7 Best Tourist Places in Pathankot

It is a tiny city situated in the Indian state of Punjab. Earlier, Pathankot was part of the tehsil of the District Gurdaspur. Pathankot serves as a meeting point for 2 Northern Indian states and one Union Territory, namely Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to its location, the place is the travel hub for three states. It is located on the foothills of Dalhousie and Kangra, and the river Chakki flows close to the city. The place also acts as a rest stop for travelers moving towards McLeodganj, Dalhousie, Chamba, Jammu and Kashmir, Jwalaji, Kangra, Dharamshala, and deep into the Himalayas. Pathankot is also regarded as an education hub for the Himachal, Jammu, and Kashmir students. Students from rural backgrounds come to study in the city.

Pathankot is widely popular for its mammoth Cantt military station and Asia's largest facility. It also shares an international border with Pakistan. In Mahabharata, Pathankot is mentioned as Audumbar, and in the ancient text, also as Ain-i-Akbari, it has been referred to as "Pargana Headquarters".

Ways to Reach Pathankot

By Air

Pathankot is well linked to a major city like Delhi. The domestic civil airport, i.e., Pathankot Airport IXP, is located 3 kilometres away from the main city of Pathankot. The proximate airport to Pathankot is Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport, Amritsar, which is 119 kilometres away. This airport has well-established connectivity with major cities like Delhi, Jammu, and Dalhousie.

Nearest Airport Station: Pathankot Air Force Station, Pathankot.

By Railways

Pathankot Railway Station is situated in Pathankot city itself. It is connected with Jammu, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Amritsar, and Rourkela through Dauladhar Express, Jammu Mail Express, Adi Jat Express, Tata Jat Express, Bti Jat Express, etc.

Inquiry Contact: 131, 139

Pathankot Station Superintendent: 01862220417

By Road

The city is connected with Delhi, which is 481 km far away, by Punjab State Road Transportation Corporation (PSRTC) and through other private bus travel agencies.

Intra-State and Inter-City Distances

• Jalandhar (113 km)
• Gurdaspur (39km)
• Amritsar (110)
• Chandigarh (237km)
• Kangra (87km)
• Shimla (296km)
• Jammu (112 km)
• Chamba (100 km)
• Srinagar (400km)
• Dharamshala (100km)
• Palampur (100km)
• Dalhousie (70km)
• Chamba (100km)

Places to Visit Are:

• Ranjit Sagar Dam
• Atal Setu
• Dhar Nature Retreat and Awareness Camp
• Gurudwara Shri Barth Sahib
• Muketeshwar Temple

1. Kathlour Wildlife Sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary is a safe haven for numerous wildlife species and is a scenic beauty. It is a habitat for grey partridge, white-humped vultures, barking deer, chital, hog deer, pangolin, porcupine, black partridge, spotted owlet, and python. Tourists can visit the Sanctuary and see the world of animals and birds. People are also allowed to glance at wild animals with minimal interference. The Sanctuary has been partitioned into three zones- eco-sensitive, buffer, and core. The core zone is the main wildlife refuge and is a protected zone. Tourists are prohibited from going beyond the eco-sensitive zone.

Tourists are provided with a memorable, thrilling, and unique experience with 11 seaters improvised golf cart (noise and pollution-free vehicle) in which they travel the whole Sanctuary with this vehicle. Private vehicles are prohibited on the premises. An island is present in the middle of the premises. A cafeteria is also built. For an excellent view of the Sanctuary, the Visitor is allowed to climb atop either of the two 30 feet-towers.

Timings

Winter

• October- March (9am- 5pm)
• Open all days

Summer

• April- September (8:00 am- 12 noon) and (4:00 pm -7 pm)
• Open All days

2. Mukteshwar Temple

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the river Ravi's bank. It is believed that the Pandavas stayed in the caves while in exile. Mukteshwar Temple is situated on the top of a hill and consists of copper yoni and Shiv lingam. Idols of several Hindu deities, Ganesha, Hanuman, Parvati, Vishnu, and Brahama, are placed around the lingam. It is being established that these caves are 5500 years old, and the Pandavas constructed the temple. Texts from Hindu Mythology suggest that these caves are as ancient as Mahabharata. The cave became home to the Pandavas as they took shelter and rested there. They took shelter for six months in this cave during their Agyatwas. Sometimes this place is also called a Mini-Haridwar. People cannot immerse ash of their kin at the Haridwar, so here they do by immersing ashes in the river Rabi.

