Rupnagar is a city and municipal council in Rupnagar district of the Indian state of Punjab. Rupnagar is a newly created fifth divisional headquarters of Punjab, comprising Rupnagar, Mohali and adjoining districts. It is also one of the largest sites belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. Rupnagar is located nearly 43 km (27 mi) northwest of Chandigarh (the nearest airport and the capital of Punjab). It is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the north and Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district to the west.
There are many historical and religious places in Rupnagar, including gurdwaras like Gurudwara Bhatha Sahib, Gurdwara Bhubour Sahib, Gurdwara Solkhian and Gurudwara Tibbi Sahib.
The ancient city of Rupnagar is said to be named after a Raja named Rokeshar, who ruled in the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen.
Rupnagar is one of the Indus Valley sites along the Ghaggar-Hakra beds. There is an Archaeological Museum in the city which opened to the general public in 1998. The museum displays the archaeological remains of excavated sites in the city, the first Harappan site in independent India. These excavations reveal a cultural sequence from Harappa to the medieval period. Some of the important exhibits include antiquities from the Harappan era, gold coins of Chandragupta and copper and bronze tools.
