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105-605: Firoz Shah palace complex ( Hisar-e-Firoza ) is an archaeological complex located in modern-day Hisar , in the Haryana state of India , built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq of the Delhi Sultanate in 1354 AD. It is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India . The original town of Hisar was a walled settlement inside of the fort. The Jahaj Kothi Museum , a past residence of George Thomas , sits inside

210-549: A counter-magnet city for the National Capital Region to attract migrants and develop as an alternative center of growth to Delhi. According to the 2011 census of India , Hisar has a population of 301,249 and is currently the 141st-most populated city in India. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%, with 844 females per thousand males. Hisar has an average literacy rate of 81.04%, higher than

315-461: A Centrally Protected Monument by the Archaeological Survey of India . The palace complex consists of a mosque, a Diwan-e-Aam , a palace for the Shah's wife, underground apartments, and a granary . The artwork in the fort synthesizes Islamic and Indian architecture . The palace is built of red sandstone . The palace complex within the fort had one royal entrance. The protective ramparts around

420-418: A Jain temple converted to a museum. Balsamand , Siswal , Banawali , Kanwari , and Rakhigarhi are some of the sites of Indus Valley civilisation of now lost ancient Drishadvati river flowing through Hisar, Drishadvati river was a tributary of ancient Sarasvati River which still flows as remnant Ghaggar-Hakra River . Historic Agroha Mound and Agroha Dham is a prominent religious place located on

525-543: A column located in the northeast part of its courtyard. The Lat was once part of an Ashokan pillar , one of the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka dating to 250–232 BCE. This has been proven by the inscriptions in Brahmi script on the pillar, deciphered in 1837 by James Prinsep , an archaeologist, philologist, and official of the East India Company . The Ashokan pillar, likely taken from its nearby original location at

630-579: A detailed survey of the Buddhist monuments of his own type to be constructed in the Nepalese tarai which lasted for over half a century. Inspired by early amateur archaeologists like the Italian military officer, Jean-Baptiste Ventura , Cunningham excavated stupas along the width, the length and breadth of India. While Cunningham funded many of his early excavations himself, in the long run, he realised

735-492: A fallout of the demolition, Joshi was dismissed in 1993 and controversially replaced as director general by Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Achala Moulik, a move which inaugurated a tradition of appointing bureaucrats of the IAS instead of archaeologists to head the survey. The tradition was finally brought to an end in 2010 when Gautam Sengupta an archaeologist, replaced K.M Srivastava an IAS officer as director general. He

840-646: A museum, library, park and houses a 25-storied, 282-ft- high steel tower modeled on the Space Needle in Seattle . Haryana Rural Antique Museum , which is maintained by CCS HAU in its Gandhi Bhawan, exhibits evolution of agriculture and vanishing antiques. Jahaj Kothi Museum , named after George Thomas , is located inside Firoz Shah Palace Complex and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum

945-459: A museum. Subsequently, comparable organisations were founded in Madras, Chennai, in 1818, and Bombay, Mumbai, in 1804. However, the most important of the society's achievements was the decipherment of the Brahmi script by James Prinsep in 1837. This successful decipherment inaugurated the asset. Armed with the knowledge of Brahmi, Alexander Cunningham , a protégé of James Prinsep , carried out

1050-540: A period of about ten years known as the "Buck crisis", after the Liberal Edward Buck. In effect, this severely threatened the employment of the employees of the ASI, such as Alois Anton Führer , who had just started a family and become a father. In 1892, Edward Buck announced that the Archaeological Survey of India would be shut down and all ASI staff would be dismissed by 1895, in order to generate savings for

1155-581: A place of considerable importance. The city remained under the rule of Mughals until 1760. Hisar was occupied by George Thomas , an Irish adventurer, in 1798. The arrangement continued until 1801 when Thomas was driven out by the Sikh - Maratha - French confederacy. The region came under the rule of British East India Company in 1803 and remained a part until the Indian Rebellion of 1857 when Muhammad Azim and Rao Tula Ram conquered it away for

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1260-615: A short period. The company sent forces under General Van Cortlandt, who defeated Azim and Tula Ram on 16 November 1857. Between 1803 and 1879, the British constructed a 4,000-km-long Great Hedge of India , for levying the customs duty on salt and sugar, that ran through Hisar and Hansi . Hisar became a municipality in 1867. For their participation in First War of Independence , the Chaudharys and Lambardars of villages involved in

1365-412: A staircase and connects all floors of the palace and serves as a corner passage between the north and west sides of the building. This is the tallest structure in the complex. The west side structure remains in good condition and still has a roof. It has underground tehkhana chambers with hammam , or steam baths. There are two doorways on the ground level and three on the second floor which open into

1470-494: A supplement to the Indian Antiquary . The post of Director General was permanently suspended in 1889 due to a funds crunch and was not restored until 1902. In the interim period, conservation work in the different areas was carried out by the superintendents of the individual areas. From 1888 started severe lobbying aimed at reducing Government expenses, and at curtailing the budget of the Archaeological Survey of India,

