Tourism in Kapurthala District means a visit to its various historical and religious sites. This district is known for its several popular places of interest. It offers visits to holy sites, sanctuaries and ancient palaces. All these attractions offered by Kapurthala District are worth exploring. Kapurthala District is one of the most prominent tourist attractions of the country. Here are some of the main tourist attractions of Kapurthala District -

Pilgrimage Tourism in Kapurthala District -
Moorish Mosque: Conceived by M. Manteaux, the mosque was built in 1930. Its construction was started in the year 1927. Three years and some six lakhs of rupees later, the Mosque was completed. It was inspired by the Qutbia Mosque in Marakesh, and sanctified in the presence of Nawab Sadiq Mohd. Khan Bhadur, the Nawab of Bhawalpur. Its inner dome was lovingly decorated by artists from Mayo School of Art in Lahore, and is today the only mosque of this style in Asia and is visited by people from far and wide. It is a National Monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, and bears testimony to the spirit of equality and secularism which characterized Maharaja Jagatjit Singh`s endeavours.

Panch Mandir: Panch Mandir of Kapurthala is a place of reverence for all faiths. This temple is home to five small temples. Built during the reign of Sardar Fateh Singh, an extraordinary feature of this temple is that from the entry door, one can view all the five idols. Another exceptional feature is that at sunrise, the first rays of Sun God fall directly on the idols. This temple also possesses a very rare idol of Lord Brahma.

State Gurudwara: This striking red sandstone building now painted white was consecrated in 1915 in Indo- Saracenic style.

Gurudwara Ber Sahib: Gurudwara Ber Sahib is situated on the banks of holy Bein. This is where Guru Nanak entered the Bein rivulet, also known as the Babe di Nadi. This Gurudwara in the small town of Sultanpur Lodhi is a major destination for religious tourists.

Leisure Tourism in Kapurthala District -
Jagatjit Palace: Jagatjit Palace is, indisputably, Kapurthala`s most famous building. It was, once upon a time, the home of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh. It was constructed in 1906 by M. Marcel under the Maharaja`s guidance. Its architecture was inspired by the Palaces of Versallies and Fontainbleau. The roofs of the palace were made in the `beaux-art` style of the 19th century. Of these, the most impressive is the Mansard Roof with a double slope and windows like those of the Louvre. It also houses an interesting collection of artifacts including a mechanical clock which shows the moisture, the planetary position, the varying temperatures, and the timings in about 12 countries of Europe and Asia. The Jagatjit Palace enshrines the finest aspects of Indian and French aesthetics. The Maharaja`s Palace presently houses the prestigious Sainik School inaugurated in 1961.

Mazar of Mir Nasir Ahmed: Mazar of Mir Nasir Ahmed, stands amidst dense shrubbery. Mir Nasir Ahmed, a descendant of the legendary Tansen, founded the Kapurthala Gharana, or the school of music. Today, this monument is a pilgrimage site for classical musicians; while the land is used as a graveyard.

Shahi Samadhs: Shahi Samadhs (The Royal Cenotaphs) in the Shalimar Gardens, emphasize the traditions of its ruling dynasty. Marble obelisks inside the red sandstone chambers, are the memorials to the former rulers and their families. Nearby, a grand structure built in 1880 and built on a marble plinth, houses the Samadhs of Maharajas Kharak Singh, Jagatjit Singh and Paramjit Singh. It is decorated with carved filigree work of great beauty. The Shalimar Gardens, which house these magnificent pieces of art, today, houses the offices of the Municipal Council of Kapurthala. The complex is a vibrant combination of the old and the new, the ancient and the modern.

War Memorial: The War memorial was commenced in 1923. This is a red sandstone building built in Indo- Saracenic style, housing a life sized bronze statue of a Kapurthala solider.

Elysee Palace: The Elysee Palace was built by Kanwar Bikrama Singh in 1862. This magnificent building with its imposing and elegant fa‡ade is now the famous MGN School of Kapurthala.

Jubilee Hall: The imposing Jubilee Hall was built to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh`s rule in 1916. The State Assembly used to meet here. It presently houses a College which was established by Raja Randhir Singh in 1856. Its new name is Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College, though it is still popularly known as Randhir College, Kapurthala.

Durbar Hall: The stately Durbar Hall stands proudly at the heart of the city. It was, at one time the Court of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, its creator. Maharaja`s annual birthday celebrations and other state rituals and ceremonies were also held here. Most suitably, this complex today, is the District Courts Complex which houses the Court of the District and the Sessions Judge as well as the offices of the Deputy Commissioner. The Durbar Hall was completed in 1889. Its architecture represents Indo-Saracenic style. There is a beautiful upper deck gallery running on both sides. It unfolds stylized domes and canopies, and superb lattice work executed in stone. Facing the massive wooden door of the main entrance is a splendid bronze equestrian statue of Raja Randhir Singh.

Ghanta Ghar: Ghanta Ghar or the Clock Tower still stands majestically as a constant reminder of the city`s royal past. It was built in 1901. Ironically enough, the clock stopped chiming in 1949 when Maharaja Jagatjit Singh breathed his last. With the recent restoration the clock has started resonating again.

Nature Tourism in Kapurthala District -

Kanjli Wetland: Kanjli Wetland, on the western Bein rivulet at the outskirts of the city, is a very popular site for bird watching and boating. An enormous project is currently being undertaken here to develop it into a destination for bird watching replete with modern day facilities. A 6 km long nature trail is also being developed for nature lovers.

How to Reach Kapurthala District
By Air: Kapurthala is well connected via airways. Amritsar airport is the nearest airport and is well connected with Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu.

By Road: There is a vast network of bus services connecting Kapurthala to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Shimla, Dehradun, Jaipur and Ganganagar.

By Train: Kapurthala is the nearest railhead and is well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Puri and Nagpur.

Thus, Tourism in Kapurthala District means an enriching and memorable travelling experience for its visitors.