore the history of Sargodha.

Sugarcane, rice, wheat and barley are the major crops of Sargodha. Sargodha is also home to some of the major manufacturing industries including textile, hosiery, soap, cooking oil and chemicals.