Shahpur Kandi Fort, Punjab

The beautiful state of Punjab with its rambling farmlands and sprawling meadows abounds in cultural splendor. Apart from religious edifices and tourist attractions, Punjab boasts of magnificent martial conquests. The city abounds in majestic forts and fortresses of which the Shahpur Kandi Fort deserves special mention.

Shahpur Kandi Fort is strategically sited a mere 7 km from Pathankot, the confluence of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and is the terminal city of Punjab that links Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country and thus endows the city with its elite status.

Punjab, the smiling soul of India has always been vulnerable to external attacks and hence is fortified with adequate forts and fortresses with imposing crenellated walls encircled by deep trenches, moats and drawbridges.

Like all other forts, Shahpur Kandi Fort is a primordial fort that goes as far back as the 16th century. Situated on the Himalayan foothills on the banks of the mighty Ravi River, the fort overlooking a breathtaking backdrop has now been transformed into a charming hanging resthouse.

The panoramic rhapsodies offered by the majestic fort in a quaint hill station are inexplicable. The fort recounts the sad tales of the ravages of time and India's tumultuous struggle for freedom. However, today the fort is eminent for its mesmerizing scenic beauty.

Shahpur Kandi Fort is the perfect stopover for tourists traveling by road to the Himalayan kingdom of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and opens up a treasure trove of scenic delights.

Last Updated on 14 January 2011