History of Chakwal

History

Chakwal is the capital of Chakwal district Punjab Pakistan.It is located 90 km south-east of the federal capital, Islamabad and is named after Chaudhry Chaku Khan,chief of the Mair Minhas tribe from Jammu, who founded it in 1525 CE during the era of the Mughal Emperor, Zaheerudun Babur. It remained a small but central town of the Dhan Chaurasi Taluka for many centuries. In 1881, during the British era, it was declared the Tehsil Headquarters. It was finally upgraded to district status in 1985. The area of Chakwal city is about 10 square kilometres.

Chakwal is located in the Dhanni region of the potohar in northern Punjab, Pakistan. During the Independence War of 1857 Chaudharials of Chakwal strengthened the hand of the British Raj by escorting the treasury from Chakwal to Rawalpindi and got the khilats and Jagirs.

Chakwal's non-Muslim minorities departed during partition of the subcontinent in 1947 but the city is still in their heart and mind and had never forgotten it.

Why is Chakwal Called Home of Military Persons

Chakwal is truly land of military persons. Most of the people are serving in Armed forces. Chakwal produced lots of army officers and soldiers and history is full with their bravery and courage. In fact this land is dry and people are very hardworking. They are brave by birth and are much familiar with guns so due to that reason when they join army they love to show their skills which are in their blood. So that is why, Chakwal is called land of Military persons.

Generals and Decorate Officers

• General Muhammad Akbar Khan, First Muslim General of British/Pakistan Army.
• General Muhammad Iftikhar Khan, Designated to become the First CnC of Pakistan Army, died in the Air crash in 1949.
• General Muhammad Anwar Khan, first EnC of the Pakistan Army.
• Brigadier Muhammad Zaffar, first Indian Commander of Calvary
• Air Marshal Noor Khan Tamman
• Lt General Abdul Majid Malik, former federal minister
• General Abdul Qayyum  
• General Muhammad Farooq Malik, DG Artillery 
• General P.D. Khan
• General Abdul Razzaq Khan
• General Faiz Jilani
• General Muhammad Muzaffar Kahut, Chief pathologist AFIP
• General R.D. Bhati
• General Tajjamul Malik
• General Ashraf Janjua 
• General Safdar, former Governor Punjab 
• General Dr Riaz chohan 
• General Nazeer Hussain
• General Dr Asad Malik
• General sheraz Lodhi
• General Dr Shahida Malik
• General Imtiaz Shaheen
• General Afzal Muzaffar 
• General Mehmood Ul Muzaffar
• General Yaqoob Chaudhary
• Capt Ghulam Muhammad Malik, Received Victoria Gun in 1920 after WWI
• Subaydar Khudadad Khan, Victoria Cross
• Subaydar Muhammad Shah Kahut, Victoria Cross
• And so manny Officers, JCOs and soldiers are currently serving 

Administration

In addition to being the district capital, Chakwal city is also the administrative centre of Chakwal tehsil (asubdivision of the district). The Chakwal District is divided into four Tehsils, namely, Kalarkahar, Chohsaidan Shah, Talagang and Chakwal. The city of Chakwal itself is divided into five Union councils and Chakwal district is divided into 68 union councils. Thoha Humayun is village almost 14 km from the city and it is in union council Bhaun.

Education

Govt Post Graduate College Chakwal

University of Engineering and Technology Taxila Chakwal 

There are a number of educational institutions being developed in the city, such as Govt high school No 1, Virtual university of Pakistan, University of engineering and Technology Taxila Chakwal Campus the Swedish Institute of Technology, Govt Post Graduate College Chakwal, Myres College, Horizon, VTI, CSC, Jinnah Public High School Chakwal, Govt. High School Tatral,Govt High School Hasola , Fauji Foundation, Bahria Foundation College and others.

The Arya Smaj founded the first school in Chakwal at the start of the 20th century, and others, both religious and secular, followed.

Myres college Chakwal

Swedish Institute Of Technology

Media

An English newspaper called, " The Revolution " Founded by Haroon Rasheed and Basharit Rafique Gondal is also published in Chakwal. Many Urdu newspapers are published and are also found online.

Noble Residents

• Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India, was born in Gah village.

