Panipat is the historic city in India which is situated on Sher Shah Suri Marg now known as GT Road or NH-1, 90 kms away from Delhi in the state of Haryana. Panipat is also known for its collection of handloom products. There are several places in Panipat that attract tourists like Panipat Museum, Grave of Ibrahim Lodhi, Kabuli Shah Mosque, Tomb of Bu Ali Shah Kalandar, Devi temple & the Kala Amb tree site.
All the historic information of Panipat is contained in the Panipat Museum along with artifacts of the different eras. Panipat museum is located at the Canal Rest House in Binijhol which is 5 kms away from Panipat. This museum has galleries that display various artifacts. Information about history, archaeology, art & crafts of Haryana could be gathered at this museum. The whole idea behind setting up this museum is to create awareness among visitors about the three successive battles of Panipat, which changed the course of history in India.
Then there is the grave of Ibrahim Lodhi. Ibrahim Lodhi was buried at this place where he died after he fought violently with his uncle Babur in the battle known as the “First battle of Panipat”.
Kabuli Shah Mosque is another historic place . it is located at a distance of 2 kms away from Panipat and was built by Babur.He named it after his wife Kabuli Begum.It was constructed by the king to keep alive the memory of his victory over Ibrahim Lodhi.
Tomb of Bu ali Shah Kalandar is another must see place. It is well known as Dargah of Shah Kalandar Khizar Khan, son of Allau-Din-Khilji who got this tomb constructed. It is seven hundred years old. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh & Christians visit this tomb to offer their prayers on every Thursdays.
Devi Temple is an archeological wonder and next to it lies the Shiva temple which exists on the bank of a large tank. It was buit by a Maratha named Mangal Raghunath who remained in Panipat after the battle. It is a beautiful pilgrim’s destination in Panipat.
Kala Amb Tree is the spot where the Maratha troops were located in the third battle of Panipat.
This is situated at a distance of 8 kms from Panipat. It was built in memory of Maratha soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battlefield of Panipat.
Besides these places of historic interest, one can visit the various cosmopolitan malls which have come up in this town offering modern day shopping and entertainment. Then again, the wholesale handloom and textile market here is a must visit.
Panipat weather is no exception. located at a distance of 90 km from Delhi and 169 km from the city of Chandigarh, this historic town has hot, dry summers and cold, chilling winters. The wide grounds of the town where the three historic battles of Panipat were fought are testimony to the extreme weather conditions which have created vast plain lands in and around the town.
Panipat also has an engineering base with heavy industries located in and around the town. There is a refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation, a National Thermal Power Corporation power plant as well as a National Fertilizers Limited plant. There are also many ongoing industrial projects both private as well as those aided by the Haryana government.
The Indian Oil corporation refinery is one of the most modern refinery in the country developed with global technologies. This refinery processes both indigenous and imported forms of crude oil. The various petroleum products produced in this refinery are transported by rail, road or dedicated environmental friendly pipelines to the nearby states of Punjab, J&K, Himachal, Uttaranchal, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Chandigarh. LPG is also produced at this refinery which is transferred through dedicated pipelines to the Indian Oil’s Kohand Bottling plant for bottling and bulk dispatch.
The First battle of Panipat was in the year 1526 which saw the emergence of the Great Moghuls; it was a battle in which gunpowder in firearms and field artillery was tested. It was a Battle between two sub continental mega powers-the Delhi Sultanate of Ibrahim Lodi and Babur, the Ruler of Kabul. In this battle the Lodhi’s outmoded force of 40,000 men and 400 elephants were no match to a trim swift artillery force of about 8000 men of Babur’s which was well strategized with leadership skills and far better maneuverability in field. Ibrahim Lodhi was killed in battle and thereafter Babur established the rule of the Moghuls in India which in the next 30 yrs spread over Kabul, Kandahar, Delhi and Punjab.
Specific seasons bring along their own type of festivities which are celebrated with great sprit and fervor in these parts of Northern India. The festival of Lohri or the time of the winter harvest marks the beginning of all festivities which are held during different months of the year. In the festival of Lohri, as in rest of Haryana, Panipat witnesses worship of the goddess Lohri by lighting bonfires in which various agricultural products like sugarcane, sesame seeds and nits are thrown in to invoke the blessings of the goddess. Lohri festivals in Panipat are brightened up by traditional dances and songs which are performed around bonfires.
So what are the bus routes to Panipat? Well, there are several, depending on from where you are coming from. There are buses which travel from Panipat to cities like Chandigarh, Ambala, Jind, Karnal and Sonipat in Haryana and Punjab. There are also a number of inter-state bus services available to all major cities in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
Today Panipat is an industrial town and is known for its handloom products. The district headquarter is situated in Panipat town. Other smaller towns are Samalkha, Israna and Naultha which have developed in its neighborhood. The total area of Panipat district is 1,754 sq km and its population is 8,33,000.