1575-623: Is India's largest manufacturer of galvanized iron . Textile and automobile industry is also a major contributor to the economy of the city. It also has a large number of livestock farms with the Central Livestock Farm, established in 1809 being one of the Asia's largest cattle farms. The Jindal Group headed by Savitri Jindal is the world's largest producer of stainless steel strips for razor blades and India's largest producer of coin blanks. The city has been identified as

1680-492: Is Mahabir Stadium for multiple sports which was completed in the year 1972, run by District Olympic Association. Sports persons from Hisar include Manvinder Bisla in cricket , Saina Nehwal in badminton , Pinki Jangra in boxing and Manandeep Singh in football . In April 2012, Ajay Kumar from Hisar qualified for 2012 Summer Olympics . List of films , Chandrawal , Jagat Jakhar ) Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI )

1785-540: Is also a repository of rare books, plates, and original drawings. The Survey additionally maintains a library in each of its circles to cater to local academics and researchers. Mohammed Sanaullah Khan was appointed to the Archaeological Survey of India on 29 June 1917, marking the establishment of the Science Branch. His main responsibilities included preserving and chemically treating artefacts from museums and other artefacts. An Archaeological Chemist then oversaw

1890-476: Is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham during the British Raj who also became its first Director-General. ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General. The first systematic research into

1995-524: Is assisted by an additional director general, two joint directors general, and 17 directors. The ASI is divided into a total of 34 circles each headed by a Superintending Archaeologist. Each of the circles are further divided into sub-circles. The circles of the ASI are: The ASI also administers three "mini-circles" at Delhi , Leh and Hampi . The Survey has had 32 Directors-General thus far. Its founder, Alexander Cunningham served as Archaeological Surveyor between 1861 and 1865. India's first museum

2100-441: Is divided into three parts: the central dome, the pillar, and the prayer hall. An L-shaped ablution tank is also located south of the mosque, a couple of feet away. To the southwest, the square mosque building has an exterior staircase to the roof. The mosque also has a narrow underground taircase in its northern wall, which emerges on the south-western edge of the ablution tank in the courtyard. The mosque got its name from Lat ,

2205-821: Is extensive, and the main service providers are Vodafone Essar , Airtel , BSNL , Reliance Communications , Idea Cellular and Tata Indicom . The planning of the city is done by Haryana Urban Development Authority . People from Punjab and Rajasthan come to Hisar for medical treatment. The district Red Cross Society caters to specially abled people. The city lies on National Highway 9 and National Highway 52 . National Highway 9 from Pithoragarh to Malout connects it to Rohtak and Sirsa and National Highway 52 from Sangrur to Ankola connects it to Narwana and Jaipur and connected to Kaithal . The state highways of Haryana that pass through Hisar are State Highways 10, 13, and 20. Besides, there are district roads, village link roads and canal inspection roads. In 1947,

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2310-428: Is headed by Inspector General of Police . District court was set up at Hisar in 1832 and was upgraded as a Sessions Division in 1915. It is headed by Chief Judicial Magistrate. The district court has a bar association which was founded in 1870. Hisar elects its member to the legislative assembly for Hisar (Vidhan Sabha constituency) and a member to the parliament for Hisar Lok Sabha constituency . It serves as

2415-536: Is in Gandhi Bhawan, and exhibits the evolution of agriculture and vanishing antiques. The Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum is located in Rakhigarhi , which is an Indus Valley civilisation site 60 km (37 mi) away, and is established by the state government. A large British raj era historic building in the complex, to the northeast, was used as a residence for the superintendent of

2520-559: Is located at Rakhigarhi , which is an Indus Valley Civilisation site 60 km away. Blue Bird Lake , an artificial lake and tourist complex maintained by the Haryana Tourism , offers boating and watersports, birding, picnicking, and recreation. The deer park and Shatavar Vatika Herbal Park are located at the outskirts of the city and maintained by the Haryana State Forest Department . It

2625-673: Is located on the outer margins of the south-west monsoon region. The average annual rainfall is around 429 mm (16.9 in), most of which occurs during July and August. The annual highest rainfall of 793.6 mm (31.24 in) was recorded in 1976 and the lowest of 145.2 mm (5.72 in) in 2000. Dew is observed in December and January. Hot winds, locally known as loo , are strong and frequent from May to July. Occasionally, dust storms are experienced during summer and hail storms during February to April. Fog prevails generally in December and January. Thunderstorms also occur during

2730-540: Is long gone and unmarked. The current ramp and road link the fort complex and the auto market. The Delhi gate , located at current Mehta Nagar here near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk , faced east but is now gone. It led to Delhi on the Delhi Multan Road . It stood near the current Gandhi statue inside the market. The royal palace is a rectangular three-storied building with two floors above ground and one underground. The king resided here with his entourage. In

