JULLUNDUR

city, administrative headquarters of Jullundur district, Punjab state, northwestern India. Jullundur is an ancient city; in the 7th century AD it was the capital of a Rajput kingdom. The third largest city in the state, it is an important rail and road junction and a trade centre for agricultural products. Its industries include manufacturing, tanning, weaving, and carpentry, and it has a large sporting-goods industry. Jullundur is surrounded by several suburbs and has a large cantonment to the south and an airfield 9 mi (14 km) to the east. It has 13 colleges affiliated with Guru Nanak Dev University and several state government offices. Jullundur district comprises 1,311 sq mi (3,396 sq km) of territory north of the Sutlej River. It is on a level, fertile alluvial plain, 80 percent of which is under cultivation. Principal crops are wheat, corn (maize), cotton, sugarcane, and gram (chick-pea). Pop. (1981) city, 408,196; district, 1,734,574.