Sundar Nagar

Sundar Nagar सुंदर नगर Sunder Nagar
city
Sundar Nagar Show map of Himachal Pradesh Sundar Nagar Show map of India Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 31°32′N 76°53′E / 31.53°N 76.88°E / 31.53; 76.88Coordinates: 31°32′N 76°53′E / 31.53°N 76.88°E / 31.53; 76.88
Country	India
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Mandi
Elevation	800 m (2,600 ft)
Population (2005)
• Total	30,986(4th)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
• Local Language	Mandeyaalee
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	175018
Telephone code	91-1907
Vehicle registration	HP-31
Website	http://sundernagar.org

Sunder Nagar is a City and a municipal council in Mandi district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Formerly it was a princely state, known as Suket.^[1]

Geography

Sunder Nagar is located at 31°32′N 76°53′E / 31.53°N 76.88°E / 31.53; 76.88.^[2] It has an average elevation of 800 metres (2600 feet).

Transport

SunderNagar is situated on National Highway 21

.

Air: The nearest airport is Bhuntar, near Kullu which is about 82 km.

Rail: Nearest Broad Gauge Railway Station is Kiratpur Sahib which is about 105 km. Another broad gauge railhead is at Pathankot, a distance of 210 km. From Una and Pathankot the narrow gauge railway connects Joginder Nagar which is 80-km from SunderNagar.

Road: Frequent bus services are available from Chandigarh, Delhi, Shimla & Jammu for Sundernagar. 22 km from Mandi is well connected by road to other places. The main bus stand is just above an open playing field, where the National Highway- 21 continues along the left bank of river to Pandoh.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[3] Sunder Nagar had a population of 23,979. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sunder Nagar has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 78%. In Sunder Nagar, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

The Sunder Nagar lake.

There is a mixture of Himachalis and other states people in this town. This is due to the presence of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (B.B.M.B), which is a Govt. of India project having Punjab, Haryana, Rajsthan and Himachal Pradesh as partners and hence the employees are mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Rajsthan. Now the number of people from Bihar are also increasing due to different construction works going on (mainly houses).

The place as a whole is quite peaceful. There are lot of scenic beauties to see like sunset across the lake, valley view from the road going to Keran etc. There are two open big grounds in the colony where a lot of children play, people usually go for a walk in the evenings and mornings, usually on the roads towards nearby villages like Chambi and Keran. But there is a project of Cement factory which has been initiated by the government in Keran. 10/05/2011 At present the government has given stay order for the factory project and it will take next 5 years to take further step in installation of factory. But the stone to be used in factory for cement making will still be going from Keran.

Education

Sundar Nagar has emerged as an educational hub in past few years, having an Government Engineering College, Government Dental college, Government Polytechnic College, Government Sanskrit College and Semi Government Degree College.

Schools

Government schools

Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

1. Govt. B.S.L. Sr. Sec. School
2. Govt. Sr. Sec. Model School]

Affiliated to Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE)

1. Government Senior Secondary School(Boys)
2. Government Senior Secondary School(Girls)

Semi Government Schools

Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

Private schools

Affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

1. St. Mary's Senior Secondary School
2. Mahavir Public Senior Secondary School]
3. Angel's public school
4. Vision International Public Senior Secondary School
5. St. Xavier's Residential School
6. Axiom International School
7. The Phoenix school of Integrated Learning

Affiliated to Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE)

1. Varadman Mahavir Public Senior Secondary School
2. Modern Hi Tech Public School

Colleges

Government colleges

1. Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College
2. Government Polytechnic College
3. Himachal Dental College
4. Government Sanskrit College

Semi Government Colleges

1. Maharaja Lakshman Sen Memorial College

Around Sundernagar

Mahamaya Temple: Located on top of a hill, offers a panoramic view of the city and is one of the most sacred places around.

Murari Devi Temple: Murari Devi Temple is a beautiful place to visit in Sunder Nagar. This Temple is in the west of Sunder Nagar on the top of a sacred hill named Murari Dhar. this temple is situated at the height of 7000 ft (2,133 m). It is believed that this temple was made by Pandvas during their "AGYATWAAS". This place often receives snowfall in the month of January.

Shukdev Vatika: It is situated near to BBMB reserviour. During Pre-Mahabharata period Rishi Shukdev meditated at this place. There is an ancient cave dating back to Puranas. This cave leads to Haridwar and it is believed that Rishi Shukdev used this cave to take bath in holy Ganges every morning.

Haateswari Temple: This temple is situated on Sundernagar Baggi Road at a distance of about eight km from Sundernagar. History of Pandavas can also be traced to this famous temple. Devi Haateswari, the presiding deity of the area has a huge following.

Lake Reservoir: It is the reservoir of the BSL Project. Lies at the heart of the town and is blessed with cool breeze with a panoramic view overlooking the mighty himalayas lies on the national highway 21 (Chandigarh - Manali).

Rewalsar: About 30 km from sundernagar, it is a small Tibetan settlement with a beautiful lake in between. It has a lot of Tibetan temples, a small zoo, and boating facilities at the lake.

Jangam Bagh: Its in BBMB colony (BBMB Colony Titled as Mini Chandigarh) near Govt. Senior Secondary Model School. It has a temple and fish pond and is surrounded by lush green trees.

Sheetla Mata Temple: It is a beautiful temple devoted to Maa Sheetla. It is located about a mile away from bank of bsl lake. Along with this lie a broad cast point of Doordarshan.

Kalwara Mahadev Temple: It is a beautiful temple devoted to Lord Shiva. It is famous for its caves. It is situated on the top of a hill 6 km from Sunder Nagar bus stand & 2 km on foot journey from village Keran.

Thakur Art Gallery: It is an Art gallery of Oil paintings situated near 18 KM from Sunder Nagar towards Bilaspur at NH-21, Village- Slapper

Food Courts & Business Complex:

• * * Hotel Hamsafar, Sukhdev Vatika

PLC Business Complex (near by Polo Regency Hotel)

- Manali Sweets & Baker

- K & K Computers

- Mandyali Dham

References

Further reading

• Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). History of the Panjab Hill States, Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Pujab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter VIII Suket State, pp. 340–372.
• History of Mandi