Pathankot is a city in the Punjab state of India. Pathankot was officially declared as District of Punjab state On 27 July 2011 (Before this it was a Tehsil of Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India). Pathankot district is at the meeting point of the three northern states of India -- Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Pathankot district is a border district which shares international border with Pakistan on its West. Due to its location, Pathankot serves as a travel hub for those three northerly states. Pathankot is the 9th most populous city in the state of Punjab.After Ludhiana, Amritsar & Jalandhar Pathankot is 4th Largest and populous if SUB-URBAN areas like Sarna(5 km from ISBT), Sujanpur(8 KM from ISBT), Mamun(5 km from ISBT), Jugial(9 km from ISBT) are included. Situated in the picturesque foothills of Kangra and Dalhousie, with the river Chakki flowing close by, the city is often used as a rest-stop before heading into the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, Dalhousie, Chamba, Kangra, Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Jwalaji, Chintpurni and deep into the Himalayas. Pathankot also serves as education hub for the nearby areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pardesh. Many students basically from rural areas of these states come to study here. Pathankot is an ancient city and has historical significance. From various accounts; It may be believed that 'Audumbara' was the name of it. Numerous coins of great antiquity found at Pathankot prove that it is one of the oldest sites in the Punjab and it must always have been a place of great significance situated as it in the foot of the hills. Pathankot was the capital of Nurpur State and its name was changed to Dhameri (Nurpur) in the time of Akbar. The Pathania clan of Rajput derived its name from ancient name of Pathankot which was Paithan at that time. After the independence of India, Pathankot, has developed as an important town in many aspects. The strategic point of location has prompted the establishment of the army and for the air force station for the defence of India. The Indian army and Indian air force has successfully defended the territory of India in times of war. Traders supplying the army needs have also increased their business. After the partition of India,like in most other North Indian cities a huge amount of People came from West Punjab (newly formed Pakistan) and settled in and around Pathankot. Most of them started trades of different kinds, contributed to the growth of the city and area and presently many those businesses have grown into large business houses. Pathankot is well connected by rail and road with the rest of the country. It has direct train links with Delhi, Jammu and other Indian cities. All trains going to Jammu pass through Pathankot Cantt Station. The important trains include Rajdhani, Swaraj Express, Pooja Express, Shri Shakti Express, Andaman Express. Super fast trains do not enter Pathankot Station in City.The distance from Pathankot Junction & Pathankot Cant Railway station is just 4 km. Pathankot is also connected by a vast network of private and public-sector bus services to other cities in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir. Important destinations include Delhi,Manali Chandigarh, Jammu, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar. Pathankot is also used as a gateway for Chamba and Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh and for various locations in Jammu and Kashmir like Jammu City Mansar Lake, Srinagar, Udhampur, Holy Cave at Amarnath, Patni Top and Holy Cave of Mata Vashino Devi (Katra) 155 km away from Pathankot. One can take an auto rickshaw or a cycle rickshaw at cheap rates. Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, also known as Mukesaran Mandir, is a popular shrine of Lord Shiva and is situated 25 km from Pathankot City in Village Doong, on the bank of the Ravi River. These caves are on the way to Shahpur Kandi. It is the holy temple of the Hindu religion, where the idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Bramha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Hanuman, and Goddess Parvati are present. This temple is considered one of the most sacred places around Pathankot. There are some caves which purportedly date to the time of the Mahabharata. According to legend, the Pandavas stayed in those caves for a night during their exile (Agayatwas). This temple is said to be 5,500 years old, dating it to the time of Mahabharata. Pracheen Shiv Mandir Kathgarh is one of the more famous temples in the area. Devoted to Lord Shiva and Parvati, this temple is situated 25 km from Pathankot City, 4 km from Mirthal, and 7 km from Indora on the meeting point of the Beas and the Choch rivers. The temple is built in a Roman architectural style, housing two Lingas of light grey sandy stone of 6’ and 4’7" in height having octagonal base with every side measuring 1’3" and 1’3" above the ground level, personifying Lord Shiva and Parvati respectively. These Lingas are in direction of northwest, stand 3 1/2" apart at the bottom, and incline towards each other, being just two inches away from each other at the top. Shahpurkandi fort is located 20 km (approximately) from Pathankot City. It was built in 1505 A.D. by a Rajput chief by the name of Jaspal Singh Pathania. It was strategically located to have control over the Kangra and Nurpur region. The fort is in ruins today, and it is famous for its temples and the view it commands over the Ravi river. Pathankot city is surrounded by both the Shivalik range, part of which makes up the foothills of the Himalayas, and the river Chakki. Places worth visiting near Pathankot include Shahpur Kandi with a hanging rest house, Ranjit Sagar Dam which is the highest gravity dam in Asia. Madhopur (Madhopur, Punjab) head works which date back to the Mughal era. head works of Upper Bari Doab, Shahpur Kandi are the attractions of this area. Another place of interest could be Keshopur Chhamb which is home to many Migratory Birds. There is a fortress called the Nurpur Fort built by the Pathania Rajputs, more than 900 years ago. It was damaged due to the great earthquake which struck this region early in 1905 A.D., 25 km from Pathankot. It is quite famous in North India, and the temple inside attracts tourists from all across India. It is 25 km away from Pathankot. Also seek to visit Jugial Township, which is located 15 km (approx) from Pathankot. This place has greenery all around and one Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir which is the biggest among the nearby areas. Asia's foremost Hydraulic Research Station at the Upper Bari Doab Canal is situated at Malikpur which is 7 km from Pathankot, where various models of Dams and Irrigation Canals are made before actual work starts upon them. Dalhousie is snowy in winter, and nearby Khajjiar has been described as an "Indian Switzerland" due to its scenery and activities such as balloon riding, paragliding, and horseback riding. For religious trips like Jwala ji (130 km), Chintpurni (130 km), Pathankot becomes an ideal place to rest before heading to the hill route the next morning. A Grand Ranjit Sagar Dam (earthen Dam made of mud and not concrete) is a 100 km water reservoir. This is the latest tourist spot of Pathankot and is in "Must Visit". Chinmayya Temple (Swami Chinmayya Nand) is also on the way to Yol, India Camp (100 km). This is the place where the German Soldiers (POW) were kept in confinement after the Second World War by the British. One can stop over in Pathankot en route to Dharamshala (100 km), Dalhousie (70 km), Amritsar (108), Palampur (100 km), Chamba (100 km) & Jammu (100 km), Mukerian(40 km), Hoshiarpur (100 km), Kangra (100 km), Jalandhar (108 km) all in different directions from Pathankot.