2835-512: Is now Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The first attempt at using the legal system to force the government to become involved when there was a risk to a monument was the Bengal Regulation XIX of 1810. The publication revealed the studies and polls that the society conducted to educate the public about India's ancient treasures. Many antiques and other relics were quickly discovered during the ongoing fieldwork, and in 1814 they were placed in

2940-528: Is provided by the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) from Hisar Airport built in 1965. A few agricultural and veterinary research centers are also situated in the city such as National Research Centre on Equines , Central Sheep Breeding Farm , Government Livestock Farm, Hisar Northern Region Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute , Regional Fodder Station, Hisar and Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes . In 1988,

3045-481: Is the folk-theatre of the region. Classical Indian vocalist Jasraj and poet Vishnu Prabhakar belong to Hisar. Signs of pre-Harappan settlements have been found at Siswal and Lohari Ragho in Hisar district . One of the four pre-Harappan phases has been named Sothi -Siswal period (3200–2600 BC) on this site. Harappa settlements can be found as well in Rakhigarhi . The site covers 2180 hectares, making it

3150-510: Is within the courtyard, and the Ashoka pillar , or lat , is in the middle. An L-shaped ablution pool lies in the south corner of the courtyard. Three rows of 50 red stone pillars line the longer western arm of the L-shaped liwan, which has 18 vaults in the ceiling. Ten pairs of double pillars face east, opening into the courtyard and forming seven doorways. A row of ten single pillars runs down

3255-606: The Agroha Mound , was cut for ease of transportation. Four of the pieces were rejoined here, and the remaining bottom portions are at the Fatehabad mosque. The four upper portions of the Ashokan pillar here are tapering registers with a finial topped by an iron rod. Close to the mosque lies a mound which most likely houses the ruins of an older Indus Valley civilization town. Underground apartments can be found inside

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3360-668: The British Raj , indigenous schools provided elementary education. Till 1892, the city had only one middle school . The first private school, CAV High School , was set up by Arya Samaj in 1918. Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University , one of Asia's biggest agricultural universities was the first university established in Hisar, in 1971. Other universities located in the city are Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology , Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Shanti Niketan Vidyapeeth, Hisar . Commercial and private pilot license training

3465-530: The Diwan-e-khas , a central courtyard that served as a private audience hall. The underground apartments were used for sleeping during periods of intense summer heat, as shown by the underground presence of a hammam . The south side, being the longer side of the rectangular palace complex, has seven doorways on the ground level, and nine doorways on the second story opening into the central rectangular courtyard. The east and north sides are in ruins and only

3570-553: The Government Livestock Farm, Hisar (c. 1809). Hisar (city) Hisar pronunciation also known as Hissar is the administrative headquarters of Hisar district in the state of Haryana in northwestern India . It is located 164 km (102 mi) to the west of New Delhi , India 's capital, and has been identified as a counter-magnet city for the National Capital Region to develop as an alternative center of growth to Delhi. The city

3675-693: The Greeks . The kingdom was then included in the Mauryan Empire , as evidenced by the discovery of Ashokan pillars in the vicinity of the city . The city later came under the Kushan Empire (127 - 375 CE) and the Gupta Empire (250 - 550 CE). The area was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni during his campaigns. In the 12th century, the Chauhan king Prithviraj Chauhan made Hansi , located in

3780-631: The Iron Age site of Arikamedu and the Stone age sites of Brahmagiri , Chandravalli and Maski in South India. Wheeler founded the journal Ancient India in 1946 and presided over the partitioning of ASI's assets during the Partition of India and helped establish an archaeological body for the newly formed Pakistan. Wheeler was succeeded by N. P. Chakravarti in 1948. The National Museum

3885-689: The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , continued to advocate for the preservation of the Archaeological Survey of India, and expressed that what was needed were "new authentic documents" from the pre-Ashokan period, and they would "only be found underground". Another momentous discovery would be made in 1896, with the Lumbini pillar inscription , a major inscription on a pillar of Ashoka discovered by Alois Anton Führer . The inscription, together with other evidence, confirmed Lumbini as

3990-484: The Sultan of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. The Ghaggar and Drishadvati Rivers once flowed through the city, but they have now changed their course. Hisar has a continental climate , with very hot summers and relatively cool winters. The most commonly spoken languages are Hindi , Haryanvi , and Bagri . Archeological excavations at nearby locations of Rakhigarhi (7000 BCE), Siswal (4000 BCE), and Lohari Ragho suggest

4095-678: The public-private-partnership (PPP) model. In May 2018, the Supreme Court of India said that the ASI was not properly discharging its duty in maintaining the World Heritage Site of Taj Mahal and asked the Government of India to consider whether some other agency be given the responsibility to protect and preserve it. The fictional character Kakababu , in Sunil Gangopadhyay 's famed Kakababu series,

4200-472: The 17th or 18th century Mughal Empire era. On the upper level, there is a small secondary apartment in the corner of the structure. Jahaj Kothi Museum , a later era building that was originally a Jain temple which was later used as residence by George Thomas , is located inside the Firoz Shah palace complex and is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India . Nearby Haryana Rural Antique Museum

