Introduction and History
Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) is the modern economic, technological, and corporate gateway of Punjab. Formed on April 14, 2006, by carving out territory from Rupnagar and Patiala districts, it is named in sacred memory of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who attained martyrdom at the Battle of Chamkaur.
The district occupies a towering place in Indian military history. In May 1710, the historic Battle of Chappar Chiri took place here, in which Sikh forces under Baba Banda Singh Bahadur vanquished the tyrannical Mughal Subedar Wazir Khan of Sirhind, demolishing Mughal feudal supremacy and inaugurating the first sovereign Khalsa republic.
Geography and Administration
Directly adjoining the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Panchkula (Haryana), Mohali forms the technological cornerstone of the Chandigarh Tricity. It borders Rupnagar to the north, Fatehgarh Sahib to the west, Patiala to the south, and Ambala to the southeast. It spans 1,093 square kilometers.
Under the Rupnagar Division, Mohali comprises three tehsils:
- Mohali (SAS Nagar) (master-planned commercial and cyber district)
- Kharar (educational and booming urban corridor)
- Dera Bassi (major pharmaceutical and heavy manufacturing hub)
It is represented by three assembly constituencies: Mohali, Kharar, and Dera Bassi.
Punjab's Technology Corridor
Mohali is the premier knowledge and information technology capital of northern India outside Delhi NCR. The expansive Mohali IT City and Quark Media City host global technology leaders including Infosys, Cognizant, and thousands of tech startups. The Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport operates within Mohali's administrative domain.
The industrial belts of Dera Bassi, Lalru, and Kharar host over a thousand pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, textiles, chemical facilities, and high-precision engineering plants.
Landmarks, Sports, and Higher Education
- Chappar Chiri War Memorial (Fateh Burj): Rising 328 feet into the sky, the Fateh Burj is India's tallest victory monument, commemorating Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's historic triumph.
- Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium: A world-renowned international cricket venue that has hosted iconic World Cup semi-finals and historic international fixtures.
- Elite Academic Institutions: Home to premier national institutions including the Indian School of Business (ISB Mohali), IISER Mohali, NIPER (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research), and Plaksha University.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census, SAS Nagar recorded a population of 994,628 with an elite literacy rate of 83.80%.