Dipalpur (), also spelt Depalpur, is a city in the Okara District of Pakistani province of Punjab that served as headquarters of Depalpur Tehsil. It is situated 150 kilometres from the province capital Lahore on a bank of the river Ravi.Location of Dipalpur - Falling Rain GenomicsTehsils & Unions in the District of Okara - Government of Pakistan It is located west of Kasur District.

History

Depalpur has a long and ancient history. Its foundation is traditionally attributed to a ruler named Raja Deva Pala (also rendered Depa Chand or Dipa Chand in various local traditions), though his exact date is unknown and predates reliable written record. A competing local tradition instead credits a Khatri named Bija Chand as founder, with the settlement originally called Sripur after his son Sri Chand. The fortified town is built on an old Kushan-era site (c. 40–172 AD), and coin finds indicate occupation as early as the Indo-Scythian period; Cunningham tentatively identified it with the "Daidala" mentioned by Ptolemy. The fortifications themselves cannot be precisely dated, but are known to predate Timur's invasion in 1398 AD. No accounts of Dipalpur survive from the period between Alexander and Mahmud Ghaznavi. According to the 1935 District Gazetteer, the modern name Depalpur/Dipalpur derives from this founder's name.

Islamic era

Delhi Sultanate However, in older times, Dipalpur fell on the way to Delhi and, as such, was considered to be a place where an invader could be engaged. Dipalpur, therefore, was one of the 3 lines of defense; the other two begin Uch Sharif, Samana, and Hansi. Ain-i-Akbari reveals that the militia force at Dipalpur, during the reign of Abul Fazal, consisted of 5,210 mounted Horsemen and 53,300 infantry. In the 14th Century, Firuz Shah Tughlaq regularly visited this place. It is also believed that he built a large mosque outside the city, which no longer remains.

Mongol invasions The Mongols invaded this part of the country repeatedly, and they were checked at Dipalpur by Ghiyas-ud-Din Balban and his son Muhammad Khan, during their last invasion of Punjab in 1285 AD. Pir Muhammad Khan Mangol (also called Samar Khan) was defeated at Dipalpur, but during the pursuit of the retreating Mongols, Muhammad Khan was killed. It is believed that Shahzada Muhammad Khan is laid to rest in a small tomb to the west of the Badshahi Mosque. Confirmation from any authentic sources is, however, not available.

At the time of Timur’s invasion, Depalpur was second to Multan in size and importance. The town, it is believed, may have been deserted due to Timur’s invasion and drying up of the old Beas River. Mughal Empire In the Baburnama, Babur the first Mughal Emperor wrote: referring to his conquest in 1524.Baburnama in English The Mughal Emperor Akbar, along with his son Saleem (Jahangir), along with their royal entourage, stayed in Dipalpur when he came to pay homage to Fariduddin Ganjshakar in 1578. Akbar named the corridor Bari Doab by combining the syllables of the names of the two rivers, the Beas River and Ravi River, that bounded the area.

Sufism

Many Muslim saints have come to preach in this area. Bahawal Haq, commonly known as Bahawal Sher Qalandar, came from Baghdad and settled in the village of Patharwall near Dipalpur. The saint constructed a hujra (small living room) and a mosque outside the village. His grandson Shah Muqeem continued his mission. The village came to be known as Hujra Shah Muqeem. This is the place mentioned in the famous Punjabi love story Mirza Sahiban, where Jati Sahiban came here are pray, although there is no historical evidence to that. A Muslim saint named Saayin Abdul Razaq stayed in Dipalpur, and later on, he started his volunteer activity for local people. And after his death, he was buried in the city. Now, his death place is known as Razaqia Darbar.

