My family is originally from the other side of undivided India. I have grown up listening to the stories of the British rule and other historical rulers of India. Thus, when I went to visit New Delhi last winter, I made my plans to visit nearby historical places too. One such place that caught my attention was the city of Panchkula. There are several places to visit in Panchkula, each with a rich historical past.

The winters are delightful in Northern India. So, if you plan to travel to the North, go in the winter. The soothing winds and cold winters would help you roam around the big and small places around the Delhi NCR region.

Panchkula is an area that sits in the foothills of the famous Shivalik range. This city is one of the centers of urbanization in India. This is one of the best destinations for those looking for quick relief from the chores of their busy, hectic life. 

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History of Panchkula

When you are visiting a place, try to absorb the essence of the area through the different historical stories and tales of that place. Many sites are a hub of history and beautiful stories lingering all over the place. One such place was Panchkula.

Panchkula gets its name from “panch” and “kula.” The word “panch” means five, whereas “kula” means canals. This place distributes water through the 5 sprinkling canals and gets its water from the river of Ghaggar-Hakra. The ruler of this place had built these canals. This district came into existence in the mid of the last decade of the 20th century.

People say that the history of this place is linked to the age of the Pandavas. Foreign Kushan and Yadhey rulers have ruled this place in the earlier days. According to ancient history, this place was under the reign of the Gupta Dynasty.

This place also came under the rule of the famous Mughal dynasty and the mighty Chauhans. Thus, this place has some exquisite architecture scattered all over the area. I was astonished by the designs and grandeur of the buildings built by our ancient rulers around a century ago.

The Topography of Panchkula

Panchkula is a well-planned city and District Headquarter in Panchkula district of Haryana, India. The neighboring areas from this place are Chandigarh, Zirakpur, and Mohali. This place is well connected with all nearby states and cities like Shimla, Ambala, New Delhi, etc.

This district experiences chilly winters, heavy monsoons, and hot summers. The range of the temperature here varies significantly between -1 degrees Celsius to 43 degrees Celsius. One can see winter frost around the winter months. The area also receives heavy rainfall due to the western disturbances. The only perennial river here is the Ghaggar, and the peak point here is the Morni hills. One can get the mesmerizing views of the mountains of Kasauli from Panchkula.

Some of the few places that you must visit when in Panchkula are

1. One of the most famous temples in North India is located here. It is the Mata Mansa Devi Mandir which is committed to the Goddess Mansa Devi. This Goddess is a celebrated form of Shakti in the Hindu religion. The main attraction of the temple is the tree which people believe has fulfilled many wishes over the decades. People tie threads around this tree with hopes of getting their wishes fulfilled.
2. Another famous attraction of this place is the Bhima Devi Temple Site Museum. This museum is the Khajuraho of Northern India. It is renowned for its beautiful and amazing figurines. This place has the remains of a prehistoric Hindu temple from the 11th century.
3. Beer Castle is a famous eatery with lots of different cuisines for food lovers and bloggers. Some famous foods found here are the Singriki sabzi, Methi Gajar, Bathua Raita, Gajar ka halwa and more.
4. Pinjore Gardens or the Yadavindra Gardens is about 12 miles away from the town and covers an area of around 250 acres. This garden dates back to around the 17th century and has become the spot of a yearly mango fair. It has a mini zoo, many historical places, a nursery, a Japanese garden, etc. According to the histories, the Pandava of the Mahabharata fame used to rest in this garden.
5. I also visited the Morni hills, part of the Sivalik Hills, which are around 28 miles from the city. These hills got their name from the ruler of this city, Queen Morni. These hills are perfect for bird watching and trekking enthusiasts. Few popular birds which caught my interest were Wallcreeper, Crested Kingfisher, Bar-tail, etc.
6. There is a famous Sikh Gurudwara in this district by the name of Nada Sahib. It is built on the banks of the Ghaggar-Hakra River in the Sivalik Hills. I enjoyed visiting this place because of the peace and calmness of the area. You can gaze around or sit along the banks and look upon the mysteries of nature all around.
7. National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden and Research Centre stand on 7acres of land in the heart of Panchkula. It was built around 1987 and is a habitat for the endangered and rare species of Indian plants. 
8. I also went to see the Kaushalya Dam built on the Kaushalya River in Pinjore. I saw diverse varieties of many endangered migratory birds in this area.
9. You can also go for the Thunder Zone and Water Park of this city for some thrilling experiences. It is built on 11-acre land and has around 12 exclusive rides for its visitors.
10. The Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park is around 15.2 km away from the city. This forms the essential habitat for different kinds of flora and fauna. I saw the famous Royal Bengal tiger here, and this zoo has around 950 animals on its premises.
11. If possible, do pay a visit to the famous Raipur Rani, a town built on the Chandigarh- Nahan-Paonta Sahib-Dehradun highway. A Chauhan Rajput, Rao Rai Singh founded this town in 1420 and ruled till Independence. The government has modified this place into an educational hub. You can learn more about the past and the ancient Indian culture from this place.
12. You can also visit the biggest garden in Asia, the Cactus Garden here. This garden has around 272 species of genus Mammillaria. You can also get a glimpse of the exotic Aloe species, Aloe ferox & other exotic species here. People can also purchase a few of the available plant species here.
13. Other attractions of this place are Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, Pheasant Breeding Centre, Jayanti Devi Temple, Khol Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.

Things to Do in Panchkula

There are several activities to try out when you are visiting the stunning city of Panchkula. This city has its own games compound for sports lovers which includes the Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium and Panchkula Golf Course.

The Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium has a badminton hall, cricket stadium, football ground, and athletic track for sports enthusiasts. The Panchkula Golf Course was built in 2003 on around 135 acres of land. It has an18 hole golf course positioned around the Shivalik Range just near the Himalayan Expressway.

Other than sports, you can also practice your photography skills here as the town is filled with the serene beauty of nature. You can go shopping for both handmade goodies in the local market or some exquisitely crafted items in the shopping malls of the city. You can also go for trekking and camping activities with your friends and families. Panchkula has some of the best locations which offer the best trekking sites in India.

How to Reach Panchkula?

The district of Panchkula is well connected both by air and road with all the main cities and states of India. The nearest airport is the Chandigarh airport while the closest train station is the Chandigarh station. There are other nearby stations such as Chandimandir, Kalka, Kumarhatti, etc.

A road trip to this place would give one the best experience of traveling around Haryana. I went to this place via road trip and although the journey was a bit lengthy, it was worthwhile.

What Are the Places to Visit in Panchkula?

Once I decide to visit any place, I always try to do my homework well before my traveling dates. This is because it always helps me to manage my time well while visiting a place. But not everything is listed online, and there is lots more to discover than is recorded in the pages of a travel magazine.

There are several offbeat and unknown destinations waiting for travelers like us to discover. Although Panchkula is quite popular now, there are lots of unexplored places in this area that only the locals know about. So many stories and so many attributes of such a site always enthrall me to go on a quest for finding them.

Many students and researchers from all over the world visit this place to study the history of Panchkula and its stunning architecture. Thus, a visit to a historical site like Panchkula is worth a shot. You can also visit this place while visiting other hill stations like Shimla or Kasauli. Make sure to gather all the facts about the places to visit in Panchkula before planning a trip to this place.

Rebecca John