Pathankot


Pathankot is a city in the Punjab state of India. Pathankot district shares an international border, on its west, with Pakistan. Pathankot was officially declared a district of the Punjab state on 27 July 2011. It was previously a Tehsil of Gurdaspur district, Punjab. Pathankot district is at the intersection of three of the northern states of India — Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to its location, Pathankot serves as a travel hub for these three northerly states.
Pathankot has a municipal corporation. Pathankot is the 6th most populous city of Punjab, after Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Bhatinda.
The city is divided into 50 wards.
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, Kangra, Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Jwalaji, Chintpurni and further into the Himalayas. Pathankot also serves as an education hub for the nearby areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Many rural students of these states come to Pathankot for education.

History

Pathankot is an ancient city and has historical significance. From various accounts; It may be believed that Audumbara was the name of it. Numerous coins of great antiquity found at Pathankot prove that it is one of the oldest sites in the Punjab. It must always have been a place of great significance as it is situated in the foot of the hills.
, in the Indo-Greek style, circa 100 BCE.
Obv: Standing figure, probably of Vishvamitra, Kharoshthi legend, around: Mahadevasa Dharaghoshasa/Odumbarisa "Great Lord King Dharaghosha/Prince of Audumabara", across: Viçvamitra "Vishvamitra".
Rev: Trident battle-axe, tree with railing, Brahmi legend identical in content to the obverse.
Pathankot was the capital of Nurpur State and its name was changed to Dhameri during the Akbar reign. The Pathania clan of Rajput derived its name from ancient name of Pathankot which was Paithan at that time.

After independence

Due to its strategic location, the Indian Air Force has established an Air Force Station in Pathankot and the Indian Army also has a significant presence here.

Geography

Pathankot has an average elevation of. It is a green town surrounded by the Ravi and Chakki rivers. Shiwalik foothills on the south and east and snow-capped Himalayas in the back drop in north.

Average temperature

Languages

is the most widely spoken and official language. Hindi and Dogri are also spoken.

Transport

Pathankot is well connected by rail and road with the rest of the country. Pathankot is 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 Delhi, Manali Chandigarh, Jammu, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar. Pathankot is used as a gateway for Chamba and Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh and for various locations in Jammu and Kashmir like Jammu City Mansar Lake, Srinagar, Udhampur, Holy Cave at Amarnath, Patni Top and Holy Cave of Mata Vashino Devi 155 km away from Pathankot.
One can take an auto rickshaw or a cycle rickshaw.

By Air

It has direct train links with Delhi, Jammu and other Indian cities. All trains going to Jammu pass through Pathankot Cantt Station. The important trains include Rajdhani, Swaraj Express, Pooja Express, Shri Shakti Express, Andaman Express. Super fast trains do not enter Pathankot Station in City. The distance from Pathankot Junction & Pathankot Cant Railway station is just 4 km.
Pathankot Railway Station under A-category. Pathankot is a major railroad junction. Lines from Amritsar and Delhi merge here, and all services to Jammu pass through. In addition to Pathankot station itself, there is a second station called Chakki Bank renamed Pathankot Cantt just 4 km away, which serves some express trains that do not stop in Pathankot station. Nowadays the majority of the Jammu trains stop only at Pathankot Cantt Railway Station and not at Pathankot Railway Station.
Pathankot is also served by the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway built by the British, which crawls 128 km through stunning scenery to Joginder Nagar via Palampur and Kangra. However, the luxury Kangra Queen services were terminated in 2003, leaving about six departures daily of slow, often packed second class trains, taking over six hours. Bookings for these can only be done locally at Pathankot station. Some of these trains run to Baijnath Paprola and a few to Joginder Nagar. The main stations on this line include Kangra and Palampur, although Dalhousie and Dharmasala are not on the line. The town is the lower terminus of the Kangra Valley Railway, thereby connecting the mountainous regions of western Himachal Pradesh to the network of Indian Railways.

Bus

Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminal Pathankot. It's close to the Pathankot Junction Railway station.
Public buses to Dharamshala Dalhousie take 3–4 hours. while buses to Amritsar take 3 hours.
Dalhousie famous destination for honeymoon couples is at just 80 km from Pathankot.
The famous Hindu Pilgrimage Vaishno devi is just 160 km from Pathankot.
Chandigarh is 4–5 hours away. It is well connected with bus services from Punjab roadways, Haryana Roadways, Himachal Roadways J&K transport, and private AC volvo buses.
One can stop over in Pathankot en route to Gurdaspur, Mukerian, Joginder Nagar, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Amritsar, Palampur, Chamba & Jammu, Hoshiarpur, Kangra, Jalandhar, Srinagar all in different directions from Pathankot via Jalandhar-Srinagar National highway, Dabwali-Pathankot National highway and Pathankot-Mandi National highway.

Economy

Pathankot is a commercial center. Wholesellers and distributors of consumer goods cater to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and northwest Punjab.

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census Pathankot urban agglomeration had a population of 159,909, out of which males were 84,145 and females were 75,764. The literacy rate was 88.71 per cent.

Sports

The big moment of Pathankot came on 8 November 2014 when Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal laid the foundation stone for a stadium in Pathankot.

Tourist places

Atal setu cable bridge located in Basohli is a tourism place and a pre-wedding point. The distance from pathankot city is 60 km
Pathankot city is surrounded by both the Shivalik range, part of which makes up the foothills of the Himalayas, and the river Chakki. Places near Pathankot include Shahpur Kandi with a hanging rest house, Ranjit Sagar Dam which is the highest gravity dam in Asia. Madhopur head works which date back to the Mughal era. head works of Upper Bari Doab, Shahpur Kandi are the attractions of this area. Keshopur Chhamb is home to many Migratory Birds.