Ambala is located on
the border with the Indian state of Punjaband Chandigarh.
Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala
Cantonment (Ambala Cantt) and Ambala City, which has earned it a name of
the "Twin City". Ambala is also known for its large Indian
Army and Indian Air Force presence within its cantonment
area which was established in the year 1843. The cantonment houses the '2 corps', one of the three strike corps of
Indian Army and is of immense strategic importance.
The history of
this city suggests that the district was founded by Amba Rajput during the 14th
century. Although there are many other versions that contribute to the story of
its origin. It is also believed that the name Ambala is a corruption of Amba
Wala meaning the mango-village, from mango groves which existed in
its vicinity. Another version is that the city takes its name after goddess
"Bhawani Amba" whose Temple still exists in Ambala city.
Cloth Market of Ambala is a major draw for people
from across the region. This market is the largest cloth trading market in the
sub continent and has a dense cluster of more than 900-1000 wholesale shops.
The market specializes in Hand-loom, silk sarees, suitings & shirtings and
other dress materials. People flock this
place especially for marriage dresses.
Due to its geographical location Ambala is also
an important tourist destination. Tourists en route to Himachal Pradesh,
Punjab, Chandigarh and Kashmir mark Ambala as one of the destinations to visit
in their road map.
Locations: District Ambala lies on the north-eastern edge of Haryana. It is bounded by district Yamuna nagar in the south-east. To its south lies Kurukshetra District, while in its west are situated Patiala and Ropar districts of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The Shivalik Range and Sirmaur districts of Himachal Pradesh bound the Ambala district in the North and North-East.
Linking Roads: 5 National Highways i.e. NH-1, NH-22, NH-65, NH-72 and NH-73 pass through Ambala. NH-22 starts from Ambala and leads to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.
Postal Code: 133001 (Ambala Cantt.) 134003 (Ambala City) | Longitude: 74° 33"-53' to 76° 36"-52'East | Latitude: 27° 39"-45'North | Area: 1568.85 sq.kms | Altitude: 900 feet above sea level | Population: 1,136,784 (Census 2011) | STD Code: 0171 | Villages: 433 | Literacy: 82.90% | Languages: Hindi, English | Best season to visit: All seasons to visit.