Fazilka, also known as Bangla, is a historic town in
Ferozepur District of
Punjab and is 11 km off the border with Pakistan. It is situated on the rice growing and cotton rich belt of the state and is one of the major rice exporting centers in India. Before partition, the town was the biggest wool market in undivided Punjab. Fazilka is located 85 km south-west of the district headquarters, Ferozepur and is 200 km south of
Amritsar.
Fazilka’s origin dates back to AD 1844. It was established by Mr Oliver and was christened after the original owner of the land, Mian Fazil Watoo. The first railway line through the town was setup in AD 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the accession of Queen Victoria. Being at the border, Fazilka also had to bear the brunt of the two Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.
The famous ‘Tosha’ sweets have its origin in Fazilka. The first single cylinder steam ship in the world, Fazilka, was named after this town. Fazilka is also home to the second biggest TV tower in Asia, which stands at 305 ft above the ground.
Amritsar International Airport serves Fazilka. Fazilka Railway Station is located on Abhor- Ferozepur line of Northern Railways.
National Highway 10 passes through Fazilka.
