The district of Sargodha is bounded on the north by Jhelum District, in the Southwest and South by Jhang District and in the west by Khushab District. These districts lie in the heart of Pakistan Punjab and Sargodha is situated between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab and is a part of the Chaj Doab. Through the course of history because of its geographic location it has been at the crossroads of the invaders from the northwest as well as central travelling point for travelers, armies and caravans.
Tradition says that the word Sargodha is derived from two central words namely “Sar” which means pond and “Godha” which means a spiritual Jogi or elder who lived here long ago. Folklore says that the Godha had constructed a small hut next to a pond where his cattle used to graze, hence the evolution of the name Sargodha for the locality.
Sargodha is one of the largest cities of Pakistan in Punjab Province. It is 190 Km northwest of Lahore on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M2. The present population of the District is close to 550,000 individuals spread over an area of about 5,854 Sq. Km The land of the district is approximately 607 Ft above sea level. It lies between 31.30o North Latitude and between 72.05o and 73.15o East Longitudes. It is divided into seven Tehsils which are Sargodha, Kot Momin, Bhalwal, Shahpur, Sillanwali, Sahiwal and Bhera. The City takes its name from it headquarter Sargodha founded in February 1903 by the British.
The modern city although established in 1903 but the origins of the land in the district is ancient. The first direct reference to the locality is present in “Tuzk-e-Babri” the book written by founder of the Mughal Empire Babur who swept through the area around 1517 till 1519. He entered Punjab again in 1523 from Afghanistan resulting in occupation of Sargodha and the final conquest of the Sub Continent three years later.
Some highlights and important places of Sargodha are Kirana Hills, PAF Base, University of Sargodha, Takht Hazara, Sillanwali and Bhera. The district consists of mostly plain fertile land which is interrupted by a buried hill range called Kirana Hills. It is situated at a distance of 14 Km from the city and extends towards Chiniot, Shahkot and Sangla. From ancient periods some form of sanctity has been attached to Kirana Hills by both Hindu and Muslim religions.
Sargodha City is also called “The City of Eagles” as it houses one of the largest and important Air Base of Pakistan Air Force. The importance, central role and bravery of the people of Sargodha during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak Wars is well recognized, resulting in the award of the title.
The University of Sargodha is a public Sector University with a graceful campus and is one of the largest teaching institutions of the locality. Before partition it was Government College Shahpur which was granted status as a university realizing the dreams of the people of the area.
Takht Hazara is a small town in Tehsil Bhalwal of Sargodha District where the legendary romance hero of Heer Ranjha was born. The Punjabi story of romance ending in tragedy due to customs and hatred is famous among the people of Punjab. The Sillanwali Tehsil of Punjab is famous for its woodcarving and pitchkari which can be seen on furniture, doors, walls and clocks. The artisans and their families are still involved in these crafts constructing beautiful furniture and products. One of the most central and important towns of Chaj Doab is Bhera. It is near Southern Salt Range in District Sargodha. It was founded around 1540 at its present site. It is an ancient town with notable religious sites and buildings.
