Urapar Explained

Urapar
Settlement Type:village
Pushpin Map:India Punjab
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Punjab, India
Coordinates:31.0537°N 75.9652°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Punjab
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar
Unit Pref:Metric
Elevation M:253
Population Total:Approximately 9000
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:144422
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Area Code:01823248--- International code 011911823248
Registration Plate:PB32-
Blank1 Name Sec1:Coastline
Blank1 Info Sec1:0km (00miles)
Blank2 Name Sec1:Nearest city
Blank2 Info Sec1:Nawanshahr
Blank1 Name Sec2:Climate
Blank1 Info Sec2:30 (Köppen)
Blank2 Name Sec2:Avg. summer temperature
Blank2 Info Sec2:40°C
Blank3 Name Sec2:Avg. winter temperature
Blank3 Info Sec2:20°C

Urapar is a small town on the Nawanshahar-Phillaur road in the Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district of the state of Punjab, India. Urapar, the capital of the Saini, is also known as Aur-Urapar or Chak-Urapar. It is located 17 km from Nawanshahr, 17 km from Phillaur, and 15 km from Banga.

History

Urapar is famous for the Gurudwara Shahidganj Temple, which was built to honor the martyrs in the battle of 1711, in which Banda Singh Bahadur led the Khalsa Army in a pitched battle against the army of Shamas Khan. The Rahon and the Sikh soldiers who were captured were cremated there. There are eight gurudwaras, three Hindu temples, and three mosques in Urapar.

The late Sardar Sampuran Singh Sena was the only sarpanch (head of a village) who had served four terms (20 years) in a row. He was also the first sarpanch after the city gained its freedom. During his tenure as sarpanch, he established a veterinary clinic. In appreciation of his community services, the Governor of Punjab gave him a commendatory certificate at the opening ceremony. He approached Chotu Ram, the Education Minister of Joint Punjab, to upgrade Khalsa Elementary School of Chak-Urapar to a high school.

There are more than 100 families from Urapar currently living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Every year they get together and celebrate Urapar Day.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census, Urapar had a population of 4,251 (52% male and 48% female). Urapar has an average literacy rate of 87%, higher than the national average of 74% (male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 71%). In Nawanshahr, 12% of the population is under nine years of age.

Prominent residents

Weather

The village has a humid subtropical climate with cold winters and hot summers. Summers last from April to June and winters from November to February. The temperatures in summer vary from an average high of 48 °C (118 °F) to an average low of 25 °C (77 °F). Winter temperatures vary from 19 °C (66 °F) to -5 °C (23 °F).

The climate is generally dry, except during the brief southwest monsoon season from July to August. The average annual rainfall is about 70 cm.

Health facilities

Health facilities include Guru Nanak Charitable Hospital located across the street from Gurudwara Shaidganj Sahib. The hospital is operated by the committee of Gurudwara Shaidganj Sahib and Sena.