Rahon is a city and a municipal council in the district Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar of the Indian state of Punjab. Rahon is in Doaba region of Punjab. Doaba also known as Bist Doab, is the region of Punjab, India that lies between the Beas River and the Sutlej River. A famous battle was fought here between Sikhs and Mughals i.e Battle of Rahon (1710).
Rahon is situated on the - Jaijon line of the Northern railway, Rahon is 7 km from Nawanshahr, the tahsil/subdivision headquarters, and 65 km from Jalandhar, the district headquarters. It is also connected by road with Nawashahr (8 km), Jadla (12 km), Ludhiana (51 km), and Phillaur (37 km), Machhiwara (18 km).
People of Doaba region are given the demonym "Doabia". The dialect of Punjabi spoken in Doaba is called "Doabi". The term "Doaba" or "Doab" is derived from Persian "دو آب" (do āb "two water") meaning "land of two rivers".
Name
Rahon is a changed name, it was Raghupur until the 12th century. Raj pal changed its name from Raghupur to Rahon after a certain lady called Raho. Some contemporaries had written that it was considered unlucky to speak of Rahon by its proper name, in the morning, when fasting. According to them, until breakfast Rahon should be referred to as 'Zanana shahr', or 'Women town'.
Ancient city
Rahon is an ancient city, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India. The city face had withstood the ravages of time, invaders, lootings, epidemics, and an unfortunate case of bypass of the silk route. Ruins there speaks the sad story and tell the city once had great significance. it was formed like a fort with four gates, Delhi Gate, Lahori Gate, Pahar Singh Gate, and Ropri Gate.
Highlights
The town is near the banks of Sutlej river. Silk Road Rahon's importance was most apparent in its position on the ancient trade route to Tibet and Central Asia (Silk route), and it began to decline once a new route was discovered through Kabul during the Mughal era. In Akbar's time who was the third Mughal emperor, (1556-1605 AD) Rahon was the capital of the Dardhak Mahal. In Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor time, a Sarai was built at Rahon on the Sutlej river's western bank. Shah Jahan chose Rahon because of its strategic location on the Sutlej bank (for his convenience in using ferry) and considering the commanding route by road of Agra, Delhi, and Lahore. This route was famous with the name ''the long walk''. In Aurangzeb reign, the sixth Mughal emperor (1658-1707AD), a brick fort was built at Rahon. There was an oldest market (Mandi) with more than 600 shops. Rahon was famous for the trade of sugar, shoemaking, manufacturing various cotton fabrics, and Gota. etc. Rahon was a flourishing trading center with lots of trading opportunities, having population (145000) more than Jallandhar. Rahon was on the trading route to Tibet and central Asia. Battle of Rahon (1710) which is closely associated with Banda Singh Bahadur is one of the great historical event. Rahon was a Headquarter of one of the territories seized by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Rahon was the capital of Dallewalia Misl.
The reasons for decline
Rahon faced a gradual decline in its economy and population for various reasons; some of the major ones are listed below
Invaders and battles one after another. Diversion of the trade route caused major dent in decline of the Rahon. Epidemics.
History
Rahon was also among the 50 most populous cities in the world for many centuries, particularly in the period between 52 B.C.-1750 A.D.. After that period, Rahon started witnessing gradual decline due to epidemics, attacks from foreign invaders, and a reduction in merchant activity when the silk route began to bypass Rahon in favor of Kabul. Rahon had Asia's oldest mandi bazaar (now ruined) situated at the city's Delhi gate. The bazaar was famous for its variety and quality of products, including spices, weapons, apparel, and footwear. Rahon's population also declined due to outbreaks of malaria, the immigration of a large proportion of its Muslim population to Pakistan during partition, and civilian casualties resulting from attacks by outside invaders. Rahon has the oldest Government High School in the Punjab state, which was constructed in 1857.
Founding
Rahon was founded 2000 years ago by Raja Raghab, a Brahmin ruler, who named it Raghupur, which continued to be called in correspondence by the Pandits of the city until the twentieth century.