Mangla

The name Mangla (منگلا)is derived from the name of a small village that was situated in District Mirpur within the State of Jammu Kashmir. This village was located to the west of and at the foothills of Mangla's fort {which also derived its name from the same village}. It was surrounded from other three sides by the semicurvature of river Jhelum flowing from North to South. It bordered Jhelum district, the right bank of river Jhelum being a boundary between the State of Jammu Kashmir and Punjab province of Pakistan. Presently word "Mangla" after that village having been razed to the ground (with construction of Mangla Dam), is used for a wide area which includes Mangla Cantonment, Mangla Colony (Left bank WAPDA Colony) and Mangla Hamlet. The village Mangla itself was named after Mangla Devi, a goddess of Hindu worship. It has been narrated to be the site of the crossing of the Jhelum river by the forces of Alexander the great facing King Porus. At the time of construction of the Mangla Dam, the villages of Thill, Baral and Baruti across the river in Jhelum District were developed as residential colonies and offices for foreign workers and officials.