Jalalpur Sharif

Jalalpur's modern name came from the renaming of its ancient name, Girjak, by Malik Darwesh Khan Janjua who was a high-ranking general of the Imperial Mughal Army under Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar’s reign.

It is stated that Malik Darwesh ordered the renaming of Girjak (part of his extended kingdom) to Jalalpur, when Emperor Akbar visited him.^[2] This was done in honour of the Emperor and the Janjua family's relationship.^[3] Jalalpur at this point was a flourishing centre of trade for the region.^[4]

The history of the region dates back to 326 BC when Alexander the Great and his troops camped at Jalalpur Sharif, located on the right bank of the Jhelum River, prior to the Battle of the Hydaspes. During this battle, Alexander’s horse Bucephalus was severely injured and he was reportedly buried close to Jalalpur Sharif, where subsequently Alexander built the city of Bucephalia named after his horse.^[5][6]

A notable landmark of the town is the Shrine of Pir Syed Ghulam Haidar Ali Shah, a prominent leader of the Chishti order.^[7] It is this association with the shrine of one of the most well known Chishti spiritual leaders of the sub continent that the title of Sharif is pronounced together with Jalalpur. Pir Syed Ghulam Haidar Ali Shah and his descendants, notably including his grandson, who was given the title Amir-e-Hizbullah, Pir Syed Muhammad Fazal Shah were extremely influential in the spiritual development of the Muslims of Punjab, and also in the political movement that eventually led to the creation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.^[8]

The Khewra Salt Mines, the world's second largest salt mine, is located 37 km west of Jalalpur Sharif in Khewra.^{[citation needed]}

• Wikimapia map
• History of Jalalpur Sharif
• Local Photos
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