About Bathinda

Bathinda District is situated in the Southern part of Punjab State in the heart of Malwa region. It forms part of newly created division Faridkot Revenue Commissioner's Division and is situated between 29o-33´ & 30o-36´ North latitude and 74o-38´ and 75o-46´ East longitude. The district is surrounded with Sirsa and Fatehabad of Haryana State in the south, Sangrur and Mansa district in the East, Moga in the Northeast and Faridkot & Muktsar in the Northwest.

In the last three decades, the social life here has undergone a sea change. The city where the practice of taking ghunghat (Head cloth drawn well down to cover the face) was followed till about two decades ago is now playing host to more than 1000 paying guests. The teenagers and youth wearing western dresses have become common in this town, which was once, considered the most backward area of Punjab.

From an area of sand dunes, the city has developed into a "city of lakes" as the water reservoirs of the local Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) have been used by the district administration for the purpose of boating. The town, which has developed on the sand dunes around the fort, houses one of the biggest cantonments of Asia.

The city, where the education of girls was considered a matter of privilege three decades ago, now hosts a number of flowers and fashion shows every year. The interaction of the city's population with the residents of the cantonment, the National Fertilizer Limited (NFL) and Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant colonies has changed the complexion of society here.

Commissioning of the first unit of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) here in 1974, initiated the era of development in the town. The progress gained momentum when the Government of India decided to have one of Asia's biggest cantonments. A fertilizer plant of the public sector, which came up here later, put the town on the industrial map of India.

With the coming up of the thermal plant, the town witnessed rapid industrialization, which, however, slowed down during the dark days of militancy. After the militancy phase got over, the industry here was unable to grow due to the "discriminatory industrial policies" of the Punjab Government framed from time to time.

The military station brought about an ecological revolution as thousands of shady and ornamental saplings were plant and the wasteland of town was turned into a green belt. The 18-hole Chetak golf course, spread over 200 acres, in the cantonment is one of the largest golf courses in the country. It has been hosting international competitions every year, sponsored by big business houses of the country.

The complexion of population has become cosmopolitan. The town's population now comprises communities, which belong to different regions and have different cultures, languages and customs.