Pun: ਬਠਿੰਡਾ baṭhiṇḍā
‘Land of the Bhatis’ [Tabar-i-Hind] – City/District, Punjab
From Bhati, the name of a Rajput clan, and (possibly) Pun: da ‘land, place’. Another theory suggests a link to Vataka, an ancient tribe mentioned in early inscriptions.
Bathinda is one of Punjab’s oldest cities, historically significant for its strategic location and military importance.
The city was known as Tabar-i-Hind, ‘Gateway to India’ in medieval Persian sources. It was a major frontier outpost, with its fort, the 12th century Qila Mubarak, playing a key role in defending northern India from invasions. In 1240, Razia Sultana, the only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate, was imprisoned here after being overthrown.
During the Mughal and Sikh periods, Bathinda remained a center of power. Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, it was integrated into the Sikh Empire. Later, it became an important railway and trade hub under British rule.
Today, Bathinda is a major agricultural and industrial city, home to large oil refineries, power plants and military installations.
Although the Guru Nanak Dev power plant has been dismantled to make way for a mega industrial park, the four iconic cooling towers that border the lake remain standing.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Punjab place names.
