Dera Bassi is a city and a municipal council in Mohali district in the state of Punjab, India. Zirakpur comes under tehsil Dera Bassi. Dera Bassi is located on the Chandigarh Delhi National Highway, 20 km from Chandigarh. It is strategically located near the boundary of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Union territory of Chandigarh. The nearby sub town Lalru was once a famous market for red chili powder. The city and nearby area has eight engineering colleges, B.ed, paramedical and management Institutes.The Dera Bassi town was formed from the early Kalsia State, whose headquarters were at Chhachhrauli. There was a big fort (now in ruins state) of Mughal era located at outskirts of Dera Bassi. It was used as guest house by Kalsia rulers . In 1922 Ravi Sher Singh visited Dera Bassi after his paramount as the monarch of Kalsai state. Earlier the town was under Patiala district, thereafter it has become a part of newly created Mohali district. In village named Makandpur in Dera Bassi, there is a holy place called as Kethlo Tirath (Kamlon Thirth). There is Kunti Kund Sarovar (Pond), Temple of Pandvas with Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. It beliefs that Pandvas stayed at that place when they successfully escaped from lakshagraha.
