sargodha (Punjab)
Sargodha is located at a distance of 172 km in the northwest of Lahore between the Chenab River and the Jhelum River on the left side on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway M-2 after Pindi Bhattian, on Lahore-Sargodha Road N-60. It is an important air base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and also famous for high quality world-class juicy oranges.
Sargodha has bounded with Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Faisalabad, Jhang, Jhelum, and Khushab districts. Lahore-Islamabab Motorway M-2 runs across the district to access all of the towns in the district. It is also accessed by Faisalabad-Multan Motorway M4 via Chiniot. The Jhelum River is the natural boundary between Sargodha and Khushab district It is also connected with railway for all type of transportation.
It is believed that there was an old Hindu monk or sadhu, called godha in the Sanskrit, used to live near an old pond in the center of the town. The word SER is used for pond in the Sanskrit. Therefore, the town was called Sargodha due to the monk living near pond.
The main importance of Sargodha is PAF Base Mushaf, which is the second-largest airbase of Pakistan and acts as the headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force. Sargodha is strategically important city for Pakistan Air Forces for maintaining the defense of Pakistan.
Sargodha is situated on flat and fertile plains of Punjab between the Jhelum River and the Chenab River, although there are some small hills on the Sargodha-Faisalabad Road. Sargodha is also famous for its world best quality citrus fruits especially juicy oranges, also known as kinnu, and some of the best varieties of oranges are exported to different countries to earn foreign reserves. Other citrus fruits includes orange and lemon. Sargodha is fertile land due to the Chenab River and the Jhelum River, so it is suitable to produce various cash crops such as wheat, sugarcane, and rice. Most of the land in the district is irrigated with water of both of these rivers.
Sher Shah Suri Jamia Mosque is beautiful mosque in the town of Bhera in the Sargodha district. It was built by Sher Shah Suri in 1540. It is white colored mosque with three domes of its prayer chamber. In front of the prayer chamber, there is big courtyard with fountain in its center. Bhera city is also famous for wood-carved designed items and stylish textile items such as quilts and khussas. It is an historical city surrounded by walls with eight gates.
The Kirana Hills is small rocky mountain on Sargodha-Faisalabad road, also known as Black Mountains due to its brownish landscape. The highest peak in the range is 980 feet high. It is good place to visit due to its scenic beauty. Most of the tourists love to visit the site for beautiful hill views along the river. There is also a small Hindu temple on the hills.
Sial Sharif is a shrine of Khwajah Muhammad Shamsuddin Sialvi, also known as Pir Sial, who was a Saint of Chishti order. It is the most famous shrine in the Chishti order and lot of people every year visit the shrine on the annual celebrations.
The weather of Sargodha district is normally hot in the summer season, where as it becomes moderate cool in the winter season. It also receives considerable amount of rainfall in the monsoon period.