Sohna

Demographics

In the 2001 India census, Sohna had a population of 27,571. Males were 53 percent of the population, and females 47 percent. Sohna has a literacy rate of 63 percent, higher than the national average of 59.5 percent. Male literacy is 70 percent, and female literacy 54 percent. Seventeen percent of the population is under age six. Tejpal Tanwar of the BJP is the MLA for Sohna.

Ethnicity

The Sohna assembly district is dominated by yadav groups, which make up about 50,000 of the total population of 127,774. Thakurs number about 12,000, with about 10,000 Gujjars and 16,000 Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes.

Transport

Sohna is connected to Gurgaon via Sohna Road. Although the town is not directly connected to the Delhi Metro, bus service exists to the metro.

Infrastructure

The 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) stretch of the six-lane Sohna (South Gurgaon) road from Rajiv Chowk to Badshahpur is damaged due to faulty design, according to experts from the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI); its design is inadequate for the traffic load. The Haryana government has drawn up a South Gurgaon Master Plan 2031, which will regulate housing.

Tourist attractions

Damdama Lake is known for its boating and picturesque surroundings. Sohna, in the foothills of the Aravalis, is known for hot-water springs in an ancient Shiva temple. The temple was built by the king of Gwalior. A Gangasnan mela (fair) is held each November at the temple, and a fair is held each July and August to celebrate Teej.

The hot springs in the temple are strongly sulphurous, and their temperature varies from 46 to 51.7 °C (114.8 to 125.1 °F). According to legend, Arjun (one of the five Pandav brothers) dug the wells when he was thirsty. Sohna is believed to have been the abode of hermits and the main kund (tank), Shiva Kund, is said to have medicinal properties. Devotees consider it sacred, and during eclipses and Somavati Amavasya they gather here to bathe in the water. The hilltop Barbet Resort, operated by Haryana Tourism, has sauna and steam-bath facilities, a small swimming pool, a park, lodging and a restaurant overlooking the town.

The unfinished Bharatpur Hill Fort on Aravalli Range was built by the king of Bharatpur State between 1700 and 1857. The highway 71B from Palwal via Sohna to Rewari via Bhiwadi passes over these hills and through the gap in the right and left flanks of bastions of the fort. Badan Singh extended his territory and was succeeded by Suraj Mal, his nephew, under whom the power of the Jat people reached its zenith. Suraj conquered a large portion of north-central India, including the imperial cities of Agra and Delhi. The Jats were fickle allies, making and breaking alliances with the Mughals, the Mahrattas and the British, losing territory to all three but gaining Deeg in the process. In accordance with an agreement with the British, construction of the Sohna fort was halted by the Jat rulers of Bharatput. Other source mention that the fort was built 700 to 800 years ago by the king Sawan Singh after he married queen Pulwa and he had named the fort as Sohan Garh (Fort of Sohan). After 1761 Maratha Empire subjugated Mughals of Delhi, Marathas granted the jagir (fief) of parganas of Sohna, Taoru, Nuh, Hodal, Palwal, Tapukara, Kotqasim, Pataudi and Baol (Bawal) to Rao Tej Singh. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, British Raj army under the command of Jaipur British resident Major William Fredrick Eden, aided by the Jaipur State troops, reconquered Rewari from the rebels, and Bakshi of Jaipur's troops slayed the rebel thanedar of Sohna, burnt down several Meo villages and rescued 30 Europeans. There is another fort at Indor village in Rajasthan on Haryana border.

The Gora Barak Mosque has a minaret (khamba in Hindi). The Quto Khan ki Masjid, built from local red sandstone, is in ruins. The Shah Nazam al haq Tomb was built over a Hindu temple. The tomb has an inscription dating it to 1461, during the reign of Bahlul Khan Lodi of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Material from the Hindu temple was used to build the tomb. It stands on a high platform with stone steps on one side leading to the entrance, inside which is a pillared hall. Decorative features include inscriptions in Arabic, pointed Islamic arches and floral patterns. Educator Syed Ahmad Khan's grandfather is buried here, and notable Muslims were buried in the tomb complex of their favorite Sufi pirs.

Lal Gumbaz (Red Dome) and Kala Gumbaz (Black dome) are west of the town. The Kamboj ruins were left by the Kamboj people, who were influential with the Persians, Afghans and Sayads during the Middle Ages.

Real estate development

A master plan for the town was introduced in 2012. Divided into 38 sectors, the plan covers residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, transport, communications, utilities, public and semi-public use, open spaces and agricultural and conservation zones.

Schools