Sandal Bar

The Sandal Bar (Urdu: ساندل بار‎) is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the southern part of Rechna Doab.[1] It spreads over almost 40 miles (64 km) in width (west to east) and 80 miles (130 km) in length (north to south). "Bar", in the local language, means a forested area where there are no resources for cultivation, like water. This Bar is named after Saandal, thought to be the grandfather of the legendary Punjabi hero, Dulla Bhatti. Almost all the area of this bar used to be part Jhang District, but nowadays it is divided between the districts of Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

The Sandal bar falls within the grey area on this map

Sandal Bar was actually a vast area with a number of Punjabi tribes sharing the same culture and language, related by blood. Nowadays Sandal Bar falls within Jhang, Faisalabad, Toba Take Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot and Hafizabad districts and some areas of Sheikhupura. The Sandal Bar is known for the sammi and jhumar form of music and dance. It was ruled by Mehr Humayun Bharwana for a long period. This area was not under the British rule, but was a Princely State.