Gujranwala is the fifth-largest city in Pakistan, located in the province of Punjab, serving as the headquarters of its eponymous district and division. It is nicknamed the "City of Wrestlers" and is famous for its cuisine and historical significance. Along with the nearby cities of Sialkot and Gujrat, Gujranwala forms part of the so-called "Golden Triangle" of industrial cities with export-oriented economies. One local narrative suggests that the town was named after a Gujjar, Choudhry Gujjar, owner of the town's Persian wheel that supplied water to the town. however, the exact origins of Gujranwala are unclear. Unlike the nearby ancient cities of Sialkot and Lahore, Gujranwala is a relatively modern city. It may have been established as a village in the middle of the 16th century. Locals traditionally believe that Gujranwala's original name was Khanpur Sansi, though recent scholarship suggests that the village was possibly Serai Gujran instead – a village once located near what is now Gujranwala's Khiyali Gate that was mentioned by several sources during the 18th-century invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Abdali's control over the region began to weaken in the latter part of the 18th century with the rise of the Sikh Misls (independent chieftainships usually consisting of the chief's kinsmen), which overran Punjab. After the death of Pir Muhammad Chattha his son Ghulam Muhammad Chattha inherited the chieftaincy and the rivalry of Sukerchakias. The rivalry was passed down to Mahan Singh and Ghulam Muhammad Chattha.
Under his leadership the Chathas gained several successes over the Sikhs, and at one time it looked as if the progress of the Sikh arms had been arrested and their dominion in the Doab annihilated. The Bhattis of Hafizabad tehsil, who were Muslim Rajputs, did not cease their resistance to the Sukerchakias until 1801 when their leaders were killed and their possessions captured. Hence, some of them fled to Jhang. Ranjit Singh maintained Gujranwala as his capital initially after rising to power in 1792. Ranjit Singh's most famous military commander Hari Singh Nalwa contributed to the prosperity of Gujranwala, which he was given as a jagir sometime after 1799, which he held till his death in 1837. Nalwa's family had migrated to Gujranwala before his birth. Nalwa built a high mud wall around Gujranwala during this era and established the city's new grid street-plan that exists until the present day. Jind Kaur, the last queen of Ranjit Singh and mother of Duleep Singh, was born in Gujranwala in 1817.
By 1839, the city's bazaars were home to an estimated 500 shops, while the city had been surrounded by a number of pleasure gardens, including one established by Hari Nalwa Singh that was famous for its vast array of exotic plants. and the city's Brandreth, Khiyali, and Lahori Gates built atop the site of Sikh-era gates were completed in 1869.
According to the 1941 census, 269,528 out of the Gujranwala District's 912,234 residents were non-Muslim. 54.30% of Gujranwala city residents were Muslims prior to Partition, though non-Muslims controlled much of the city's economy. Partition riots in Gujranwala resulted in systematic violence against the city's minorities, Many refugees found post-Partition Gujranwala lacking in opportunities, causing some to move south to Karachi. Institutions of higher learning have also been established in the city since independence. The Sialkot-Lahore Motorway, opened in 2020, passes near Gujranwala.
Geography
Gujranwala sits at the heart of the Rechna Doab, a strip of land between the Chenab in the north, and Ravi River in the south. Gujranwala is also part of the Majha, a historical region of northern Punjab. The city was built upon the plains of Punjab, and the surrounding region is an unbroken plain devoid of topographical diversity.
thumb|Gujranwala is in the [[Rechna Doab region of Punjab, marked in grey.]]
Gujranwala is 226 metres (744 ft) above sea level, sharing borders with Ghakhar Mandi and several towns and villages. About south is the provincial capital, Lahore. Sialkot and Gujrat lie to its north. Gujrat connects Gujranwala with Bhimber, Azad Kashmir, and Sialkot connects it with Jammu. About southwest is Faisalabad. To its west are Hafizabad and Pindi Bhattian, which connect Gujranwala to Jhang, Chiniot and Sargodha.
Climate
Gujranwala has a hot semi-arid climate (BSh), according to the Köppen-Geiger system, and changes throughout the year. During summer (June to September), the temperature reaches . The coolest months are usually November to February when the temperature can drop to an average of . The highest precipitation months are usually July and August when the monsoon reaches Punjab. During the other months, the average rainfall is about . October to May have little rainfall.