Gujranwala District

Gujranwala District () is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city of Gujranwala is the capital.

History
Gujranwala (), the capital of Gujranwala District, is a city in the northeast of the Punjab province in Pakistan. It borders the districts of Sialkot, to the north and east, Shiekhupura, to the south, Hafizabad, to the west and south, and Gujrat district to the west, on the other side of the Chenab river. The district is in the ancient region of Punjab, known as Sandal Bar, between the rivers of Chenab and Ravi.

The southern area of Gujranwala district is known as the Virkyat region or Virk territory, were the Virk Jatts held their territory, independently. The Chatha Jatts never got on with the Sikh Sardars, there were wars all the time. until the reign of Sher-e-Panjab. Before the arrival of Sikhs, into Gujranwala area, it was mainly held by local Muslim tribes, while Gujranwala, Garjakh, Qila Mian Singh, Botala Jhanda Singh, Butala Sham Singh, Eminabad, Kamoke, Qila Didar Singh, Ruriala, Mari Thakran, Ladhe Wala Waraich, Wazirabad, Dhounkal, Wadala Cheema, Mughal Chak were the only, that were under local Sikh Rule. In 1738, Panah Bhatti, a very powerful, Chieftain, had the whole of western Punjab, from Hasan Abdal, Attock, to the banks of the River Ravi, at his mercy, Gujranwala area, was to under his influence, but was defeated, by the Muslim Mughal Governors, of Lahore. Panah Bhatti, was captured and killed. 

Sardar Amir Singh, was a very old Sikh Chieftain of Gujranwala, belonging to the Waraich Jat Clan. He had two sons Gurbakhsh Singh and Dal Singh, and two daughters including, Desan Kaur (d. 1778), Mai Desan in 1756, was married to Sardar Charat Singh Sukerchakia (d. 1770), who was from Amritsar District of Punjab, crossed the river Ravi, with a large Sikh army, and Occupied Gujranwala, establishing his independent State. Mai Desan, gave birth to Sardar Mahan Singh Sukerchakia (d. 1792), who expanded his territories, and fought against the Chatha Jats, who he defeated. He married Mata Raj Kaur, the daughter of Rajah Gajpat Singh, a Sidhu Jatt, ruler of Jind Sikh State, in about 1777, who later gave birth to Maharajah Ranjit Singh Sher-e-Panjab in 1780, in Gujranwala Haveli (Mansion), the biggest and tallest building in Gujranwala and fortified, at that time, where the great Sikh Chieftains lived. From 1792-1801, Gujranwala remained the capital of Ranjit Singh, until he captured Lahore in 1799, from Sardar Chet Singh Bhangi, a weak Sikh Chieftain of Lahore. Sardar Hari Singh Nalua (1791-1837), was also born in Gujranwala, to Sardar Gurdial Singh, and Mata Dharam Kaur, a Uppal Khatri, who was also the commander and general of the Sikh army during the Sikh times, family was originally from Amritsar. He has been credited for having rebuilt the present city of Gujranwala.

Ranjit Singh, brought all the independent Muslim states of Gujranwala, under his rule. During the later Sikh rule, the Hindu's of Gujranwala, played a great role, in those days. Maharajah Ranjit Singh, having, great tolerance, built many Durgahs of Sufi Saints, such as Mastan Shah, near Gujranwala, according to the local legends of Gujranwalia's. Who is said to have met the maharajah during his childhood. He Visited Dhounkal village, near Wazirabad city, in Gujranwala, where the shrine of mystical Sakhi Sarwar stands.

It has been recorded that a small number of the total Sikh population, of Gujranwala district, were from Eastern Punjab, who started settling in Gujranwala, during the occupation of the area, by the Sikh chief, Charat Singh. Sardar Jhanda Singh, also in between 1760-1799, migrated to Gujranwala, where he established his own Authority, and later founded the village of Botala Jhanda Singh. Other Sikh Sardars such as the Maan Jatt Sikh Sardars of Mughal Chak, and the Waraich Jatt Sikh Sardars of Ruriala in Gujranwala, were also from Amritsar District. Most of the Lahore Sikh royal family members, were from mainly Gujranwala, Sialkot, and some from Amritsar district. There are hundreds of old Islamic Tombs, Forts, Canals, Villages, Gurdwaras, Temples, Mansions, old Villages, Mosques, Baradari's and city walls, which are in ruins, scattered throughout Gujranwala countryside.

