Jalandhar city is the oldest city in Punjab and one of the oldest in the country.
It was the capital of Punjab since India's independence,194, until Chandigarh was built in 1953
A legend states that the city was named after Jalandhar, a demon king, who is mentioned in the Puranas and Mahabharata. Another states that it is a vernacular term meaning land surrounded by water, i.e. lying between rivers Beas and Sutlej.
The whole of Punjab and the area of present Jalandhar District was part of the Indus Valley Civilization. Mohenjodaro and Harappa are the sites where remains of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found extensively.
The archaeological explorations made during recent years have pushed the ancient times of Jalandhar District to that of the Harappan period.
Jalandhar has seen rapid urbanisation and developed into a highly industrialised centre of commercial activity in recent years.
