sunam the historical city

Shaheed udham singh Sunam is a tehsil, municipality and sub division of the Sangrur District in the Indian State of Punjab. Situated on the Ludhiana-Hisar railway line, it is connected by road with Patiala (64 km), Sangrur (19 km), Bathinda (114 km), Ludhiana (90 km), and Chandigarh (129km). “Sunam Town-Head quarters of the Tehsil of Same Name in the Karmgarh Nizamat Patiala State Punjab Situated in 30.8. N and 75.52.E, 43 Miles South West of Patiala town with which it is connected By Metalled Road on the Ludhiana-Jakhal Branch of the North Western Railway. Population (1901) 10,069.” “Though now of little Importance, Sunam, Played a great part in the history of the Punjab after Muhammadon Invasion and Albiruni mentions it as Famous before that period. The ancient town called Surajpur, stood near the Suraj Kund or Pool of the Sun and traces of it still remain.” HISTORY OF SUNAM The history of Sunam goes back to the Vedic period, when its name was Surajpur. The Saraswati River is believed to have flowed by it The modern town was built within the walls of an old fort into which its inhabitants were driven to take refuge. It is divided into two parts, one in the citadel of the fort and the other on the lowland around it. Though now of little importance, Sunam has played a significant part in the history of the Punjab after the Muhammdan invasion ; Al-Baruni mentions it as a famous place of that period. 'Sunam' in Sanskrit means auspicious name, but some say that it was named after Sona, a Gujari, who guided Muhammad of Ghor to conquer the fort of Bathinda and asked him to give Sunam as her reward. Others accepta derivation from Sunam, which in Arabic means the hump of a camel.When Qutb-ud-Din Aibak saw that the place had this shape he named it Sunam, but this etymology is untenable, as the town is said to have assumed its present shape only after Taimur's invasion (AD 1398).Sunam was held by Hindu.