History
Origins
The region around Rawalpindi has been inhabited for thousands of years. It was founded as a village by Bappa Rawal, and remained a regional town of less importance up until late 18th century when it became an important city within Mughal empire. Rawalpindi falls within the ancient boundaries ofMedieval
The first mention of Rawalpindi's earliest settlement dates from whenMughal
During the Mughal era, Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Ghakhar clan, who in turn pledged allegiance to the Mughal Empire. The city was developed as an important outpost in order to guard the frontiers of the Mughal realm. Gakhars fortified a nearbySikh Misl
Rawalpindi declined in importance as Mughal power declined, until the town was captured in the mid-1760s from Muqarrab Khan by theSikh Empire
Sikh rulerBritish
Following Rawalpindi's capture by the British East India company, 53rd Regiment of the company army took quarters in the newly captured city. The decision to man a permanent military cantonment in the city was made in 1851 by the Marquess of Dalhousie. The city saw its firstPartition
On 5 March 1947, members of Rawalpindi's Hindu and Sikh communities took out a procession against the formation of a Muslim ministry within the Government of Punjab. Policemen fired upon protestors, while Hindus and Sikhs fought against weaker Muslim counter-protestors. The area's first Partition riots erupted the next day on 6 March 1947, when the city's Muslims, angered by the actions of Hindus and Sikhs and encouraged by the Pir ofModern
In the years following independence, Rawalpindi saw an influx ofGeography
Climate
Rawalpindi features aCityscape
Social structures in Rawalpindi's historic core centre around neighbourhoods, each known as a ''Mohallah''. Each neighbourhood is served by a nearby bazaar and mosque, which in turn serve as a place where people can gather for trade and manufacturing.Hull, M. S. (2013). "Government of Paper: The Materiality of Bureaucracy in Urban Pakistan", University of California Press. Each ''Mohallah'' has narrow ''gallies'', and the grouping of houses around short lanes and cul-de-sacs lends a sense of privacy and security to residents of each neighbourhood. Major intersections in the neighbourhood are each referred to as a ''chowk''. Rawalpindi is relatively a new city contrasted with Pakistan's millennia-old cities such asDemographics
The population of Rawalpindi is 2,098,231 in 2017. 84% of the population is Punjabi, 9% isReligion
96.8% of Rawalpindi's population is Muslim, 2.47% is Christian, 0.73% belong to other religious groups. The city's ''Kohaati Bazaar'' is site of largeTransportation
Public transportation
TheRoad
Rawalpindi is situated along the historicMotorways
Rawalpindi is connected toRail
Rawalpindi railway station in theAir
Rawalpindi is served by the Islamabad International Airport. The airport is located 21 km west of the city. It offers non-stop flights throughout Pakistan, as well as to the Middle East, Europe, North America, Central Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia.Administrative divisions
The City District Government, City-District of Rawalpindi is sub-divided into one Municipal Corporation Two Cantonment Board and Seven tehsils: *Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi CitParks
Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Jhelum City, Jhelum Road. It covers an area of about and has a playland, lake with boating facility, an aquarium and a garden-restaurant. Rawalpindi Public Park is on Benazir Bhutto Road, Murree Road near Shamsabad. The Park was opened to the public in 1991. It has a playland for children, grassy lawns, fountains and flower beds. In 2008 Jinnah Park was inaugurated at the heart of Rawalpindi and has since become a hotspot of activity for the city. It houses a state-of-the-art cinema, Cinepax, a Metro Cash and Carry supermart, an outlet of McDonald's, gaming lounges, Motion Rides and other recreational facilities. The vast lawns also provide an adequate picnic spot. Rawalpindi is situated near the ''Ayub National Park'' formerly known as 'Topi Rakh' (keep the hat on) is by the old Presidency, between the Murree Brewery Co. andEconomy
Education
Rawalpindi District is home to 2,463 government public schools, out of which 1706 are primary schools, 306 middle schools, 334 are high schools, while 117 are higher education colleges. 97.4% of children ages 6–16 in urban areas ofMedia
Rawalpindi, being so close to the capital, has an active media and newspaper climate. There are over a dozen of newspaper companies based in the city including ''Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Jang, Daily Asas, The Daily Sada-e-Haq, Daily Express (Urdu newspaper), Daily Express, Daily Din, Daily Aajkal Rawalpindi, Daily Islam,'' and ''Daily Pakistan'' inSee also
* Bappa Rawal * Central Jail Rawalpindi * Christ Church Rawalpindi * Dhamial * General Headquarters (Pakistan Army) * Lal Haveli * Mewar * Military Hospital Rawalpindi * Murree Road * Pakhral * Rawalpindi GazetteerReferences
Bibliography
*External links