4305-419: The 290 villages of Hisar district are connected to the city through either public transport provided by Haryana Roadways or through private buses. Auto rickshaws are a major means of transport for travelling within the city. In August 2012, city bus service was started in the city. The city is a part of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project which aims at developing strong road and rail connections between

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4410-407: The 51st National Boxing Championship in 2004, 22nd Haryana State Women Sports Festival in 2008, and the 9th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship in 2019. It has a sports center run by Sports Authority of India at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University which has a synthetic track of international standard apart from other facilities. Other major sporting venue in Hisar

4515-408: The ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance. These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches, tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and rock-cut caves. The Survey also maintains ancient mounds and other similar sites which represent the remains of ancient habitation. The ASI is headed by a director general who

4620-460: The ASI did not have reliable information on the exact number of monuments under its protection. The CAG recommended that periodic inspection of each protected monument should be done by a suitably ranked officer. The Culture ministry accepted the proposal. Author and IIPM Director Arindam Chaudhuri said that since the ASI is unable to protect the country's museums and monuments, they should be professionally maintained by private companies or through

4725-645: The Delhi Gate and Mori Gate to the east, the Nagori Gate to the south, and the Talaqi Gate to the west. The construction of the fort started in 1354 AD and was completed in 1356 AD. In the middle of the fort stood the Firoz Shah Palace . Apart from its several underground apartments, the complex had different buildings such as Baradari , Lat ki Masjid, Diwan-e-Aam , and Shahi Darwaza. Near

4830-491: The Firoz Shah palace complex. The complex contains the Lat ki Masjid mosque and an Ashokan pillar . Gurjari Mahal , another palace nearby, was also built by Firoz Shah for his wife Gurjari in 1356. The palace, known as Hisar-i-Firuza , is located at a strategic point where the old Delhi Multan Road branches towards Khorasan , a historic region northeast of Iran . Construction began in 1354 CE, supervised by Firoz Shah. Stone

4935-810: The Government's budget. It was understood that only a fantastic archaeological discovery within the next three years for example might be able to turn public opinion and save the funding of the ASI. Great "discoveries" were indeed made with the March 1895 discovery of the Nigali Sagar inscription, which succeeded in bringing the "Buck Crisis" to an end, and the ASI was finally allowed in June 1895 to continue operations, subject to yearly approval based on successful digs every year. Georg Bühler , writing in July 1895 in

5040-743: The archaeological survey under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture. Ghosh was succeeded by B. B. Lal who conducted archaeological excavations at Ayodhya to investigate whether a Ram Temple preceded the Babri Masjid . During Lal's tenure, the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act (1972) was passed recommending central protection for monuments considered to be "of national importance". Lal was succeeded by M. N. Deshpande who served from 1972 to 1978 and B. K. Thapar who served from 1978 to 1981. On Thapar's retirement in 1981, archaeologist Debala Mitra

5145-464: The birthplace of the Buddha. The organization was rocked when Führer was unmasked in 1898, and was found to file fraudulent reports about his investigations. Confronted by Smith about his archaeological publications and his report to the Government, Führer was obliged to admit "that every statement in it [the report] was absolutely false." Under official instructions from the Government of India, Führer

5250-414: The building. The roof has been altered with the later addition of a brick wall. The ceiling is vaulted and the roof is flat, with a single lime-plastered dome. To the south of the dome lies an above-ground masonry pond with an underground narrow passage connecting it to the basement of the Lat ki Masjid. The qibla of the mosque has been carved inside the prayer hall of the adjacent liwan hall. The mosque

5355-453: The cities lying on it and develop them as an industrial area . Hisar is a railway junction station , and it falls under Bikaner division of North Western Railway Zone . The first railway line to the city was laid down in 1883 when Delhi Rewari Railway was extended to Bhatinda . Currently, four broad gauge railway lines are at the station. The railway station is a part of Western Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor according to which

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5460-402: The city became a part of Punjab and later Haryana in 1966. Hisar is located at 29°05′N 75°26′E  /  29.09°N 75.43°E  / 29.09; 75.43 in western Haryana. It has an average elevation of 215 m (705 ft) above sea level . The region is part of the alluvial Ghaggar- Yamuna plain and its southern and western portions mark a gradual transition to

5565-479: The city hosted the 2nd World Buffalo Congress. The major library in the city is Nehru Library. It also has a Government Polytechnic with courses in Textiles, Fashion, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering and computer science. Mahabir Stadium , Haryana Agricultural University Stadium and HAU Giri Centre host state sponsored sports academies. Hisar hosted

5670-603: The city is to be developed as an export-oriented industrial unit . The city is well connected to the neighboring states through rail links. Hisar Airport is located on the outskirts of the city and is currently under re-development. In August 2012, the DGCA approved the Haryana state government's plan to develop the airport to operate domestic passenger services. Its 4,000-foot (1,200 m) runway will be extended to 6,000 ft (1,800 m) to accommodate air service. Before

