Suraj Kund Sunam temple is a well-known Hindu temple. Located approximately 1.5 kilometres away in the Thashil and Sub division of the Sangrur District, to the east of Sunam city, a large Sun temple dating back to the Vedic period was destroyed by Taimur ( also knowns as Mohammad Ghaznavi).
It is said that the river Saraswati used to flow near by Suraj Kund Sunam Temple.
The suraj kund is now in ruins and needs attention. It is situated near to the Ludhiana Hisar railway line.
Suraj Kund Sunam Temple Sunam’s history dates back to the Vedic era, when it was known as Surajpur.
As we have mentioned before, it is said that river saraswati used to flow near by.
The walls of an ancient fort, into which its occupants were forced to seek safety, were used to construct the present town.
It is split into two sections: one is located in the fort’s citadel, and the other is on the surrounding lowland.
Even though it is now of little consequence, Sunam was important to the history of the Punjab following the invasion from west.
Al-Baruni mentions it as a well-known location in his book “Kitab-ul-Hind,” written in 1050 AD.
Suraj Kund Sunam Temple history
In Sanskrit, the name “Sunam” means “auspicious name,” but some claim it was named for the Gujari woman Sona, who helped Muhammad of Ghor defeat the Bathinda fort and asked him to give Sunam as a reward.
Some acknowledge a derivation from Sunam, which denotes a camel’s hump in Aravic. Qutb-un-Din Aibak gave the place the name Sunam when he noticed that it had this shape, but this etymology is implausible because the town is said to have taken on its current form only after Taimur’s invasion (AD 1398).
Sunam was ruled by Hindu Rajas until Muhammad of Ghor took control of it.
Sher Khan, the page of Sultan Shams-ud-Din Altmash, received it in Jagir. After his cousin Sher Khan passed away, Ghais-ud-Din Balban gave it to Timar Khan with Samana (now in Patiala District), and he later gave it to his own son Bughra Khan.
Subordinate to Muhammad Shah Tughlaq, its tribe rose up in rebellion.
In 1360, Firoz Shah built a canal that connected the town to Sirhind and Mansurpur; however, Taimur attacked it in 1398.
Digging to a depth of 40 to 50 feet reveals ancient artefacts, large bricks, and bones. It was a Sirhind Pargana during Akbar’s reign.
Similar to Samana and Sirhind (now in the Patiala District), Sunam was a political hub during the Muslim era.
This town was liberated from the control of Muslims by Baba Ala Singh, the founder of the former Patiala State.
In his Ain-i-Akbar ri, Akbar’s courtier Abul Fazal wrote that the Emperor frequently travelled to Sunam for hunting expeditions.
How to Reach Suraj Kund Sunam Temple
By Air : Nearest airport is Ludhiana Airport. from there you have many options to reach to the temple
By Rail: You can easily get regular trains to Sunam from other major cities of the country.
By Road: There are no bus routes from other major cities to Sunam. Nearest bus stand is Sangrur.
Suraj Kund Sunam Temple Address
Suraj Kund, Sunam, Sangrur, Punjab, India.
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