Notable Historical Visits to Dipalpur (11th–19th Century) Several historical figures are recorded or traditionally believed to have visited Dipalpur due to its strategic importance as a military and administrative center. These visits highlight Dipalpur's historical significance, drawing rulers, saints, and conquerors who aimed to strengthen their power, establish governance, or impose their beliefs through force. Historical FigureTitle/PositionDate/Period of VisitContext of VisitSultan Mahmud GhaznaviSultan of the Ghaznavid EmpireEarly 11th century (c. 1005)Known for his ruthless raids and desecration of Hindu temples, Mahmud passed through Dipalpur during his campaigns, marked by fierce intolerance toward local religions and cultures.Jackson, Peter. The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press, 1999.Bosworth, Clifford Edmund. The Ghaznavids: Their Empire in Afghanistan and Eastern Iran 994-1040. Edinburgh University Press, 1963.Baba Fariduddin GanjshakarSufi Saint13th centuryPreached Sufism in the area, shaping Dipalpur’s spiritual landscape.Gaborieau, Marc. Islam and Politics in Afghanistan. Columbia University Press, 2001.Qutb-ud-din AibakSultan of Delhi SultanateEarly 13th centuryEstablished a fort in Dipalpur to defend against Mongol invasions.Chandra, Satish. Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals. Har-Anand Publications, 2004.Wink, André. Al-Hind: The Making of the Indo-Islamic World, Vol. II. Brill, 1991.Sultan Jalal-ud-din KhiljiSultan of Delhi Sultanate1290sVisited to strengthen Dipalpur's defenses on the northwest frontier.Habib, Irfan. Medieval India: The Story of a Civilization. National Book Trust, 2007.Kumar, Sunil. The Emergence of the Delhi Sultanate. Permanent Black, 2007.Ghiyas-ud-din TughlaqSultan of Delhi Sultanate1320sMade Dipalpur a military and administrative hub for the region,Lal, K. S. History of the Khaljis (1290–1320). Munshiram Manoharlal, 1950. establishing a lasting spiritual legacy.Schimmel, Annemarie. Islam in the Indian Subcontinent. Brill, 1980.Feroz Shah TughlaqSultan of Delhi SultanateMid-14th centuryPromoted agriculture by building canals in the region.Digby, Simon. War-horse and Elephant in the Delhi Sultanate: A Study of Military Supplies. Orient Monographs, 1971.Timur (Tamerlane)Conqueror, founder of Timurid Empire1398Infamous for his brutality and mass slaughter, Timur passed through Dipalpur during his bloody invasion of the Indian subcontinent. His campaign was marked by horrific massacres and widespread destruction, as he established himself as a murderous tyrant feared across the region.Manz, Beatrice Forbes. The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane. Cambridge University Press, 1989.Levi, Scott Cameron. The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550–1900. Brill, 2002.Guru Nanak DevFounder of SikhismEarly 16th century (c. 1505)Guru Nanak visited Dipalpur as part of his journeys across the Indian subcontinent to spread his teachings on compassion, unity, and tolerance.McLeod, W. H. Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion. Oxford University Press, 1968. During his stay, he engaged with the local community, sharing spiritual wisdom and advocating for equality. Gurdwara Sri Chota Nanakiana Sahib is the site where he is said to have rested beneath a dead pipal tree, which miraculously came back to life and still stands today. During his stay, he is also believed to have cured a leper named Nuri (Nauranga), an act that reinforced his reputation for kindness and healing; Nuri's grave lies just behind the gurdwara.Grewal, J. S. The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press, 1998. BaburFounder of the Mughal Empire1520sKnown for his oppressive rule and harsh policies toward local populations, Babur visited Dipalpur during his campaign to conquer Northern India, using forceful means to secure control.Thackston, Wheeler M. The Baburnama: Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor. Modern Library, 2002.Dale, Stephen F. The Garden of the Eight Paradises: Babur and the Culture of Empire in Central Asia, Afghanistan and India (1483–1530). Brill, 2004.Sher Shah SuriSultan of Delhi SultanateMid-16th centuryStrengthened the Grand Trunk Road near Dipalpur for better connectivity.Sen, S. N. History of Administrative System of Medieval India. New Age International, 1999.Mughal Emperor AkbarEmperor of the Mughal EmpireLate 16th centuryImplemented administrative reforms in the region, enhancing governance.Richards, John F. The Mughal Empire. Cambridge University Press, 1996.Smith, Vincent A. Akbar the Great Mogul, 1542-1605. Clarendon Press, 1917.Maharaja Ranjit SinghRuler of the Sikh EmpireEarly 19th centuryAnnexed Dipalpur to the Sikh Empire, solidifying control in Punjab.Grewal, J. S. The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press, 1998.Bahadur Shah ZafarLast Mughal Emperor19th centuryOversaw Dipalpur as part of the weakening Mughal influence in the Punjab.Dalrymple, William. The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi, 1857. Bloomsbury, 2006.

Demographics

Population

According to 2023 census, Dipalpur had a population of 122,759.

Languages

References