Pathankot

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Pathankot


latd = 32.17|longd = 75.39
state_name = Punjab
District=Gurdaspur
leader_title=
leader_name=
altitude= 331
population_as_of = 2007| population_total = 139000
area_magnitude=
area_total=
area_telephone= 0186
postal_code= 145 001
vehicle_code_range=
footnotes = |

Pathankot (Punjabi: ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ, Hindi: पठानकोट, Pashto: پٹھان ڪوٽ) a city and a municipal committee in Gurdaspur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur Princely state ruled by the Pathania Rajputs prior to 1849 A.D. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to its ideal location, Pathankot serves as a travel hub for the three northerly states and is a hub for the defence forces - Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Pathankot is the fifth largest city in the state of Punjab in terms of population. It is the last city in Punjab on the national highway that connects Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. This bestows strategic importance on the city and due to this strategic position Pathankot is also known as cock neck city. Situated in the picturesque foothills of Kangra and Dalhousie, with the river Chakki flowing close by, the city is often used as a rest-stop before heading into the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, Dalhousie,Chamba, and Kangra, deep into the Himalayas. Pathankot also has the largest military base in the whole of Asia.

Pathankot is also used as a gateway to the Himachali hill stations of Dalhousie, Dharamsala, Mcleodganj, Kangra Valley, Jwalaji, and Chintpurni.

Geography

Pathankot is located at coord|32.28|N|75.65|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/23/Pathankot.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Pathankot] ] It has an average elevation of 332 metres (1089 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Pathankot had a population of 159,559. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Pathankot has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 73%. In Pathankot, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. In Pathankot, Punjabi, Hindi,Dogri, Pashto are spoken .

Pathankot is the only city with a Hindu majority. 60% of the population are Hindus, 30% are Sikhs and 10% are Christians.Pathankot and its people are very warm and cozy.The city itself reflects the affection of its people.Probably the only city in Punjab which was not affected by the dark period of terrorism during the eighties.

Its one of the city of Punjab's golden triangle i.e. Amritsar, Jalandhar and Pathankot are at a distance of 100 km to each other.

Places of interest & Stay

Places worth visiting near Pathankot include Shahpur Kandi with a hanging resthouse, Mamoon cantt which is Asia's largest military station, Ranjit Sagar Dam which is the highest gravity dam in Asia, Madhopur Headworks which date back to the Mughal era. Church, Head works of Upper Bari Doab, Shahpur Kandi are the attractions of this area.There are some caves on the way to Shahpur Kandi which date to the time of the Mahabharata. According to a legend, the Pandavas stayed in those caves for a night during their "Agayatwas". A carnival or mela, called Mukesran da mela is held there each year in the month of April to mark Baisakhi.

The accient shiva temple- 'Kathgarh'. is approximately 25 km from PTK, During "Naag panchami" gap between two shiva parvati holy stones reduces and during "shivrathri" the gap increases. There is no clue as to how that happens? But truly its a magic in its own... To reach there one has to go to Indora (HP), which is 20 km away from ptk. Don't miss this temple if you visit Pathankot. India's foremost hydraulic research stations is situated at Malikpur which is 7 km from Pathankot, where various models of dams and irrigation canal are made before actual work upon them starts.

There is a fort, called the Nurpur Fort built by the Pathania Rajputs, more than 900 years ago. It was damaged due to the great earthquake which struck this region early in 1905 A.D. 25 km from Pathankot. It is quite famous in North India, and the temple inside attracts tourists from all across. It is 25 KM away from Pathankot.

Shahpurkandi fort is also one of the main attractions of Pathankot city. It was built in 1505 A.D. by a Rajput chief Jaspal Singh Pathania. It was strategically located to have control over the Kangra and Nurpur region. The fort is in ruins, and is famous for its temples and the view it commands over the Ravi river.

The famous road/colony that forms the heart of city are mission road,jodhamal colony , green heaven colony and patel chownk road. Famous temples are Ashapurni mandir, Kali mata ka mandir,shani dev mandir, hanuman mandir near railway station , Ramlila ground. Also devotees visit CNI church, Peer baba on patel chownk.

Hotel Airlines (0186-2220505 / 2227894): The oldest and most preferred Family hotel right at the heart of the city. It is on the same road which leads to the Ranjit Sagar Dam.

