BHATINDA

also spelled Bathinda, city, south-central Punjab state, northwestern India. The city is a major rail hub, with lines converging on it from other Indian states and from nearby Pakistan. It is a trade centre for the area's agricultural products; industries include flour milling and handloom weaving. Rajindra College is located in Bhatinda, as is a huge fort, Govindgarh, built in the 16th century, with walls 118 feet (36 m) high. There is also the shrine of a Muslim saint, Baba Ratan. The surrounding region forms part of the generally flat alluvial plain south of the Sutlej River. The light rainfall is augmented by irrigation canals; wheat, cotton, sugarcane, and gram (chick-pea) are among the crops grown. Pop. (1981) city, 124,453; metropolitan area, 127,363.