5775-443: The city's population are followers of Hinduism . The remaining 3% are followers of Sikhism , Jainism , Islam , and Christianity . The city had a major Muslim population before Indian Independence in 1947, following which most Muslims migrated to Pakistan during the Partition of India . It was also a major centre of learning for Digambara Jains and was once the seat of Bhattaraka , head of Digambara Jain institutions. Most of

5880-399: The complex in good condition. A passage is embedded in the western wall of the palace leading to the terrace. Archery holes can still be observed in the bastion wall, once surrounded by a water-filled protective ditch, now filled in. Gurjari Mahal is the name of the palace built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq for his mistress Gurjari . The palace is located outside the fort complex to the east and

5985-626: The desert. The Ghaggar and the Drishadvati rivers once flowed through the city. According to tectonic map, the district lies on Delhi - Lahore Ridge which is bounded by thrusts and no earthquake of any significance has originated in the zone in the past. Only one instance has been recorded of a famine occurring in the city in 1837–38. Hisar has a semi-arid climate , with very hot summers and mild winters. The main characteristics of climate in Hisar are dryness, extremes of temperature, and scanty rainfall. The maximum daytime temperature during

6090-480: The director-general of the ASI. Marshall had experience with archeological excavations in Greece and oversaw reforms within the organization that consolidated funding and oversight over the local branches of the ASI. He served as the director-general for a quarter of a century and during his long tenure, he replenished and invigorated the survey whose activities were fast dwindling into insignificance. Marshall established

6195-652: The entrance to the market. The British Raj built a two-story clock tower on the site which was demolished as well. The Mori gate , now gone, faced east. A water channel, now also vanished, entered the fort complex through a hole (Hindi: mori ) in the fort bastion to supply water. The gate provided access to Multan in Pakistan, Kandahar in Afghanistan, Mashhad in Iran, and Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. The gate

6300-578: The establishment of a laboratory at the Indian Museum in Calcutta, which was later moved to Dehradun in 1921–1922. The scope and activities of the Science Branch greatly expanded along with the survey's expansion and shortly after Independence. These included doing in-depth study, treating monuments, analysing material remnants, determining the reasons behind deterioration, and taking corrective action for chemical conservation. The day-to-day work of

6405-744: The fort originally had four main gates. The Shahi Darwaza , or Royal Gate, entrance faces east and is still standing. Roughly seven meters tall, the single-story arched gateway has small built-in guard rooms on each side. The Talagi Gate faces west and leads from the palace to the ancient Agroha Mound and to Sirsa . The gate stands across from the main bus station of Hisar. Bastions with slanted narrow niches to shoot arrows at attacking enemy armies still exist. The Nagauri Gate , now gone, led south to Nagaur and on to Jodhpur in Rajasthan via Siwani , Jhumpa Khurd , Rajgarh and Churu . The Bansi Lal government demolished this gate in order to widen

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6510-496: The headquarters of 33rd Battalion of Border Security Force and 3rd Battalion of Haryana Armed Police. The 33rd Armoured Division of Indian Army is stationed at Hisar and is a part of I Corps . In 1996, Brigade of the Guards arrived here for conversion to mechanized profile and the unit is now a fully mechanized battalion. The city has a large steel industry and is known as the 'City of Steel'. As of June 2012, Hisar

6615-450: The individual archaeological departments of these states were not integrated with the ASI. Instead, they were allowed to function as independent bodies. In 2013, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report found that at least 92 centrally protected monuments of historical importance across the country had gone missing without a trace. The CAG could physically verify only 45% of the structures (1,655 out of 3,678). The CAG report said that

6720-585: The largest Harappan site known in India and the second-biggest overall after Mohenjodaro . All the sites are maintained by Archaeological Survey of India . Agroha is another place of historical importance. It is situated about 24 km from the city and was once the capital of king Agrasena , who is believed to have lived during the last stages of Dvapara Yuga in the Mahabharat era. Remains of his capital have been excavated, known as Agroha Mound or locally as Ther , and belong to around 3000 BC. The city

6825-492: The majestic Gujari Mahal in her honor and built his own palace complex around it. The palace was built using rubble and mortar . Only a small portion of the Gurjari Mahal palace's main building remains. The palace is built on a rectangular platform and can be approached using a ramp that leads to the upper level. The building has been declared a Centrally Protected Monument by the Archaeological Survey of India . To

6930-411: The middle of the hall. A row built into the back wall to the west also has ten pillars. Each chamber in this back wall has three red sandstone niches on the lower half, one outer rectangular niche, and two arched niches inside. The upper portion of the liwan is built with rubble masonry covered with white lime mortar. The flat roof of the longer arm of the liwan is topped with two false domes , one each on

7035-447: The national average: male literacy is 86.13% and female literacy is 75.00%. In Hisar, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age and the child sex ratio is 860 girls per thousand boys. Although Hisar city has population of 301,249, its urban population is 306,893, of which 166,623 are males and 140,270 are females. The decadal growth rate was 27.06%. Historically, Hisar had an estimated population of 7,000 people in 1843. Over 97% of

