Flights to Pathankot

  About Pathankot

Pathankot is a special city in Punjab that is surrounded by vacation spots like Dalhousie, Manali, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, McLeodganj and Dharamshala. The city is beautiful, and its lush greenery is what attracts tourists to it. The city also serves as a home for defence forces like the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. Pathankot not only has historical significance, but it is also an apt place for adventure and nature lovers. If you are planning a trip that covers most of North India, you must definitely stop at Pathankot. It also serves as a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the neighbouring cities. A trip to this beautiful city will be an experience of a lifetime. You will also find a lot of temples in and around the city that you can visit.

Best Time to Visit Pathankot

Pathankot is a city that you can visit throughout the year irrespective of what season it is. Having said that, winter is far more ideal than the other seasons if you are planning to visit Pathankot. October to March is considered to be the best time to visit Pathankot and the tourist destinations around it. If you plan your trip well in advance, you might get to book a hotel in Pathankot at a cheaper rate and might even get good flight deals to Pathankot online. This is a very popular time for tourists and travellers to visit the city. The temperature ranges between 5 to 23 degree Celsius during this season. You will get to experience nature at its best during this season.

Monsoon hits Pathankot from July till September. The city receives heavy rainfall, and while it may affect your plans to venture out, it brings out the best in nature. If you are planning to trek nearby, you need to be extra careful about not slipping. Make sure you always have mosquito repellents on you, if you are travelling during monsoon.

April to June is summer in Pathankot, and even though the temperature reaches up to 46 degree Celsius, the evenings and nights seem pleasant. If you are used to warm weather, the weather in Pathankot will not be unbearable for you. In fact, since it is off-season and the city has lesser tourists than usual, you will come across affordable hotel bookings in Pathankot. You can also travel to the neighbouring cities of Pathankot and be assured that you will enjoy your trip.

Places to Visit in Pathankot

The Ranjit Sagar Dam that has been constructed on river Ravi is a popular picnic spot in Pathankot. The view from the dam will leave you stunned, and the sunset is far more mesmerizing. On the banks of this river is Shahpurkandi fort that only adds to the beauty of the city. It was built in the 16th century, and a part of this fort treats you to breathtaking views. Nurpur fort is yet another spot that is of historical importance. The fort was built in the 10th century, but a lot of it was destroyed by the British. It got demolished later in 1905 by an earthquake. One of the specialities of the fort is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Mira Bai. It was built in the 16th century and is the only place where both of them are worshipped together.

Pathankot also has quite a lot of temples, and each one of them is special. The Mukteshwar temple is located on the Shahpurkandi Dam and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. You will also find idols of worship dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Hanuman and Goddess Parvati. The Nagni temple, located approximately 16 km away from Pathankot, is devoted to the Goddess of snakes. It is another holy temple in Punjab and sees a lot of devotees in the month of August. Kali Mata's temple is yet another popular place of worship in Pathankot. Devotees actually do a 2 km trek to reach the temple. The Shani Dev temple is also a popular destination here, and it attracts pilgrims from all over the country. If you are visiting temples in Pathankot, do visit the Laxmi Narayan temple.

Things to do in Pathankot

Pathankot has a lot of things for travellers to do. Since it is also a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, you can also head to these places after your stay in Pathankot. But while you are staying in Pathankot, do visit the temples in and around the city to feel the divinity and embrace your spirituality. Seek blessings from God at the Mukteshwar temple, the Laxmi Narayan temple, Shani Dev temple and a lot of other temples in the city. In fact, if you feel like going for a little trek, you can visit the Kali Mata mandir. Visiting the temples here will definitely give you a lot of peace. The architecture and the view from the temples is simply mesmerizing. The city looks far more beautiful when it is raining and you would definitely love the view of the city if you are visiting during monsoon. You can also plan a short trip to the other cities in Punjab like Ludhiana, Amritsar and Chandigarh.

You must also visit the Nurpur Fort and absorb all the history that this place has to offer. The fort was built in 1905 and was destroyed twice; once by the British and another time by an earthquake. You must also visit the temple inside dedicated to Lord Krishna and Mira Bai. The Ranjit Sagar Dam built on river Ravi is another popular tourist spot you must visit. The area looks breathtakingly beautiful at dawn. For all the shopaholics out there, the city also has quite a few malls like the Novelty Mall, and the City Centre mall are two great places to shop. You will find whatever you need, including souvenirs, from the malls here.

Food and Restaurants in Pathankot

There is no doubt that Punjabi food is a treat to your taste buds. The parathas, chole bhature, rajma chawal, sarson da saag with makki ki roti are some of the popular cuisines in Punjab. They will surely make your hunger pangs go away with just a bite. You must also try the lassi, jalebi, kheer, barfi and gulab jamun here. The city is also famous for Litchis so make sure you try the litchi juice in Pathankot, too. You will find a lot of local restaurants that will serve the most delicious food. Do not hesitate to try the dhabas in Pathankot. Dhabas are a speciality in Punjab and it would be unwise to not visit one while you are in the state.

Moti Mahal Grand is a popular restaurant in the city that has a great ambience and serves a delicious meal. Basant Vegetarian, as the name suggests, serves mouthwatering vegetarian food. You can try the chole bhature, dal tadka, parathas and other Punjabi cuisines here. Mama's Rasoi is yet another restaurant, which is right outside Pathankot, that you must try. Green Hotel and Restaurant is yet another one that you can go to. This one also has Chinese and Lebanese cuisine on their menu.

How to reach Pathankot (Transportation)

By Air

The city has its own airport called the Pathankot Airport or the Military Airport since it is majorly also used by the military. The flight connectivity from Pathankot is quite limited to cities like Delhi, Kullu and Chandigarh. The Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar is the nearest fully functional airport in the state. It is approximately 119 km away from Pathankot. Taking a connecting flight from Delhi is one of the most popular routes to reach Pathankot. You might get cheap flight tickets to Pathankot if you are travelling during the off-season.

By Rail

Pathankot is well-connected by rail and is also an important railway junction. It connects with Kangra Valley Railway and to various other places in Himachal Pradesh. Boarding a train to and from Pathankot will not be a tedious task. However, do book your tickets in advance to secure comfortable seats. You can also take a train to Jammu, if it is next on your vacation itinerary, or any other place in Himachal Pradesh. It will be worth it!

By Road

Travelling to and from Pathankot by road is not very difficult since it is one of the most preferred modes of travel by locals and by travellers. If you are travelling to Pathankot from a city in North India itself, you will find a bus or a private taxi to Pathankot quite frequently. The journey will also be quite comfortable, and this is an affordable way to travel, too. However, if you are travelling from farther away, it will be wise to opt for a flight or a train journey. In fact, since Pathankot is a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, too, you will find a lot of options of buses and taxis that will help you reach the other state also.

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