Kapurthala is the glorious city of the Indian State of Punjab and is the part of Kapurthala district. During British India, it was the capital of the princely State in Kapurthala. Its princely past is evident from the buildings that depict French and Indo-Saracenic architecture. It is also the least populated city of Punjab.
The history of Kapurthala shares the history with that of the Ahluwalia dynasty. Baba Jassa Singh was the founder of this prestigious dynasty. He was the powerful leader on and off the field whether it be for battle or leading the army. Various Sikh leaders considered the moment to be blessed if baptized from his own hands. Baba Ala Singh got the privilege to get baptized from his hands. In 1764, he spread a traditional sheet for offerings and he donated a sum of nine lakhs. This was done to renovate the sacred Darbar in Amritsar.
Sultanpur Lodhi
According to Sikh writings, he gained enlightenment after 3 days of disappearing into the waters of Bein rivulet in the 15th century. He also spoke his first words after enlightenment and that was 'There is no Hindu and no Mussalman'. This rivulet is carved on the floor of this Gurudwara.
This three-storeyed Gurudwara was established by the King of Kapurthala. The construction started in the mid-20th century.
There are stucco designs seen at the entrance. The complex is full of marble construction and the pillars are octagonal. The Gurdwaras in Kapurthala depicts the events that happened in Guru Nanak's life. There is a Gurdwara in memory of Guru Nanak's sister. It is Sant Ghat that is 2km from Ber Sahib which is believed to be the place where Guru Nanak attained enlightenment.
Durbar Hall
This beautiful hall is in the center of the city. King Jagatjit Singh built this wonderful complex. The birthday of this great personality is celebrated in this complex every year. The various District court and sessions court judges reside in this premise. The making of the Durbar hall was finished in 1889. There are galleries on both sides of the hall. The entrance has a large wooden door with a bronze statue of Raja Randhir Singh.
Jagatjit Club
Jagatjit club is also situated in the heart of the Kapurthala city. The architectural designs follow Greek styles. The architectural works to an extent depict the Acropolis of Athens. There are a variety of activities taking place in this club. Earlier, it was a church during the 19th century. Later in 1940s it was acknowledged as a cinema hall and now it is a local club in the city.
Jagatjit Palace
This aesthetic palace gave a new title to Kapurthala and that is 'Paris of Punjab'. The palace was built in 1906 by a French architect. Versailles and Fontainebleau greatly influenced the designs of the palace. The reception hall is given the name King Louis XIV. The interior designs are fascinating with a combination of various styles. The ceilings are painted which represents the art and creativity of French architects. The hall is being used for various ceremonies and the decoration of the hall is completely in Indian Style. The rooftops are designed according to Beaux-art. The most unique feature of the palace is the Mansard roof. The slope is double with oval-shaped windows. The pillars and fireplaces all across the palace depict Italian Lapis Lazuli and marble. Some galleries preserve the artifacts of the King from Europe. The palace covers over 200 acres of land. It has gardens and fountains. There is a clock which shows the time and weather of 12 countries from Europe and Asia. It also shows planetary positions. There is a Sainik School which was built in 1961.
Kanjli Wetland
It is located in Bein rivulet where 92 species of birds, as well as several mammals and fishes, find their shelters here. Bird watching and boatings are done here exclusively. This wetland also gains importance as Guru Nanak Ji attained enlightenment here.
Moorish Mosque
The architectural works of the Jagatjit palace and Moorish Mosque were carried out by the same French architect. The Qutbia Mosque was highly influenced by the making of Moorish Mosque. The artists from Lahore's Mayo School of Art have decorated the interiors of the dome. The artist has built a unique style that cannot be seen elsewhere in Asia. The Archeological Survey of India included Moorish Mosque among the historical monuments.
Panj Mandir
Panj Mandir is also called 5 temples which are located in Kapurthala. There is the main temple in the center surrounded by small temples on all sides. Each temple has different deities. The most striking feature of the temple is that all five deities can be seen from the main entrance.
Pushpa Gujral Science city
This wonderful center spreads through 72 acres of land. This complex aims to inculcate scientific knowledge and modern values. There is a dinosaur that greets visitors to the museum. The galleries encourage different types of subjects in the science field. There is a theatre that screens the wonders of space. There are laser shows, 3D theatres, earthquake simulators, and Dinosaur parks.
Kapurthala is known for its extreme dominance in flavor as well as its richness like the whole of Punjab. Butter chicken and Amritsari Macchi are to be tried here. They have their own set of delicacies that are different from others. The flavors vary in each part of Punjab.
The regular menu is the Kuti Mirch Fish Tikka and Murg. This is the most authentic dish apart from Tandoori Chicken and chicken biryani. The main side dish you will find in every meal is the curd and the raita. The flavors are also different from the others. People love these flavors when they are spicy and full of ghee. During the festival periods, some of the finger-licking dishes like Seekh Kebab, Lahori boti Kebab, and Naan are a must-try. There are masonry ovens called Battis in this region which are grilled. These ovens are also called chulla made from bricks or stones and in many houses made of clay.
There is no airport in Kapurthala. The International airport is Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport that has flights to Amritsar. Another airport is at Chandigarh. This is a domestic airport. There are express and passenger trains that connect Kapurthala to other major cities. It has its railway station. There is Jat Adi express and Bti Jat Express that pass through Kapurthala.
The weather is extremely suitable for sight-seeing and enjoyment purposes. The summer season in Kapurthala is extremely hot and the temperature rises to 45 degrees. During monsoon season, chances of flooding are on the rise. So the best season to visit Kapurthala is winter. Make sure that you plan your trip between October and March.
There are luxury hotels from airport and railway stations. There are plenty of rooms if you are planning to visit in groups or for many parties and functions. Some hotels have staff who are well educated especially in management and hospitality. The food provided is hygienic. The housekeeping service is well disciplined. Some hotels are increasing their capacity by building up additional rooms and parking slots.
There are different packages based on location and customer ratings. There are star hotels with full fledge security and 24 hours check-in. Wifi connections are also available. The stay in the hotel would bring about the feeling of homestay with aesthetic interiors. The hotels are mostly 2-3 km from the railway stations. There are swimming pools and free parking lots as well. The starting package is Rs 2,800/- for a night stay.
There are hotels within affordable rates as well. But the quality of service would be no less than the luxury ones. The rooms are clean but less spacious than the luxurious ones. Some rooms are not that luxurious but not that cheap. The price range starts from Rs 1,299/- for a night. The services are clean and disciplined as well.