7140-421: The need for a permanent body to oversee archaeological excavations and the conservation of Indian monuments and used his stature and influence in India to lobby for an archaeological survey. While his attempt in 1848 did not meet with success, the Archaeological Survey of India was eventually formed in 1861 by a statute passed into law by Lord Canning with Cunningham as the first Archaeological Surveyor. The survey

7245-456: The north and south sides. The shorter north-facing arm of the liwan has three vaulted chambers on three pillars at the front, opening south into the courtyard, and three pillars built into the back wall on the north side. In the north-west corner of the liwan is a raised Takht-i-shahi or Muluk-khana platform on four smaller red stone pillars, where the throne of the king used to be. The throne can be reached by five red sandstone steps. Under

7350-428: The north, there were once gardens, but they no longer exist, and modern houses have taken their place. The palace is closed to the public. The most visible part of what still remains of the palace is the baradari on the upper level, so named for the twelve doorways, three on each side. It was used for social gatherings. Four pillars inside the chamber support the roof. Three underground apartments are located below

7455-634: The outskirts of the city about 22 km away on Fatehabad-Sirsa-Bhatinda road. A local deity Banbhori is worshipped by local people. Delhi Sultanate era Firoz Shah Palace Complex and Pranpir Badshah tomb are located in the city. The oldest park located in the city is the Krantiman Park , located across the historic St. Thomas Church . The park was built in the 19th century and was then known as Company Bagh. Other parks include Madhuban Park, Town Park, and O. P. Jindal Knowledge Center. The O. P. Jindal Knowledge Centre, inaugurated in 2009

7560-543: The palace was the Gujri Mahal built by the emperor for his wife name Gujri. The city was named as Hisar-e-Firoza, which means Fort of Firoz in Persian . Timur invaded the city in 1398 AD and his soldiers set fire to the fort. The city later came under the rule of Sayyid dynasty and Lodi dynasty before Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the first battle of Panipat . When Babur invaded India in 1524–1526, Hisar

7665-406: The past, it had two more floors above the current structure. The ruined pillars of the historical third floor still lie horizontally on the roof of the current structure. They supported a two-story structure of wood and stone. The palace is built of rubble masonry and lime mortar. The palace building has between one and three rooms on the north, west, and east sides, but it is several rooms deeper on

7770-405: The patronage of the then Governor-General of Bengal , Warren Hastings . Jones initiative resulted in the publication of Asiatick Researches , a monthly that was launched in 1788. The Marquis of Wellesley's 1800 nomination of Francis Buchanan to survey Mysore was a wise move on the part of the administration at the time. He was hired in 1807 to investigate historical sites and monuments in what

7875-476: The platform is a dried-up well. This platform also has a north-west facing qibla wall (towards Kaaba in Mecca ) in the mihrab . At the south-east end of the complex is the square Lat ki Masjid, a one-story, one-domed mosque made of red sandstone. Doors pave the way in each direction, with a stone jali (a perforated latticed stone screen) above each door. The roof has stone brackets that can be seen from outside

7980-428: The platform. One of them is a tank and is believed to have served as a hammam . On the upper level are a total of nine graves. Five are sarcophagi on an open-air platform nearly three feet higher, and two are sarcophagi on a separate nearby open-air lower platform (less than 1 foot (0.30 metres) from the bottom). The last two are brick shrines inside a brick structure that no longer has a roof. All of them date back to

8085-474: The popular Indian festivals are celebrated in the city including Diwali , Dussehra , Ram Navami , Janamashtami , Shivratri , Lohri , Gugga Navami, Holi , Basant Panchami , Teej and Makar Sankranti . The festivals of Jains, Christians, Sikhs and Muslims are also celebrated. Sweets are popular, with Hansi ka Peda being the most popular amongst them. Ghoomar is the primary folk dance performed by people during festivals and other occasions and Saang

8190-537: The post of Government epigraphist and encouraged epigraphical studies. In 1913, he began the excavations at Taxila , which lasted for 21 years. The most significant event of his tenure was, however, the discovery of the Indus Valley civilization at Harappa and Mohenjodaro in 1921. The success and scale of the discoveries made ensured that the progress made in Marshall's tenure would remain unmatched. Marshall

8295-528: The post-monsoon season and summer. Hisar became a municipality in 1867. It was made the headquarters of the Hisar district in 1832. The Municipal Corporation of Hisar, consisting of 20 wards, is headed by a mayor. Law and order in the city are maintained by Haryana Police , which is headed by Superintendent of Police . The city also serves as headquarters of the Hisar Range of Haryana Police which covers Sirsa , Jind , Bhiwani , and Hisar and