The second Anglo Sikh Wars were fought in 1848-49, between the Sikh Empire and British East India Company. were fought at Ram Nagar, also in Gujranwala, where it was Sikh Victory. In 1847, the district had come under British influence. two year later it was under British rule in 1849.

In 1947, Gujranwala District, was awarded to Pakistan, because of Muslims being a majority forming about 75%, while the Sikhs were 10% and the Hindus were about 15%. Plunder, masses of Looting, Force Conversion, Genocide, destruction, and rioting took place in Gujranwala, during 1947, August time. It has been recorded that Sikhs, also protected their villages, in Gujranwala, along with the Hindus, and many died fighting, against the Muslim looters. All the Sikh and Hindu population, left for Eastern Punjab. While the Muhajir Muslims, from the Indian States of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi, in en masse, migrated to Pakistan, a good number of them settled in the Gujranwala region. Today Gujranwala, has the largest population, along with other districts, The Tribes of Gujranwala, are mainly Jatts, Rajputs, and the Muhajirs.

List of some famous villages in Gujranwala District
* Alipur Chattha
 Ahmad Nagar Chattha
 Amin Pur Saidan
 Aujla Kalan
 Badokhi Sekhwan
 Banka Cheema
 Bhai Ke Aulakh
 Bharoki Cheema
 Bhatti Mansoor
 Bhoman Bathh
 Bhuppra Goraya
 Budha Goraya
 Chahal Kalan
 Chak Gill
 Chak Roop Chand
 Chak Sadu Virkan
 Chak Waraich
 Chalaki Virkan
 Dehla Chattha
 Dadwali Sharif
 Dapai Mehtab Singh
 Dargahiwala warraich

 Dhair Virkan
 Dhariwal
 Dhindsa
 Dhounkal
 Fazal Pura
 Garhjakh
 Ghaya Wala Cheema
 Gill Wala
 Gondalan Wala
 Hameedpur Kalan
 Hazrat Kalianwala Sharif
 Hardo Saharan
 Jaffar Kot
 Jalalpur Chattha
 Jam Wala Chattha
 Jukhyan Chattha
 Kalaske Cheema
 Khewaywali
 Kot Amar Singh
 Kot Inayat Khan
 Kotli Nawab
 Ladhe Wala Cheema
 Ladhewala Waraich
 Langian Wali
 Leel Virkan
 Maan
 Madrassa Chattha
 Maju Chak
 Manchar Chattha
 Mandyala Waraich
 Mangoke Virkan
 Manzoorabad
 Mari Khurd
 Matta Virkan
 Mattu Bhai Ke
 Melu Virkan
 Mokhal Sandhua
 Mughal Chak
 Muraliwala
 Nathoke
 Noinke Sandhua
 Pathanwali
 Phaloki Cheema
 Pindori Kalan
 Pipnakha
 Qila Mian Singh
 Radyala Waraich
 Ramdas
 Sado Goraya
 Sadu Virkan
 Saharan Chattha
 Salhoke Chattha
 Shera Kot
 Sohian
 Talwandi Khajoor Wali
 Thakar Ke Waraich
 Thatha Gulab
 Thatha Hayer
 Tokrian
 Tung Kalan
 Udday Virkan
 Ugo Bhinder
 Ugo Chak
 Verpal Chattha
 Wadala Cheema
 Wandala Virkan
 Nokhar
 Kot Kesho

Administration
The district is composed of 4 tehsils: 

 Gujranwala City
 Kamoki Tehsil
 Nowshera Virkan Tehsil
 Wazirabad Tehsil

Districts of British India
Districts of Punjab (Pakistan)
Gujranwala Division