Sarai Alamgir

Sarai Alamgir سرائے عالمگیر
City
The River Jhelum and the bridge from Sarai Alamgir side
Sarai Alamgir سرائے عالمگیر Location in Pakistan
Coordinates: 32°54′N 73°45′E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
Division	Gujrat
District	Gujrat
Towns	4
Union councils	7
Population  (2023)
• Total	73,967
Time zone	UTC+5 (PKT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+6 (PDT)
Postal code	50000

Sarai Alamgir (Punjabi: سرائے عالمگیر , Urdu: سرائے عالمگیر) is the main town of Sarai Alamgir Tehsil, located in the Gujrat district in the north of the Punjab, a province of Pakistan.

Sarai Alamgir is one of four tehsils of Gujrat district.^[1][2][3]

The Sarai Alamgir town was mainly founded by the mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir.^[1] That's why the name of town was given Sarai Alamgir which means Sarai of Alamgir because this place was used as "Sarai" (rest area) by the army of Aurangzeb Alamgir. The town also gains strategic importance that time due to its position at Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) originally built by the emperor Sher Shah Suri (1472- 1545).^[1][4]

Sarai Alamgir covers 575 km² (222 sq mi) on the eastern bank of the Jhelum River, across from the larger town of Jhelum. East of the town is the Upper Jhelum Canal. Sarai Alamgir was raised to the level of Municipal Committee in 1976. After the implementation of Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001, it was given the status of Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA).^[2]

Geography and climate

Sarai is located at 32°54′00″N 73°45′00″E (32.900000, 73.750000); it lies at 232 m (761 ft) above sea level. The municipality has a moderate climate. During the summer, temperatures can reach 45 °C (113 °F) for short periods. Winter months are mild, temperatures rarely falling below 1 °C (34 °F). Sarai Alamgir is located south of Jhelum City, which lies across the Jhelum River. To the north of Sarai, cities are Mirpure and Bhimber. Mandi Bahauddin and Rasul are located to the south of Sarai Alamgir.^[2][5]

History

In ancient history, the region participated in the Indus Valley civilization and the Gandhara civilization. At a later date, the Battle of the Hydaspes took place nearby, between the armies of Alexander the Great and the Great King Porus.^[6][1] In the past, influential people of the region would build a Sarai, which would be caravan stations and rest houses for travelers. A typical Sarai would consist of a drinking well, a praying area and a resting place for people.^[1]

The 'Sarai' (rest area) at Sarai Alamgir was founded by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb because of its strategic location on the Grand Trunk Road and the Jhelum River, and its proximity to Kashmir. Over time, Sarai Alamgir developed into a central town for adjoining village populations.

Sarai Alamgir gained prominence when the King George V Royal Indian Military School was established on 3 March 1922; it was one of four such cadet schools in British India to benefit the sons of members of the Royal Indian Army. The college is now known as the Military College Jhelum and is one of the oldest institutions in Pakistan.^[1]

Demographics

The population of city in 1972 was 2,609 but according to the 2023 Census of Pakistan, the population has risen to 73,967.^[7]

Census	Population
1972	2,609
1981	23,664
1998	37,166
2017	54,864
2023	73,967

Administration

The Tehsil Municipal Administration is a corporate body and consists of the Tehsil Nazim, Tehsil Municipal Officer, four Tehsil Officers and other officials of the Local Council Service, and officials of the offices entrusted to the Tehsil Municipal Administration. A Tehsil Nazim is the head of Tehsil Municipal Administration and exercises all functions and powers assigned to him under the Ordinance. The Tehsil Municipal Officer acts as coordinating and administrative officer, in charge of the Tehsil Officers.

Surrounding important places

Sarai Alamgir is a historic crossroads between the ancient Grand Trunk Road and the Jhelum River.^[1] Nearby are the sites of the Battle of the Hydaspes, the historic and ancient Alexandrian city of Bukephala (or Bucephala) and the huge Rohtas Fort.^[6][8]

Boundaries

Sarai Alamgir city has these cities in its surrounding areas:

West

Jhelum

East

Kharian

North

Mirpur, Azad Kashmir

South

Rasul

Communications

The nearest international airports are at Islamabad and Sialkot, about 127 km (79 mi) and 90 km (56 mi) away, respectively.^[9] There are other transport links to the town, including a railway station, the Grand Trunk Road, the Jhelum River and the Upper Jhelum Canal. Sarai Alamgir is located on GT Road (N5) and Pakistan's main railway line. A highway connects it with Mandi Bahauddin, while the other one goes to Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. A Motorway interchange is also in the pipeline which will be completed by 2023.

Villages

• Balobanaian is a largest village of Sarai Alamgir. It is almost 22 km from the town.

References

1. Irfan Shareef (9 April 2021). "Sarai Alamgir". The Nation newspaper. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
2. "Sarai Alamgir". Tehsil Municipal Administration Sarai Alamgir, Government of the Punjab website. Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
3. PML-N's 'long march' begins from Lahore's Model Town Business Recorder (newspaper), Published 27 March 2022, Retrieved 20 January 2023
4. "TMA Sarai Alamgir website". (Tehsil Municipal Administration, Sarai Alamgir Tehsil website). Retrieved 20 December 2023.
5. Detailed satellite map of Sarai Alamgir and its nearby places Retrieved 20 January 2023
6. Battle between Alexander the Great and King Porus near Sarai Alamgir and Jhelum area on livius.org website, Retrieved 20 January 2023
7. "Sarāi Ālamgīr (Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
8. Rohtas Fort article on The Nation (newspaper) Published 3 June 2013, Retrieved 20 January 2023
9. Nearest Islamabad International Airport on Civil Aviation Authority website Retrieved 20 January 2023