8400-492: The presence of human habitation from pre-Harappan period. Later, Aryan people settled around Drsadvati River . The Jain literature Uttaradhayana Sutra ((599/540 - 527/468 BCE) mentions a town Isukara in the Kuru (c. 1200 – c. 900 BCE) country which is believed to be the earlier name of Hisar. The kingdom of Hisar , with its capital at Agroha , possibly assisted Chandragupta Maurya (reign: 321–297 BCE) in his war against

8505-532: The present day Hisar district, his capital and built a fort. It remained a strategic place for Chauhan Empire until Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in the Second Battle of Tarain by the invading Ghurid ruler Muhammad Ghori . Hisar was founded in 1354 AD, as 'Hisar-e-Firoza' by Firoz Shah Tughlaq , who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. He built a walled fort with four gates,

8610-519: The rebellion were deprived of their land and property. This included 368 people from Hisar and Gurugram who were either hanged or transported for life. The city remained as a major centre of the Indian independence movement from the rebellion of 1857 until the independence, as many national leaders visited the city during the movement such as Lala Lajpat Rai in 1886, Subhas Chandra Bose in 1938, and Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946. After independence,

8715-575: The remains of the ground floor, with no roof, still exist today. The stables are semi-underground and located between the tehkhana structure to the east of the main royal palace building and the Jahaj Kothi Museum . To the right of the royal gate is the Diwan-e-Aam , or audience chamber. It is an L-shaped liwan , 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 ft) high, with a vaulted ceiling under a flat roof and an open courtyard. The Lat ki Masjid

8820-604: The sites that their inventories are associated with "so that they may be studied amid their natural surroundings and not lose focus by being transported". A dedicated Museums Branch was established in 1946 by Mortimer Wheeler, which now maintains a total of 50 museums spread across the country. The ASI maintains a Central Archaeological Library in the Archaeological Survey of India headquarters building in Tilak Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi. Established in 1902, its collection numbers more than 100,000 books and journals. The library

8925-448: The south side where the bulk of the structure lies. The north and west sides have arched passages built into the fort's bastion and have no windows. The west and south sides of the structure were renovated by the Archaeological Survey of India and still stand with a flat roof and arched gateway and passages. On the far northwest side of the complex, there is a watch tower with three stories above ground and one underground, that doubles as

9030-700: The subcontinent's history was conducted by the Asiatic Society , which was founded by the British Indologist Sir William Jones on 15 January 1784. Based in Calcutta , the society promoted the study of ancient Persian texts and published an annual journal titled Asiatic Researches . Notable among its early members was Charles Wilkins who published the first English translation of the Bhagavad Gita in 1785 with

9135-570: The summer varies between 40 and 46 °C (104 and 115 °F). During winter, its ranges between 1.5 °C and 4 °C. Maximum temperature recorded is 50.3 °C (122.5 °F) in May 2024, whereas the minimum temperature recorded is −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) in January 1929. Annual average maximum and minimum temperature is 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) and 15.4 °C (59.7 °F), respectively. Relative humidity varies from 5 to 100%. Hisar

9240-450: The survey was published in a series of periodical bulletins and reports. The periodicals and archaeological series published by the ASI are: Apart from the ASI, archaeological work in India and conservation of monuments is also carried out in some states by state government archaeological departments. Most of these bodies were set up by the various princely states before independence. When these states were annexed to India after independence,

9345-434: The total metalled road length in the city was 137 km (85 mi) which increased to 1,188 km (738 mi) in 1978. Bus service is the major means of transport in the town. Bus services are provided by Haryana Roadways and other private operators. Hisar bus depot was established on 11 August 1969 and has a sub depot at Hansi . As of 2012, the depot has a total of 198 buses with daily ridership of 73,500. All

9450-591: Was again succeeded by Pravin Srivastava, another IAS officer. Srivastava's successor incumbent, Rakesh Tiwari was also a professional archaeologist. His successor Usha Sharma was also an IAS officer and her successor V Vidyavathi who is the present DG of ASI is also an IAS officer. The Archaeological Survey of India is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture . Under the provisions of the AMASR Act of 1958,

9555-484: Was also a major centre during the Mauryan period as Buddhist and Jain temples have also been revealed in the excavations. Firoz Shah Palace Complex is another prominent historical site located inside the city. It was built by Firuz Shah Tughlaq in 1354. Asigarh Fort , a centrally protected monument, was built in 1304–1305. Historical places from the British era include St. Thomas Church and Jahaj Kothi Museum ,

9660-481: Was appointed to succeed him - she was the first woman Director General of the ASI. Mitra was succeeded by M. S. Nagaraja Rao , who had been transferred from the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology . Archaeologists J. P. Joshi and M. C. Joshi succeeded Rao. M. C. Joshi was the director general when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992 triggering Hindu-Muslim violence all over India. As

9765-432: Was brought from the hills of Mahendragarh to build the ramparts, which were surrounded by a protective moat . A tank inside the complex was used to refill the moat. The complex was completed in 1356 after two and a half years, and Firoz Shah ordered his courtiers to build their palaces within the walls of the fort. Restoration work began on the palace in 1924 and has gradually continued since. The complex has been declared