Location: Doongh Village, Shahpurkandi, Pathankot

Distance: 22 km from Pathankot

Aarti Timings:

• Morning: 05:30am
• Evening: 07:00 pm
• Langar Facility: 10:00am-6:00 pm (Everyday)
• Temple Timings: 24 hrs (Any time devotees can visit)

Other Attractions Point- Somvati Amavasya Mela, Chaitra Chodiya, Mukesran Da Mela (April Month), Shivratri and Navratri Festival.

3. Nurpur Fort

It was known as Dhameri Fort and was constructed in the tenth century. British destroyed the fort, and it also got destroyed by an earthquake. The fort had a temple inside it, and it was called Brij Raj Swami. It was constructed in the 16^th century. Idols of Lord Krishna and Meera Bai were worshipped in the fort.

4. Dhar Nature Retreat and Awareness Camp

The Ranjit Sagar Lake and the Dhar Forest spread over the Pathankot Forest Division's Dhar and Dunera Forest Ranges. The Forest is in the form of blocks, which differ in size. Forest has pristine beauty and has been shielded from human depredation. The lake provides an excellent picturesque for the Visitor. Pathankot forest division 2020 felt the need for protection, conservation, and raising awareness regarding the highly biodiverse area and establishing a nature awareness close to Chamrod Village, administered by Village Forest Committee (VFC), Chamrod, Dhar. The nature camp is established on the principle of empowerment to govern the resource on which they are dependent and local community ownership rights.

Characteristics of the Camp

• Hoarding and panels with information on animals, fish, and bird positions systematically all along the path.
• Detailed Waste Management for the effective management of solid waste.
• State-of-the-art Interpretation centre to exhibit reality-based animal documentaries and shows on conservation, wetlands, climate change, and the environment.
• A watch-cum tree house.
• A boat ride on the Ranjit Sagar Lake provides a close opportunity to see the surroundings and nature in real form with adequate safety measures like safety kits and life jackets.
• Four all-weather resort tents with attached bathrooms for camping provide an excellent pristine view of the serene landscape.

5. Atal Setu

The cable-styled bridge is situated on the Ravi River, and it was commissioned by former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 24 December 2015. Cable Styled bridge is 592 meters long. It was constructed to provide smooth connectivity between Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. The bridge is located on the Dunera to Basohli road. It is the first kind of bridge in north India and the fourth in the nation. The other three bridges are Kolkata (Hooghly), Allahabad (Naini), and Mumbai (Bandra- Worli). The bridge provides a picturesque of the mountain, which is nearby to the river. IIT Delhi has cleared the design of the bridge. Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, laid the foundation stone in May 2011. Mc Elhanney Consulting Services Ltd, a Canadian Company, prepared the design. Earlier, this firm, known as Infinity Engineering Ltd. Border Road Organisation, Infinity and SP Singla Constructions Pvt. Ltd., and IRCON, was entrusted with the bridge's construction. The name is inspired by the Former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the bridge is dedicated to the nation.

6. Ranjit Sagar Dam

The construction of the dam was completed in 2001, and the dam was built as part of the hydroelectricity project of the Punjab Government. The dam also has another name, and it is called Thien Dam, and it was built on the river Ravi. The dam serves as a great picnic spot and is surrounded by lush greenery. The dam is situated in a very idyllic and serene location. The dam is situated at a driveable distance, and the drive would be enjoyable and scenic.

Important Instruction: Visitors must consent from the authorities to enter the dam. A special cottage has been constructed in the area for the tourist. Tourists can opt to stay in the cottage after paying some amount. The cottages are paid for and booked at the entrance of the dam. The cottage provides a calm, serene and pleasant experience to the tourists, and it is said that tourists planning to visit the dam should stay in the cottage for a day.

Suitable Time to Visit: September- August (When the lake's beauty and greenery are at their zenith).

7. Hydraulic Research Station, Pathankot

This Hydraulic Research Station is present in Malikpur. It is 7 km from Pathankot. Hydraulic Research Station serves as a major attraction point in the Pathankot. The research station exhibits several models of irrigation projects and dams. The research station will produce an undercurrent among engineer enthusiasts keen on civil engineering and hydraulics. Comprehensive and detailed information is presented to the tourists regarding the models. Visitors will be thrilled to see the engineering techniques incorporated into the establishment of irrigation and dam projects.