Panipat

The ancient city of Panipat is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. It is situated at a higher elevation. This is the famous place where the three historical wars were waged. In the year 1526 AD, the first battle of Panipat took place. It was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi. This event marked the heralding of Mughal rule in India. Lodhi ruled Delhi before the battle; however following the battle, death of 20,000 men took place along with the death of Lodhi himself. 

The headquarter town of Panipat is located at a distance of 34 Kms in the south direction of Karnal. The traces of Aryan habitation can be proved by the Panipat Grey Ware found from the excavation sites. The Panipat Grey Ware is a unique type of pottery. During the Mahabharata war, Panipat was believed to be one of the five “Prasthas”. In the earlier times, Jacquemount, who is a French traveler, depicted Panipat as the biggest city of North India apart from Delhi. Initially, in Panipat there used to be only one Tehsil. Till the year 1854, Panipat functioned as the district headquarters; later it was relocated to Karnal. 

                                            TOURIST PLACES IN PANIPAT

Panipat Museum: In order to honor and mark the significant events ranging for a two hundred years span, that have made Panipat to occupy an important place in the history of India, a museum in Panipat was constructed by the Haryana Government, under the leadership of the Governor, the Chairman of the committee. The responsibility of starting and organizing the museum was given to the state of Haryana Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. 

For displaying to the public eye, numerous archaic and important items such as pottery, coins etc are donated to the museum by the Department of Archaeology and Museums. These ancient items were dug up from different locations in the state of Haryana. 

Grave of Ibrahim Lodhi: Close to a Tehsil Office, which is located at Panipat, there is a tomb of Ibrahim Lodhi. In the 1st Battle of Panipat, there was a ferocious battle waged between Lodhi and his uncle, Babur. Lodhi was killed in the battle and was given a burial at this location. It was Sher Shah Suri’s wish that he would build a tomb to Lodhi, but he was not able to execute his wish. A simple platform with a compact inscription in Urdu was constructed by the British, much later.

Kabuli Bagh: Following the 1st Battle of Panipat, Babur constructed the Kabuli Bagh, a garden, which also has a mosque and a tank. The garden had been built in order to mark his victory in the battle by defeating Ibrahim Lodhi. Later, after the victory of Humayun over Salem Shah in a battle close to Panipat, a masonry platform was added to the already existing structure. This platform was called the ‘Chabutra’ Fateh Mubarak. The inscription, 934 Hijri (A.D.1557) was engraved on it. The name of the garden was derived from the name of the wife of Babur, Mussammat Kabuli Begum; till present time also this garden is known as Kabuli Bagh.

Devi Temple: On the bank of a huge tank, this temple is situated. The temple has been constructed for a local goddess. Adjacent to the temple, there is also another Shiva Temple present. It is believed that this Shiva Temple had been constructed by Mangal Raghunath, a Maratha who stayed in Panipat even after the war.

Kala Amb: This location is situated at a distance of 8 Kms from the city of Panipat and at a distance of 42 Kms from Karnal. At this very location, the Maratha troops were instructed by Sadashiv Rao Bhau, during the 3rd Battle of Panipat. A black Mango Trees, Kala Amb, is present at the very location in order to mark the historical event. However, the tree is not there anymore. The name, Kala Amb, of the tree was derived from the dark hue of the leaves. An iron fence encircles a pillar, which is made of bricks with a rod made up of iron. The Governor of the Indian state of Haryana is the president of a society which is responsible for making this site more beautiful and for developing it. 

Salar Gunj Gate: Right in the heart of the city of Panipat, there is the presence of the Salar Gunj Gate. This piece of architecture is still intriguing to the archaeologists.

Tomb of Bu-Ali Shah Kalandar: This tomb was built by Allaudin Khilji. This tomb dates back to seven hundred years back. It is also called the Dargah of Shah Kalandar Khizar Khan. He was the son of Allaudin Khilji. In the year 1190 AD, the birth of Bu-Shah Kalander took place. Salar Fakirudin was his father. 

The grounds of the tomb also contain the tombs of Hakim Mukaram Khan and Khawaja Altaf Hussain Hali. Hali was known to be a renowned poet. The tomb of Shah Kalandar is visited by huge number of people following different faiths such as Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. On every Thursday people offer their prayers here. 

Shri Ram Sharnam, Panipat: The Shri Ram Sharman embodies the excellent amount of dedication to Shri Ram and also the generous act of humanity done in the war, in which the renowned city of Panipat was utterly destroyed. The assembly halls and its environment radiate a serene, calm and dedicating aura, which draws huge number of followers to this place. In the year 1960, Swami Saty Nandji himself commenced the Shri Sharnam Panipat, which makes this prayer hall to be the only one among the numerous other centers in India to be inaugurated by him. 

                                                 HOW TO REACH PANIPAT

By road: National Highway One passes through Panipat. The city of Panipat also contains a major bus stand. Private as well as good state transport buses ply between Panipat and other cities. 

By rail: Panipat Broad Gauge Junction is there at Panipat. All the major cities are linked to Panipat via this railway junction.

By air: Indira Gandhi International Airport is the closest air terminal to Kurukshetra. It is set at a distance of 93 Kms from Kurukshetra.