Panipat-Panipat is situated on the banks of the river
Yamuna, and here the three historical battles of Panipat were fought. This district is bordered by Karnal,
Sonipat, Jind and Kaithal and the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The first battle of Panipat, fought in AD 1526 in which invader Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, the Sultan of
Delhi, on April 26. In the second battle of Panipat, on November 5, 1556, Akbar's guardian Bairam
Khan defeated the Hindu ruler Hemu. Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler defeated the Marathas in the third battle of Panipat
that took place on 13 January, 1761.
Today Panipat is an industrial town and is known for its handloom products. The district headquarter is situated in Panipat town. Other smaller towns are Samalkha, Israna
and Naultha. The total area of Panipat district is 1,754 sq km and its population is 8,33,000.
Ibrahim Lodi’s tomb: This king who was defeated by Babur in 1526 in the first battle
of Panipat, lies buried here within a tomb. His grave is a simple affair; just a rectangular block on a high platform approached by a flight of steps made of lakhori
bricks. The tomb was renovated by the British in 1866.
Kabuli Shah mosque was built by Babur after his victory over Ibrahim Lodhi. He named the mosque after his wife Kabuli Begum. Six years later when Humayun defeated
Salim Shah, he got a platform called Chabutara Fateh Mubarak made around the mosque. The mosque has chambers on two sides and an inscription in Persian runs along the
parapet.
There are Jain temples in Holi mohalla and a shrine to the Muslim saint Abu Ali Kalandar. A fort rises up away from Panipat at its highest point, still guarding the city
from invaders. There is a park named after the famous Urdu poet and critic Altaaf Hussein Haali, who was born in Panipat
in 1837.
Hotels: Midtown hotel, phone 30769, a/c rooms and restaurant. Skylark motel, a/c rooms as well a dormitory and restaurant; Blue Jay and Kala Amb are also decent
places for short stays. Also many smaller hotels and guest houses on GT road.
