Machhiwara name came from
machhi (fish) +
wara (ground). Satluj River runs 13 km away from Machhiwara. During the time of Guru Gobind Singh, the area was a jungle (not to be confused with the
historical Lakhi Jungle in the Firozpur division).
Battle of Machhiwara (15 May 1555) between Humayun and Afghans When
Humayun was struggling to regain his power on India, Humayun captured Lahore in February 1555. Another detachment of his forces captured
Dipalpur. Next, the Mughal army occupied Jalandhar and their advanced division proceeded towards Sirhind.
Sikandar Shah Suri sent a force of 30,000 horses with Naseeb Khan and Tatar Khan, but they were defeated by the
Mughal Army in a
Battle at Machhiwara.
Guru Gobind Singh and Machhiwara When
Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's army attacked the fortress of
Chamkaur Sahib,
Guru Gobind Singh successfully resisted their onslaught and fled into the forests of Machhiwara. The Mughal forces got wind of his whereabouts. Guru Gobind Singh was saved by two of his
Muslim Pashtun devotees who disguised him as their
Muslim prophet. The place where Guru Gobind Singh rested is where the Gurudwara stands today. There are four
gurudwaras (Sikh temples) in Machhiwara. When Guru Gobind Singh was in Machhiwara, he wrote "Mitar pyare nu haal murida da kehna" (Say hello to my dear friend) in the forest of Machhiwara. The Guru composed this work while leaning against a tree in the wilds of Machhiwara after having been wandering for days with only the soft leaves of the
Akk plant (
Calotropis gigantea) as sustenance, sleeping directly on the lumpy forest ground, suffering from foot blisters, wearing torn attire, and sustaining cuts from the thorny vegetation of the jungle. Machhiwara is a famous destination for
Sikh pilgrims. On 13 April every year there is a festival of
Vaisakhi. Another Sikh religious festival of Sabha is held on 21–23 December every year. ==Geography==