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Panipat
Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, 92km
north of Delhi , Panipat is famous in Indian history as a place
where the fate of great empires was decided more than once. The
cradle of ric.jpg) h Indian cultural heritage, Panipat
is known for its handloom products.
Panipat is reputed to be one of the most fly-infested
places in India. It is said that a Muslim saint, Bu Ali Shah Qalandar
who is buried here had totally rid Panipat of flies. But when people
complained that he had done too good a job he gave them all the
flies back, multiplied by a thousand.
Since it fell on the route of land invasions to
Delhi from the northwest, history was more often made at Panipat
than Delhi. The repeated battles at Panipat did not leave much by
way of historic relics, but the tomb of Ibrahim Lodi, the Kabuli
Bagh Mosque built by Babar to commemorate his victory, the Salarjung
Gate, all architectural masterpieces in themselves, bear testimony
to those tumultuous times.
Today, Panipat has carved out its place among not
only the first few fast developing cities, but also those having
the highest per capita income in the country.
The Historical Battles
The first battle of Panipat fought in AD 1526 in which invader Babur
defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi, on April 26. In the
second battle of Panipat, on November 5, 1556, Akbar's guardian
Bairam Khan defeated the Hindu ruler Hemu. Ahmad Shah Abdali, the
Afghan ruler defeated the Marathas in the third battle of Panipat
that took place on 13 January 1761.
Excursion
Ibrahim Lodi's Tomb
This king who was defeated by Babur in 1526 AD in the first battle
of Panipat lies buried here within a tomb. The grave is simply a
rectangular block placed on a high platform approached by a flight
of steps made of lakhori bricks. The tomb was renovated by the British,
and an inscription mentioning Ibrahim Lodhi's defeat at the hands
of Babur and the renovation was included by them in 1866 AD.
Dargah Of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar
The tomb of the revered sufi saint, Bu Ali Shah Qalandar who lived
in the 13th century AD has been a place of pilgrimage for people
of religions. The grave is made of marble and decorated with beautiful
sculpture. The monument underwent successive additions and alterations.
Today, the Dargah beckons pilgrims from far and near and Urs Muba rak is celebrated joyously with Sufi
abandon every year on the Saint's death anniversary.
Kabuli Shah Mosque
situated 2 kms away from Panipat, Babur built this mosque. Named
after his wife Kabuli Begum, it was constructedby the king to commemorate
his victory over Ibrahim Lodhi. Six years later, when Humayun defeated
Salim Shah, he got a platform called Chabutara Fateh Mubarak made
around the mosque. The mosque is flanked by chambers on two sides
and an inscription in Persian runs along the parapet.
Jain Temples
There are Jain temples in Holi Mohalla and a shrine, which is dedicated
to the Muslim saint, Bu Ali Shah Qalandar. A fort rises up away
from Panipat at its highest point, still guarding the city from
invaders. There is a park named after the famous Urdu poet and critic
Altaf Hussein Haali, who was born in Panipat in 1837 AD.
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Shopping
Panipat is a famous handloom centre. Furnishing fabrics and woollen
carpets are a speciality here. You can visit the weaving centres,
see craftsmen at work and buy directly from them what is exported
to markets around the world. One can expect great bargains here.
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Getting There
By Rail
A well-developed network of rail network connects Panipat to the
rest of the country.
By Road
The district is well connected by National Highway. It is connected
by road and rail with Delhi (south) and Ambala (north).
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General Information & Accomdation info
on Panipat city of Haryana - India
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