Known to be the meeting point of three northern states, namely Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, the city of Pathankot is surrounded by the picturesque Shivalik Mountain Ranges on the south and east, and the snow-capped Himalayas in the north and the Chakki River. Situated on the foothills of the Kangra and Dalhousie, the district of Pathankot shares international border with Pakistan on its west. Due to its scenic location and a rich cultural heritage, Pathankot has many places of interest which are major tourist attractions. Listed below are some of the important places of Pathankot.
Mukteshwar Temple: Almost over 5,500 years old and located on the banks of the Ravi River, the cave temples of Mukteshwar are situated atop a hill and are dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. Also known as Mukesaran Mandir, the temple contains a marble Shiva Lingam and a copper yoni. The idols of various Hindu deities Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha surround the Lingam. According to the Hindu mythology, Mahabharata, it is said that the caves were used by the Pandavas as a refuge during their final year in exile.
Nurpur Fort: Built in the 10th century by the Pathania Rajputs, the fortress of Nurpur was formerly known as the Dhameri Fort. Located about 25 km from Pathankot, the Nurpur Fort is quite famous in North India. The fort was destroyed by the British and then by an earthquake in 1905. The Nurpur Fort houses a temple called the Brij Raj Swami Temple, which was built in the 16th century and is known to be one of the only places where both the idols of Lord Krishna and Meerabai are worshipped. This temple attracts a number of tourists from all across the nation.
Ranjit Sagar Dam: Constructed on the Ravi River on the border of the two states of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, the Ranjit Sagar Dam is known to be the highest gravity dam in Asia. Also known as the Thien Dam, it is part of a hydroelectric project, which is used for both irrigation and power generation purposes. With 600 megawatt capacity, the Thien Dam is one of the highest earth fill dams in India and has the largest diameter penstock pipes in the country. The lush green surroundings of the area make it a popular place for picnics.
Shahpur Kandi Fort: Located on the foothills of the Himalayas, the Shahpur Kandi Fort is situated on the banks of the Ravi River and is known to be built in 1505 AD by a Rajput chief named Jaspal Singh Pathania. It is said that the fort was named after the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The fort was strategically located to have control over the Kangra and Nurpur region. Presently, the fort is in complete ruins but a part of it still functions as a resting house, where the tourists come to stay and look at the ancient temples and the amazing view that the place has to offer.
Kathgarh Temple: Located at the confluence of the Beas and Chonch River, the Kathgarh Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is characterized by an ancient lingam of mystical origins. The temple is a marvelous example of Roman architectural style in the region and serves as a resting spot for people before moving up the mountainous trail of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Also known as the Pracheen Shiva Mandir, the Kathgarh Temple is one of the more famous temples in the area.
Other than these, there are other places around Pathankot which also serves as major tourist attractions like the scenic locales of Dalhousie and Khajjar, which is described as the Indian Switzerland due its picturesque locality and ample activities like zorbing ball, paragliding, and horseback riding to attract tourists. Religious places like Jwala Ji and the major pilgrimage centre and Shakti Peetha of Chintpurni are also visited by people. Places like Dharamshala, Amritsar, Palampur, Chamba, Jammu, Mukerian, Hoshiarpur, Kangra and Jalandhar are all near or over a 100 km from the city of Pathankot and are known to have a myriad list of tourist attractions.
Visiting Information on Pathankot
The domestic civil airport, Pathankot Airport IXP is just 3 km from the main city of Pathankot and is 7 km from the Pathankot Railway Station located on the Pathankot to Majra Road under Pathankot Air Force Station. The Pathankot Airport is well connected to major cities like Delhi. The nearest International Airport from Pathankot is Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport at Amritsar, which is about 119 kms from the city.
