INFORMATION ABOUT PANCHKULA

Panchkula is a planned city in Panchkula District, Haryana, India. It is a satellite city of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. It comprises two sub divisions and two tehsils named Panchkula and Kalka. It has 264 villages out of which 12 villages are un-inhabited and 10 villages wholly merged in towns or treated as census towns according to census 2001. The Chandimandir Cantonment is located near Panchkula city. There are four towns in the district named Panchkula, Pinjore, Kalka and Raipur Rani. The only Hill station in Haryana called Morni is also in this District. The estimated population of Panchkula city, in 2006, is 2,00,000. Panchkula and Mohali (in Punjab) are two satellite cities of Chandigarh. These three cities are collectively known as Chandigarh Tricity. The origin of the name Panchkula is based on the 5 irrigation canals (or kuls as they called, making it Panch Kul of 5 canals) that take water from the Ghaggar in the uphill section and distribute it from Nada Sahib to Mansa Devi. The Nada canal has now been eroded by the river and most of the kul's pass through the cantonement of Chandimandir towards Mansa Devi. The canals are a beautiful example of community property and are maintained by the villagers along the way, with distribution days decided. The canals were made by a ruler in the past, and follow the contours to take water to levels much higher than the river at the same spot.

PANCHKULA TOURISM

The Places of Interest and Sight Seeing



• Morni Hills : Morni Hills are the offshoots of Shivalik range of the Himalayas, which run in two parallel ranges. The village of Morni (Bhoj Jabial) lies on the mountainside, at 1220 meters above mean sea level. Traditions assign the name of Morni to a Queen who is believed to have ruled this area. Among the spurs of hills, lie two lakes, the larger is about 550 meters long and 460 meters broad and the other about 365 meters either way. A hill divides the two lakes but there is some hidden channel, as the level of two lakes remains the same. The people look upon the lakes as sacred. There is an old fort, which is now in ruins. The hills are covered by pine trees. The climate is salubrious and the area is suitable for trekking. The Haryana Government has developed this hill resort and provides facilities to tourists, a motorable road was constructed to connect the Morni hills with Haryana State Highway near Panchkula.



• Pinjore Gardens :Pinjore is famous for the beautiful Mughal Gardens, known as the Yadavindra Gardens. It is perhaps the loveliest and the oldest in northern India. It is said to have been made by Fidaikhan in the 17th century. The Haryana tourism department has developed the whole complex. It has lighted fountains, a restaurant, some rooms and a mini zoo. It has been renamed as Yadavindra Gardens as a mark of respect to the late Yadavindra Singh Maharaja of the earst while princely state of Patiala, Punjab. The main gate of the garden opens on the highest terrace and seven terraces descend gradually into the distant boundary of the garden. In the middle of the first terrace is the Shish Mahal in the Rajasthani Mughal style with small windows and apertures. There is a lyrical Hawa Mahal approached by steps on the side of the wall. The second terrace is uplifted by large arched doorways, above which there is the Rang Mahal, Cleverly devised by the architect, the view of lower terraces is from the open hall way below. The palace has an enormous upon courtyard. We descend, by concealed steps on both sides of the big house, to the third terrace where the cypresses and flowerbed lead down to dense groves of fruit trees on each layer. The density of the dark green foliages evokes brooding depths. The upward flow of water from the fountains cools the eyes. There is a cube like Jal Mahal, with a square fountain bad and a plinth to sit down on for pleasure. The next terrace is flanked by denser groves of trees, lightened by the water devices in the middle. The end structure of the doorway has recently been made into a disc-like open-air theatre. The stiff outer wall of the garden is reminiscent of the fort walls, which has now all around dieter pavilions housing the zoo. Haryana Tourism has a hotel called Buderigar with an attached restaurant at the gardens Pinjore is also an historical place. Tools of Tower Paleolithic period fabricated on Quartzite have been found from the region stretching from Pinjore to Nalagarh. Important sculptures and other antiquarian remains recovered from the place can be assigned to the period ranging between 9th century A.D. to 12th century A.D.



• Nada Sahib :The Gurudwara Nada Sahib is in Panchkula on the bank of Ghagar river. Guru Gobind Singh along with his victorious army stayed at this place on returning after glorious victory over Mughals at Bhangani. Nadu Shah, a follower of Guru Gobind Singh welcomed and served him. Guru ji blessed Nadu Shah and said that due to his services, the place would be known by the name of Nada Sahib. Tens of thousands of devotees visit the Gurudwara on the full moon day (Pooranmashi) of every month.



• Mansa Devi Temple :The Mansa Devi's Temple was built by Maharaja Gopal Singh, the ruler of Manimajra in 1815 A.D. The temple is very popular among patrons, for the Goddess is believed to grant boons in keeping with her name Mansa Devi. Fairs are held in its vicinity during the holy days of Navratra when devotees throng in lacs to pay obeisence to Her. It also now has a larger temple adjoinng it built by the Maharaja of Patiala. Haryana Tourism operates a yatrika called Jatayu at this location



• Cactus Garden :Spread over an area of seven acres in Panchkula, the Cactus Garden, also known as the National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden and Research Centre, is Asia’s largest outdoor landscaped Cacti and Succulents Garden. Its collection of Indian succulents is considered the largest in the world. The chief architect of the garden is Dr J.S. Sarkaria. He donated a large collection of cacti and succulent plants. The main aim of the garden is to preserve and conserve this endangered species. Some of the endangered species found here includes a complete collection of Genus Caralluma of Indian origin. With over 2500 species of cacti and succulents, this unique garden attracts a large number of tourists as well as botanists. The cacti and succulents are also known for its medical values. The Cactus Show is a major show organized at the Cactus Garden. It is usually conducted in the month of March, every year. People from all over the region visit it.

ACCOMODATION/STAY OPTIONS IN PANCHKULA

• HOTEL KC CROSSROAD
• HOTEL NORTH PARK


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