There are many good hotels in the city but no 5 star facility hotels . You can get excellent North Indian delicacies round the clock. few of the renowned restaurants of the city are Hotel Venice, Hotel Woodland , Cafe cofee Day, .

One can stop over in Pathankot en-route to Dharamshala (100 km), Dalhousie (70 km),Amritsar (108), Palampur (100km), Chamba (100 km)& Jammu (100km), Hoshiarpur (100 km), Kangra (100 km), Jalandhar (108 km) all in differnt directions from Pathankot.

For religious trips like Jwalaji (130 km), Chintpurni (130 km) Pathankot becoms an ideal place to rest before heading to the hill route the next morning.A Grand Ranjit Sagar Dam (earthern Dam made of mud and not concrete) is a 100 km water reserviour. This is the latest tourist spot of Pathankot and is in "Must Visit". Chinmayya Temple (Swami Chinmayya Nand) is also un way to Yol Camp (100 km). This is the place where the German Solders (POW) were kept in confinment after the Second World War by the Britishers.

Kath Garh Temple: The last destination of the Greek empror Sikandar. While returning back to Greece, The empror Sikandar's Army refused to cross this area. hence only Sikandar with his greek team went ahead leaving the most of Indian army here.

The economy of the city is dependent upon the Army ,3-Multipurpose Dams being constructed on river Ravi, as trading & distribution hub for Chamba & Kangra valley and parts of Jammu & Kashmir. There are lots of crushers in the area whose sand, stones and other concrete material are ISI marked, which is unique in the whole of India.

Transport

Pathankot is well connected by Air, Road and Rail with the rest of the country. Despite being the city of such a strategic importance the road conditions are worse in the city.SpiceJet Airways and Air Deccan have daily flights from/to Delhi.

It has direct train links with Delhi, Jammu, Amritsar and other Indian cities.There are two railway stations in Pathankot City- 1 Pathankot .2 Chakki Bank.

Except for few trains most of the trains are use Chakki Bank . The important trains include Jammu Tawi-Mumbai Express( Sawraj Express), Jammu Tawi - Kolkata ( Sealdah Express), Jammu Tawi- Chennai ( Madras mail),Jammu Tawi - Guwhati(Lohit Express),Jammu-Ajmer( Pooja Express),Jammu Tawi -Pune ( Jhelum express), Jammu Tawi -New Delhi(a=Jammu Mail , b=Pooja Express ,c=Uttar Samprank Kranti,d=Shailmar Express,e= Jhelum Express ,f= Madras Mail) .

Super fast trains like Jammu Tawi-Mumbai Express do not enter city Pathankot. They stop at outer Railway Station called 'Chakki Bank'. The distance from main Railway station & Chakki Bank is just 4 km. This city also has a narrow line station just next to main city station from where trains to Kangra valley can be caught.

Pathankot is also connected by a vast network of private and public-sector bus services to other cities in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir. Important destinations include Jammu, Shimla, Chandigarh, Delhi, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, and Amritsar.

The domestic airport connects the city with Delhi and Dharamshala.

Distance from:
*Jammu - 110 km
*Amritsar - 108 km
*Jalandhar - 108 km
*Chandigarh - 269 km
*New Delhi - 485 km

Educational facilities

Private institutions in Pathankot also serves as education hub for the nearby areas of J & K and Himachal. Many students from rural areas of these states come to study here. It has colleges like SD College, SRPAAB College, RRMK Arya Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Ptk etc. Among the secondary schools St. Joseph's Convent School is considered to be the best in the region and is famous for producing excellent 100 percent result for the past 40 years.are Other notable schools include Maharana Partap Adarsh Sen. Sec. Vidyalaya, Shri Guru Harikrishan public school,Kendriya Vidyalaya 1,2 3 &4. Air Force School,Mela Devi kalra and MCM DAV Public School.Many of the schools and colleges are producing the brilliant students every year. Pathankot has got distinguished value for having such intellectual minds.

In spite of being the fifth largest city of Punjab ( population-wise),Pathankot does not have a government College.

References

External links

*

Adarsh Bhartiya College website [http://www.abcollege.org.in AB College website] Contact : R P Gupta Advocate( General Secretary )