Akhnoor is an archeological site and Municipal Committee in Jammu district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. It is located at a distance of 28 km from Jammu, Akhnoor is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. The picturesque town is located on the banks of the Chenab River. The Akhnoor is divided into three Administrative Sub-Divisions - Akhnoor, Chowki Choura & Khour; Seven Tehsils - Akhnoor Khaas, Chowki Choura, Maira Mandrian, Jourian, Kharah Balli, Khour & Pargwal. Akhnoor is also divided into three Education Zones of Akhnoor, Khour & Chowki Choura. The place is believed to be the ancient city of Virat Nagar mentioned in the Mahabarata however, Bairat, a town in northern Jaipur district of Rajasthan is more established as the ancient Virat Nagar.[3][4] The place is one of the most important historical sites in Jammu and Kashmir. Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India have established the fact that Akhnoor was one of the last bastion of the Harappan Civilization and Manda,Akhnoor is the northern most site of the Harrappan Civilisation. Terracotta figures and other anthropological objects belonging to the later Harrappan period have been found during the excavations.Beyond Akhnoor, towards the upper hilly area that joins Sivalik Hills, there has been no trace of any object that could show that Harappans moved any further beyond this town.
