Kallar Syedan

Kallar Syedan کلر سیداں
City
Bedi Mahal
Coordinates: 33°24′52″N 73°22′43″E / 33.41444°N 73.37861°E / 33.41444; 73.37861
Country	Pakistan
Region	Punjab
District	Rawalpindi District
Tehsil	Kallar Syedan Tehsil
Capital City	Kallar Syedan
Towns	15
Union councils	11
Elevation	520 m (1,710 ft)
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Postal code	47520
Area code	051

Kallar Syedan (Punjabi/Urdu: کلر سیداں) is a city located in Punjab, Pakistan, and is the headquarters of the Kallar Syedan Tehsil.

History

Kallar Syedan's existence dates back approximately 1,200 years. The town rose to prominence during Sikh rule, evident today from the havelis (townhouses), gurdwaras (temples) and small fortresses that can be found around the Rawalpindi district. Krishna Temple is an example of a Hindu temple built during Sikh rule.^[1]

The Bedi Mahal palace was built by Baba Khem Singh Bedi in the latter half of the 19th century.^[2] According to records, Baba Khem Singh assisted the British Raj in suppressing a rebellion in Gugera, a town near the Okara district during the 1857 Indian mutiny. In recognition of his services, he was appointed magistrate in 1877 and was later nominated to the Viceroy's Legislative Council in 1893. After the division of India and Pakistan, the palace was transformed into a boy's high school named Kallar Syedan.^[3]

Transport

Road

Kallar Syedan is located on the N-38 Kallar Syedan Road from Rawalpindi to Azad Kashmir. Kallar Syedan Road links the east of the city to Choha Khalsa and Dadyal Tehsil of Azad Kashmir. Kallar Syedan Bypass is a newly built road south of the city.^[4]

Bus and minibus

Local services also provide extensive bus and van routes around the local towns, and smaller shuttles travel around the villages in the surrounding area. There are also services to Rawalpindi^[5] and Islamabad.^[6]

Places of interest

• Dhamali
• Bedi Mahal
• Sangni Fort
• Pharwala Fort

Notable people

• Tikka Khan
• Abdul Aziz Mirza
• Khem Singh Bedi

Weather

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kallar Syedan.