• Allah Bakhsh Malik UNESCO Confucius Laureate, the first Pakistani and Muslim conferred this award, Secretary to the Government of Punjab, was born in village Khara Tehsil & District Chakwal.
• Air Marshal Noor Khan Former Commander in Chief Pakistan Air Force, Governor West Pakistan, Chairman Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan and Pakistan Hockey Federation
• Lt. General Abdul Qayyum Former Chairman Pakistan Steel Mills.
• Abdul Khaliq (athlete) born in the village Jand Chakwal who was Dubbed as "Fastest Man of Asia" and "The Flying Bird of Asia" in 1954 Asian Games and 1958 Asian Games.

Languages

Inhabitants of Chakwal District speak Dhani, Majhi, and Potohari dialects of Punjabi Language.

Tourism

Chakwal city has been bestowed by rich culture, history, art and extravagant environment. Once been known as a picnic spot for the Mughal dynasty and the British Lords also holds the record for producing fine men like Colonel Muhammad Khan, Tabish Kamal, India's prime minister Manmohan Sing and many other well reputed people.

• Kallar kahar

kallar kahar village

Resting in the mountains of the salt range the valley of Kallar Kahar withholds beautiful environment, Dazzling sceneries, Wonderful historic and prehistoric spots and Museums. Kallar Kahar also has Pakistan's first fossil museum but the mainstay of tourist attraction is the Kallar Kahar lake that lies in the heart of the valley. Other attraction spots are Bagh e sufa, Takht e Babri, the famous shrines and other gardens and mountain ranges.

Chillah Gah Hazrat Sultan Bahoo R.A

kallar kahar interchange 

Nilvan valley kallar kahar

• Katas Raj

Katas Raj is a 3000-year-old town sacred to the Hindus and lies about 5 kilometres west of Choa Saidan Shah on the Choa-Kallar Kahar road. Its importance is derived from the fact that it contains over 100 temples built over a period of more than 1000 years by its Hindu Rajas. Some of these temples are dilapidated but a large number of them have been well maintained. Hindu pilgrims from all over Pakistan and India frequently visit this town to worship. Katas Raj at its peak time was the well renowned university; a famous mathematician Alberuni measured the circumference of the earth while he was studying the Sanskrit in that university.

Soon Skaser valley 

Katas Raj Temple

Katas Raj Temple

• Dulmial

Dulmial is located just 3 km from Katas Raj, a town which is very famous for the services rendered from its residents to all walks of life for Pakistan and also in British Army. Dulmial is one of the two towns on Earth which was awarded with the Victoria Gun After WWI in 1920. The gun was received by Capt. Ghulam Mohammad Malik and other WWI veterans. Since the creation of Pakistan Dulmial has kept its reputation in the Pakistan Army as well, apart from the military services this town is also known for the reputation of its people working in high ranks in almost every important governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Victoria Gun

Dulmial

Dams

• Dhok Thalian Dam
  
  
  
• Kot Raja Dam

• Khokhar Zer Dam
   
•  Dharabi Dam
   
• Khanpur Dam
  

Transports and Roads

There are five ways to enter main city:

• By motorway through Kallarkahar exit, crossing bhaun and entering Chakwal in about 25 minutes.
• By Motorway through Chakwal exit, Balkasar interchange crossing Thoa Bahadur and exntering city in about 30 minutes.
• By GT road taking Mandra exit before Rawat and following chakwal road in about 45 minutes.
• By Jehlum Chakwal Road which exit from GT road at sohawa.
• By Choa Saidan Shah Road Which Came from Khiora and Kallar Kahar and meet chakwal at jehlum road at Choa Chok.
  

Famous villages of Chakwal

• Khanpur
• Dhudial
• Mulhal Mughlan
• Chak Baqar Shah
• Neela Dullah
• Lawa
• Ratta Sharif
• Mureed
• Bhon
• Dhok Talian
• Sehgalabad
• Balkasar
• Basharat 

Restaurants

• Food valley park near Talagang
• Bar B Q tonight talagang road
• Emporium's Shawarma talagang road
• Pizza time Bhaun road
• Unique broast house Bypass road
• Pizza Hot talagang road
• Pizza planet Bhaun road
• Rahat Bakery Bhaun chok
• Pak Continental talagang road
• Al Mecca talagang road
• LFC Jehlam road

Hotels

• Mecca Hotel talagang road
• Azeem International hotel Bhaun chok
• Pak Continental talagang road