Bhatinda

Bhatinda (also spelt as Bhathinda and Batinda) is one of the oldest and most famous cities in Punjab state of northwestern India. Batinda's cotton and agricultural production is well known. It is developing fast and some of the recent developments are a modern thermal power plant, fertilizer factories, and a massive oil refinery. Bhatinda is well linked to other cities and New Delhi by an efficient rail and transport system.

The city of Bhatinda was graced by Guru Gobind Singh. He halted at the mausoleum of Haji Rattan, a celebrated muslim saint, which was at a distance of two kilometers outside the city. On the site a Gurdwara, called Haji Rattan,stands today in the memory of the Tenth Master. The keeper of the tomb, tried to dissuade the Guru from camping here, on the pretext that it was a haunted place. The Guru disregarding his warning tied his horse to the trunk of 'van' tree. People of Bhatinda met him and begged him to evict the one-eyed cruel ogre living in the fort. The merciful Guru, readily acceded to the request and forcibly turned out the giant. Gurdwara Sahib in Bhatinda qila (fort) stands at the place where according to tradition the Guru combated the ogre and sent him into flight.

It was in this fort that - first woman ruler of India, Empress Razia Sultana, was imprisoned before being executed. Today Bhatinda is a leading market of food grains and cotton, and - the newly commissioned Guru Nanak Thermal Power Plant, dominates the horizon. Gurdwara Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo is only 35 km south of Bhatinda. The pilgrims come by train to Bhatinda and then proceed to Talwandi Sabo by road.

It is the administrative headquarters of Bathinda District.. Climate: Summer temperatures can be as high as 50 °C (122°F); and winter temperatures as low as 0 °C (32°F). The weather is generally dry. Rainfall is primarily from the southwest, due to the monsoon, and lasts from mid-July to mid-September.

The City of Bathinda boasts of one of the largest Railway Junctions of northern India and the largest Cantonement (military area) of Asia and is known as Sharjah of Punjab due to sand dunes. Bathinda is located in the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. An alluvium is a rich mixture of clay, kankar, sandy clay and sand. Bhatinda also boasts of 2 Thermal Plants, Guru Gobind Singh Oil Refinery, and a National Fertilizers Plant.