The modern day Sri Muktsar Sahib city was historically a semi-desert terrain named Khidrana or Khidrane de dhab, situated near a lake.

The present area of Sri Muktsar Sahib is almost entirely destitute of ancient buildings and contains no places mentioned in early records.

Rao Burar had two sons, Paur and Dhul, the younger’s progeny held almost the whole of the region of Sri Muktsar Sahib.

These Brar Jats under Chaudary Kapura are known to have fought against the imperial Mughal armies alongside Guru Gobind Singh and the chali mukhte.

Assisted by an experienced guide of a Brar chief, the guru reached Khidrane Di Dhab where he finally decided to meet the enemy.

Earlier, in 1704, when Guru Gobind Singh's Army was treacherously surrounded in Anandpur Sahib by the Moghul forces, supported by Dogra hill chiefs, Sikhs had run out of provisions.

As it was semi-desert terrain and the summer heat was reaching its peak, the Guru knew of its importance and based his defenses around the water reservoir.

At the end of the battle, when he was looking for survivors, Mai Bhago, who was lying wounded, told him how the forty deserters had laid down their lives fighting in the battlefield.

Ram Singh, leader of the Namdhari sect, visited Sri Muktsar Sahib in 1861 on the occasion of Mela Maghi to deliver his message.

According to the 1951 Census, 349,767 refugees from Pakistan settled in the Firozpur district including the erstwhile Sri Muktsar Sahib and Moga tehsils.

Lithologically, Sri Muktsar Sahib is a part of the vast Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain, composed of alternate bands of sands, silt and clay with pebbles.

[8] The soil of Sri Muktsar Sahib varies from sandy to loam in texture, and is low in organic carbon, phosphorus, zinc and other micro nutrients, but high in potassium.

Summers, from early April to mid October, are typically very hot and humid, with an average daily June high temperature of 104 °F (40 °C).

Since Sri Muktsar Sahib lacks any major industry interaction or activity, it is largely not impacted by the modern cosmopolitan culture.

However, the traditional Punjabi culture in Sri Muktsar Sahib is rich, emphasizing family values and respect for elders.

Weddings in the city are an elaborate, expensive arrangement, with the rituals extending for days, accompanied with songs, music, dance, traditional dresses and food.

Since some migrants from other states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar come to Sri Muktsar Sahib for manual unskilled jobs, the number of Hindi speakers has increased.

Paneer – milk solids pressed under a weight and cut into cubes – is an expensive dairy food, eaten as curry with peas or other vegetables.

The food is often supplemented by dairy products, such as yogurt or clarified butter, chutneys, pickles, papad[17] onion, cucumbers or tomatoes.

Sri Muktsar Sahib does not have any significant presence of a major international food chain store or a fine dining restaurant.

[24] The city's administration is managed by a Civil Sub Divisional Officer, reporting to the deputy commissioner of the Sri Muktsar Sahib district.

Though the gurudwara attracts several visitors a day, there is a massive devotee footfall on Mela Maghi, celebrated on 13 January every year.

[citation needed] In the same premises, near the southeastern corner of the pool, is Gurudwara Tambu Sahib,[26] which was built by Maharaja Mohinder Singh of Patiala.

It was this strategic spot that the guru chose to get a good view of the area, as that spot was located on a small hill, or a tibbi as called in Punjabi[citation needed] Located around 200 meters east of Gurudwara Tibbi Sahib, is the Gurudwara Rakabsar Sahib, where, according to Sikh chronicles, the stirrup, or rakab in Punjabi, of Guru Gobind Singh's horse snapped.

An annual event celebrated in the month of January every year, the mela is organized as a tribute to the 40 Sikhs who died fighting for Guru Gobind Singh[34] in the battle of Sri Muktsar Sahib in 1705.

Though the mela extends for more than a fortnight, the main event is held on 14 January, a day after Lohri, and is considered as one of the most important of all religious gatherings of the Sikhs.

[35] Sikhs consider it to be a pious occasion to take a dip in the holy pond of the Sri Muktsar Sahib gurdwaras on that day.

[36] Despite the biting cold, devotees came in droves from Punjab and neighbouring areas, including Haryana and Rajasthan, to pay obeisance at Gurdwaras here.

[38] The Mela celebrates the unique diversity of Punjabi tradition and culture in an ambiance representing the ethos of rural India.

A makeshift amusement park is created, which features circus, giant wheel, merry-go-round, wall of death, toy train and similar rides, along with food stalls.