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Rohtak

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Rohtak is a significant city located in the Indian state of Haryana. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Rohtak district. The city is situated approximately 70 kilometres northwest of New Delhi. It also lies 250 kilometres south of Chandigarh, the capital of Haryana.

A traffic signboard in Rohtak
A traffic signboard in Rohtak

Rohtak is an integral part of the National Capital Region (NCR). This connection allows the city to access affordable loans for infrastructure development through the NCR Planning Board. As of the 2011 census, Rohtak was the third most populous city in Haryana, with 373,133 residents.

Sector 1 rohtak
Sector 1 rohtak

The history of Rohtak stretches back many centuries. The name is linked to the older form Rauhītaka, mentioned in the 12th-century text Rājataraṅgiṇī. Some traditions suggest the name comes from Rohtasgarh, meaning "Fort of Rohtas." This refers to Raja Rohtas, a Rajput chieftain who helped settle and fortify the area.

Archaeological findings at Khokhrakot provide evidence of ancient life. Researchers have unearthed coin moulds from the Yaudheya reign dating to the 3rd or 4th century CE. These finds include clay seals and terracotta plaques. Even ancient astronomical texts, like the Surya Siddhanta, referenced Rohitaka. This text described a spherical Earth with a prime meridian passing through the region.

Religious history is also deeply embedded in the city's past. A seventh-century statue of Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Jain tirthankara, was discovered in Asthal Bohar. Ninth-century Jain sources, such as the Vipakasutra, highlight the prominence of Jain deities in the area. Over time, different powers controlled the region. The Ghaznavids conquered the town between 1020 and 1030. Later, the Chahamanas ruled in the 12th century. By the 16th century, the Mughal Empire listed Rohtak as a pargana under the Delhi sarkar.

Om
Om

This pargana produced 8,599,270 dams in revenue and provided military forces to the imperial treasury.

The climate in Rohtak is classified as hot-semi arid. This environment is typical of central and western Haryana. The region experiences extreme temperature variations throughout the year. During the summer months from April to June, day temperatures range between 35°C and 45°C. The highest temperature ever recorded was 48.2°C on May 29, 2024. In contrast, winter temperatures from November to February rarely fall below freezing.

Delhi rohtak railway line
Delhi rohtak railway line

Rainfall is unevenly distributed across the district. The annual rainfall is approximately 58 cm. About 80% of this rain occurs during the monsoon season from July to September. Because rainfall is low and seasonal, farmers rely heavily on tubewells and canal irrigation.

Water management is a vital part of the local geography. The area depends on the quality and quantity of groundwater. This water is found in semi-confined to unconfined aquifers. Local residents use dugwells to tap unconfined aquifers. For semi-confined aquifers, there are approximately 22,000 shallow tubewells in use.

Rohtak railway station
Rohtak railway station

This hydrological system supports both the growing population and the agricultural needs of the surrounding district.

Rohtak is a major hub for healthcare and education. The city is home to the Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS). This institution sits on a massive 350-acre campus. It serves as a tertiary care centre for people from Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh. The college originally started in 1960. Initially, students attended Medical College, Patiala. They moved to the Rohtak campus in 1963.

Pranav Mukherjee Addressing an Event At MDU
Pranav Mukherjee Addressing an Event At MDU

Today, it is a famous centre for medical research and specialized healthcare.

Modern infrastructure is rapidly changing the city's landscape. The city is divided into various sectors, some of which are very old and others newly developed.

D park rohtak
D park rohtak

The government has launched ambitious projects, such as a 6-km elevated railway track on the Rohtak-Panipat line. This project costs approximately Rs 316 crore. Urban growth is also a major factor, as many people commute to the capital for work. This rapid growth has made the Haryana Sub-Region a zone of strategic national interest.

UIET rohtak
UIET rohtak
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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Close view of the Suhaili Gate of the Fort, Rohtak.jpg
Close view of the Suhaili Gate of the...
File:Om.svg
Om.svg
File:Star and Crescent.svg
Star and Crescent.svg
File:Christian cross.svg
Christian cross.svg
File:Khanda.svg
Khanda.svg
File:Sector 1 rohtak.jpg
Sector 1 rohtak.jpg
File:D park rohtak.jpg
D park rohtak.jpg
File:Tiger yawning at Rohtak Zoo.jpg
Tiger yawning at Rohtak Zoo.jpg
File:Sai mandir rohtak.jpg
Sai mandir rohtak.jpg
File:A traffic signboard in Rohtak.jpg
A traffic signboard in Rohtak.jpg
File:Rohtak railway station.jpg
Rohtak railway station.jpg
File:Delhi rohtak railway line.jpg
Delhi rohtak railway line.jpg

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