Panipat Town
Population: 192,000
STD: 01742
¤ The City Renowned For The
Great Battle of Panipat
The First Battle
Situated on the ancient banks of the Yamuna on a high mound, this is
where three battles were fought, although there’s nothing much to
see except the barren field! (See History). and, of course, the town.
The first battle of Panipat, fought in AD 1526 between the invader
Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi on April 26, witnessed the birth of the Mughal
empire in India. Delhi was being ruled by Lodhi, the Sultan, and at
the end of the battle he had lost 20,000 of his men as well as his own
life.
The Second Battle
The second battle on November 5, 1556, established the Mughals as
the sole rulers of the Delhi Sultanate once again. Akbar, 13 at that
time, went to war with the Hindu ruler Hemchandra (or Hemu), the
nephew of Sher Shah. Victory was the Mughals’, and in true
Turkish style, the heads of the captives were plastered in a pillar
specially constructed for this purpose.
The Third Battle
The third battle took place on 13 January, 1761. This time it was
Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler versus the combined forces of the
Marathas. The Marathas were routed, but Abdali was unable to
consolidate his empire which eventually disintegrated in a few years
time.
¤ Main Attactions
Today Panipat is an industrial town and is known for its handloom
products.
Ibrahim Lodi’s Tomb
This brave king, who was defeated by Babur in 1526 in the first
battle, lies buried here within a tomb. His grave is a simple affair;
just a rectangular block on ahigh platform approached by a flight of
steps made of lakhori bricks. The tomb was renovated by the British,
and an inscription mentioning Ibrahim Lodhi’s defeat at the hands
of Babur and the renovation was included by them in 1866.
Kabuli Shah Mosque
About 2kms away from Panipat, this mosque was built by none other
than Emperor Babur himself just after his victory over Ibrahim Lodhi.
Babur named the mosque after his wife Kabuli Begum. Six years later
when Humayun defeated Salim Shah near Panipat, he got a platform made
around the mosque and said it was Chabutara Fateh Mubarak. Since he
was the ruler nobody said otherwise, and even today it is known by
that name. The mosque is flanked by chambers on two sides, and an
inscription in Persian runs along the parapet.
Jain Temples
in Holi mohalla (locality) and a shrine to the Muslim saint Abu Ali
Kalandar. Abu Ali is said to have rid the town of flies, but when the
people complained, he gave all the flies back multiplied by a
thousand. A fort rises up away from Panipat at its highest point,
still guarding the city from invaders.
¤ Hotels & Restaurants
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.
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