Panipat
Introduction
Panipat is an industrial city in Haryana, sitting on NH-44 roughly midway between Delhi to the south and Chandigarh to the north. It is best known for the three major battles fought here in 1526, 1556 and 1761, encounters that changed the course of Indian history: the first two led to the creation and confirmation of the Mughal Empire, while the third broke the Maratha Confederacy's dominance in North India and opened the way for Company rule.
The city carries several nicknames drawn from its manufacturing life — 'city of weavers', 'textile city' and 'cast-off clothes capital' of the world. Its industries include wool and cotton milling, saltpetre refining, and the manufacture of glass and electrical appliances. Be aware that Panipat is listed among India's critically polluted industrial areas, so expect an industrial atmosphere alongside its historical sites.
Getting there
Panipat Junction railway station is your point of arrival by rail. It sits on the Delhi–Kalka line, which links India's capital with the state of Haryana, so you can reach the city by train from Delhi and from points along that route.Getting around
Panipat is a working textile and industrial city rather than a polished tourist town, and its sights are scattered across the urban area, so the most practical way to get around is usually to hire a car with a driver. That lets you link several monuments, shrines and markets in a single morning. Taxis and app-based ride-hailing are available and are the most convenient option for reaching outlying spots such as Kala Amb, a few kilometres from town. If you are day-tripping from Delhi, arranging a car for the whole trip is often the simplest solution. Public transport exists and is cheap, but it is geared to local commuting rather than sightseeing, so expect to combine local buses and shared transport with walking or a hired vehicle if you want to cover several sites in one outing.
- On foot: Walking works well for individual sites and for the city-centre cluster — Salar Gunj Gate and the Devi Temple, which stands by a tank with a nearby Shiva temple, can be visited on foot in the central area. The distances between the wider spread of monuments and shrines are too great to cover comfortably on foot, so plan to walk around each site and its immediate surroundings, then use a vehicle to move on.
- By rail: Panipat Junction railway station is the city's main rail gateway, on the Delhi–Kalka line and the Delhi–Ambala/Amritsar corridor. Fast daytime trains from Delhi cover the roughly 90 km in about an hour to an hour and a half. Book through IRCTC, and book ahead in winter when trains are busier. The station area, along with the highway, is where many hotels cluster, making it a convenient base for an overnight stay.
- By road: Panipat lies on NH-44, the old Grand Trunk Road, on the Delhi–Chandigarh corridor, and buses are a straightforward way to reach the city from Delhi, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Chandigarh and other points along the highway.
- No metro or tram: Panipat has no metro or tram network, and the metro systems of Delhi and other large cities do not extend here. Rail is the only fixed-track public transport in the city, so plan around trains, buses and road transport.
- From the airport: Panipat has no airport. Delhi is the nearest air gateway, roughly 90 km away, and the drive takes about two to two and a half hours in normal traffic. From Delhi you can continue by road along NH-44 by hiring a car or taxi, or take a train to Panipat Junction, which is usually the faster option for the rail leg.
Where to stay
The source material for Panipat contains no accommodation information, so there is nothing to say about where to stay.Food & drink
For sweets, head to Mitthan's Sweets and try the paneer ki jalebi. Elsewhere in the city, Ram Lal Chowk and Laal Tanki Market are the places to eat, and Hotel Gold & Nathu's is another option for a meal.
If you want a drink, bars are available at Hotel Gold and Hotel Skylark.
What to see and do
Panipat's sights cluster around its history as a battlefield and Mughal-era town. At Kala Amb, the site of the Third Battle of Panipat between the Marathas and Afghans, legend holds that a black mango tree once marked the spot; the tree itself has since disappeared. Kabuli Bagh is a mosque and garden built by Babur, the first Mughal emperor, to commemorate his victory over Ibrahim Lodi, whose tomb nearby on Tehsil Camp Rd is a simple rectangular structure with a small flight of steps. You can also visit Hemu's Samadhi Sthal, a memorial to the 16th-century king who defeated the Mughals and briefly took control of Delhi before being defeated in a repeat battle about a month later. For a more general overview, the Panipat Museum covers the city's past, while Dargah Qalander, Salar Gunj Gate, Shri Devi Temple (Mandir Shri Mahavir Sabha) and Gandhi Park Killa round out the list of local landmarks worth seeking out.Three days in Panipat
Day one: Arrive in Panipat, a city in Haryana on the Grand Trunk Road between Delhi and Chandigarh. Use Panipat Junction, served by rail from Delhi, Ambala, Kalka, Amritsar and Chandigarh; book on IRCTC and take a fast train. From the station, taxis or public transport can take you into the city. Begin with the battlefields that give Panipat its place in North India's history, where the Mughal Empire, the Maratha Confederacy and the Company fought. Walk the area around Salar Gunj Gate, then visit the Devi Temple, with its shrine to Shiva.
Day two: Take a day trip along the Grand Trunk Road to Karnal and Kurukshetra, both within reach of Panipat by rail or road. Karnal and Kurukshetra sit on the same old highway, and the route itself is part of the story of this part of Haryana. Return to Panipat in the evening and eat Indian food in the city.
Day three: See Kala Amb, the site tied to the battles, before you leave. If time allows, walk once more through the city centre near Salar Gunj Gate. Then take a train from Panipat Junction towards Delhi, Chandigarh, Ambala or Kalka, or continue on the Grand Trunk Road.