Kapurthala district is situated in the Jalandhar Doab region of Punjab, and comprises two non-contiguous parts, separated by some 32 kilometers. Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi and Bholath tehsils form one part and Phagwara tehsil, the second separated portion. The former area lies between North latitude 31 degree 07 minutes and 31 Degrees 22 minutes, and East longitude 75 degrees 36 minutes. Phagwara tehsil falls between North latitude 31 degrees 22 minutes and East longitude 75 degrees 40 minutes and 75 degrees 55 minutes. Kapurthala shares its boundaries with the districts of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Ferozepur.

The population of Kapurthala district is 6,42,529 (1991 census). The total area of the district is 1633 sq km of which 909.09 sq km is in tehsil Kapurthala, 304.05 sq km in tehsil Phagwara and 451.0 sq km area in tehsil Sultanpur Lodhi. The entire district is situated in the the tract between the rivers Sutluj and the Beas, referred to generally as the Doab. The area between the river Beas and Kali Bein is known as 'Bet'. The area south of the Kali Bein is known as "Dohnan" and is sandy.

Kapurthala district is divided into four tehsils, namely Kapurthala, Phagwara, Sultanpur and Bholath. The district derives its name from the town of Kapurthala, which was the capital of the former princely state of the same name. The town is said to have been founded in the early part of the 11th century by Rana Kapur, a scion of the ruling house of Jaisalmer, in Rajasthan. Kapurthala city is 66 km from Amritsar on the National Highway NH1.

The climate of Kapurthala district is arid except for the monsoon months. It experiences a very hot summer and enjoys a bracing winter season. In June, the temperatures can touch 45 degrees Celsius or more. January and February are the coldest months, and passing western disturbances can cause temperatures to plummet to a degree or so below freezing point. Almost 70 % of the annual rainfall is received during the monsoon months (July to September), with July usually being the wettest month.

The Bet area is frequently flooded during the rainy season. For flood protection the ‘Dhusi Bandh’ has been constructed along the left bank of the river Beas and along the Kali Bein from Sultanpur Lodhi onwards. Among the common shrubs found in the ‘Bet’ area are Leh, Jhau, Plichi, and Bla atc. Among the aqutaic plants, the more important are Ajal, Karali and Bhalu. Sarkanda and Kahi are useful reeds found in the riverine tract. Kans is found in sandy soil.

The founder of the ruling family of Kapurthala was Nawab Jassa Singh who took a leading part in the Sikh struggle against the Mughal governor in Punjab. In 1748, he killed the governor of Amritsar seizing a large portion of the area. He then extended his conquest to Beas and defeated the governor of Jalandhar doab. After the return of Ahmed Shah to Kabul, the Sikhs chiefs under the leadership of Jassa Singh defeated Zain Khan in 1764 whom Ahmed Shah appointed as governor. He had made Kapurthala his capital. Jassa Singh died in 1783. His illustrious successor Fateh Singh was responsible for including the areas of Phagwara and Banga in his territory.

In 1930, a mosque was built on the architectural lines of the Grand Mosque in Marakesh, Morocco. The inner dome was decorated by artists of the Mayo School of Art, Lahore. This mosque is the only example of this unique architectural style in South East Asia. The mosque is a National Monument under the Archeological Survey of India. This unique spirit of true secularism and tolerance has been the hallmark of the people of Kapurthala, through the ages. It has been exemplified through all the periods of trial and other vicissitudes, that the Punjab has witnessed ever since 1947.