Chunian

Chunian is an historic city of Punjab. The present city is more than 500 years old. Some parts of the city fortification and several of its gates still exist. The city is built on a mound thought to have been built by the Harappan or Indus Valley Civilization. Very little excavation has sought to confirm this. The Archeology Department, Government of Pakistan carried out the last excavation in 1978. Among other objects, coins dating back to Alexander the Great's time (c. 323 BC) were discovered at the site. A large area of unexcavated mounds extends to the south-west of the city where ancient bricks and shards of pottery can be found on the surface. Popular legend holds that the city has been destroyed nine times in the past. The present name is popularly believed to have been derived from 'Chunni', name of a daughter of Raja Todar Mal, the dewan or revenue minister to Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. Chunian was the capital of the Nakai Sikh Dynasty one of the 12 sikh Dynasties (misl) which ruled In Modern Day Kasur and Okara Districts.