9870-454: Was built as an outlying portion of it. Between the Gurjari Mahal and the main fort complex, there was once an Islamic garden, which now marks the location of modern-day Jindal Park , which flies a 207 ft (63 m) high Flag of India . Gurjari, the mistress of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, was a local resident of Hisar and belonged to the pastoral gujjar community. Firoz Shah Tughlaq was on a hunting expedition when he suddenly felt parched. As he

9975-653: Was established by the Asiatic Society in Calcutta (now Kolkata ) in 1814. Much of its collection was passed on to the Indian Museum , which was established in the city in 1866. The Archaeological Survey did not maintain its own museums until the tenure of its third director-general, John Marshall. He initiated the establishment of various museums at Sarnath (1904), Agra (1906), Ajmer (1908), Delhi Fort (1909), Bijapur (1912), Nalanda (1917) and Sanchi (1919). The ASI's museums are customarily located right next to

10080-569: Was established in 1971 and endangered species such as blackbuck , chital , sambar , and nilgai can be found here. Hisar Police Lines Golf Course is located near the Hisar Airport . Doordarshan Kendra was set up in 2002. Besides Doordarshan, local cable operators broadcast channels in the city. An All India Radio station is located at Hisar. Private FM stations operating in Hisar are BIG FM , My FM, Radio Mantra , Radio Dhamaal and Radio Tarang . CCS HAU community radio station

10185-610: Was inaugurated in New Delhi on 15 August 1949 to house the artifacts displayed at the Indian Exhibition in the United Kingdom. Madho Sarup Vats and Amalananda Ghosh succeeded Chakravarti. Ghosh's tenure which lasted until 1968 is noted for the excavations of Indus Valley sites at Kalibangan , Lothal and Dholavira . The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was passed in 1958 bringing

10290-468: Was part of Ibrahim Lodi's empire. In the battle of Panipat in 1526, Babur sent prince Humayun , who succeeded in defeating the army of Ibrahim Lodi. Babur handed over the city of Hisar to Humayun as a reward for his success on his first military expedition. In 1540, Hisar came under the control of Sher Shah Suri when he defeated Humayun but Humayun took it back in 1555 and assigned it to Akbar . During Akbar 's reign (1556–1605), Hisar once again became

10395-474: Was relieved of his positions, his papers seized and his offices inspected by Vincent Arthur Smith on 22 September 1898. Führer had written in 1897 a monograph on his discoveries in Nigali Sagar and Lumbini, Monograph on Buddha Sakyamuni's birth-place in the Nepalese tarai , which was withdrawn from circulation by the Government. Führer was dismissed and returned to Europe. The post of Director General

10500-445: Was restored by Viceroy and Governor-General Lord Curzon in 1902. In a speech given to the Asiatic Society on 26 February 1901, he stated that he 'regarded the conservation of ancient monuments as one of the primary obligations of Government’. The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was passed in 1904 during his tenure as viceroy. Breaking with tradition, Curzon appointed 26-year-old Cambridge -trained archeologist John Marshall as

10605-696: Was ruled by several major powers, including the Mauryans in the third century BC, the Tughlaqs in the 14th century, the Mughals in the 16th century, and the British in the 19th century. After India achieved independence, it was unified with the state of Punjab . When the Punjab was divided in 1966, Hisar became part of Haryana. The current name was given in 1354 AD, as Hisar-e-Firoza by Firuz Shah Tughlaq ,

10710-575: Was started in 2011. Before independence of India , monsoon or groundwater were the main sources of irrigation . The main source of water now is Balsamand branch of Western Yamuna Canal . Municipal Corporation of Hisar supplies potable water to the city. The city first got electricity in 1936. Power is distributed by Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) provides landline and broadband services. Cell phone coverage

10815-413: Was succeeded by Harold Hargreaves in 1928. Hargreaves was succeeded by Daya Ram Sahni . Sahni was succeeded by J. F. Blakiston and K. N. Dikshit both of whom had participated in the excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro. In 1944, a British archaeologist and army officer, Mortimer Wheeler took over as Director General. Wheeler served as Director General till 1948 and during this period he excavated

10920-520: Was suspended briefly between 1865 and 1871 due to lack of funds but restored by Lord Lawrence the then Viceroy of India . In 1871, the Survey was revived as a separate department and Cunningham was appointed as its first Director-General. Cunningham retired in 1885 and was succeeded as Director General by James Burgess . Burgess launched a yearly journal The Indian Antiquary (1872) and an annual epigraphical publication Epigraphia Indica (1882) as

11025-430: Was unable to find water nearby, he began to feel faint. Fortunately, a Gujjar girl who used to sell milk happened to pass by and offered him milk, reviving him. Grateful and captivated by her beauty, Firoz Shah Tughlaq proposed marriage to her. The Gujjar girl accepted his proposal but declined to accompany him to Delhi. Determined to be with his beloved, Firoz Shah Tughlaq shifted his royal seat to Hisar in Haryana and built

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