Travel Fazilka

Fazilka Travel Itinerary

Day 1: Ferozepur → Fazilka (88 Km)

You depart from Ferozepur early and move southwest toward the Indo-Pakistan border region, with Fazilka as your destination. Along the way, the day unfolds through a mix of heritage, local life, and poignant reminders of conflict and sacrifice.

Stop 1: Mamdot Fort
Seventeen kilometres along NH-20, your will turn off onto a link road that leads you into the old township of Mamdot. Once a princely domain, Mamdot’s legacy lives on—post-Partition, its Nawab, Iftikhar Hussain Khan, became the first Chief Minister of West Punjab (in Pakistan). The fort itself is said to date to the 19th century: a two-storey stronghold with high walls, multiple gates, a courtyard, mosque, palatial chambers, wells, and defensive parapets. Today, it falls under the control of the Indian Army or BSF, and visits are possible only with special permission. Though not accessible, its presence tells stories of shifting borders, power, and memory.

Stop 2: Clock Tower & City Centre, Fazilka
As you enter Fazilka, head straight to its beating heart—Ram Narayan Periwal Ghantaghar (Clock Tower). This colonial-era landmark built in 1939 and originally dedicated by Seth Shopat Rai Periwal and periwal family, stands at the center of a radial road layout reminiscent of a Union Jack pattern, with four main streets fanning outward. Climb the 82 steps to the top for a panoramic view of the city below. All around you lie vibrant bazaars, the stately Methodist Church, and the old Wool Market; its mud-brick walls and stone roofs a testimony to enduring local architecture. Stroll the lanes, soak up the city’s pulse, and satisfy your sweet tooth with tosha, Fazilka’s famed delicacy. In this area around the Clock Tower you’ll also find a tempting spread of local street foods—starting with bhature cholle for breakfast, and later dahi bhalla among other regional treats.

Stop 3: Fazilka Jutti Shopping, Indira Market
Next, navigate to Indira Market on Court Road, just off the Clock Tower precinct. Here, vendors display rows of handcrafted Punjabi juttis—vivid hues, detailed embroidery, and comfort sewn into every pair. Be sure to ask for the Fazilka tilla jutti—a local specialty now registered with a applied Geographical Indication (GI) tag. That makes it a perfect souvenir or a living memory of your journey through Punjab’s cultural heart.

Stop 4: Asafwala War Memorial & Victory Tower
From Fazilka, head outwards along NH-7 and in about 7 km you will reach Aasafwala Shaheedon Ki Samadhi, a place where history, grief, and reverence merge. It stands roughly 7 km from the border—literally at the meeting of frontier and town. The memorial honors 226 martyrs of the 1971 war who defended Fazilka; the ashes of 82 soldiers rest here, and busts/portraits of war heroes like Major Narain Singh, Major Lalit Mohan Bhatia, Lance Naik Drigpal Singh, and Lance Havildar Gangadhar guard their memory. In December 2022, the newly erected 71-foot Victory Tower (Vijay Stambh) was unveiled to symbolize triumph, remembrance, and the profound sacrifices of the Fazilka sector. Walk through its quiet pathways, pause at its plaques and relics, and feel the weight and pride of its legacy.

Stop 5: Mahavir Check Post / Fazilka Retreat Ceremony
Proceed further to Mahavir Check Post, nestled near Sadiqi Village, just 14 km from Fazilka on NH-7. This is the stage for the Fazilka Retreat Ceremony, performed nightly by the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers. Timings vary with sunset, so confirm in advance. During the August 14–15 Independence Day period, the ceremony becomes especially vibrant with patriotic pageantry, speeches, and crowds gathering to observe the lowering of both nations’ flags.

Stop 6: Sunset Point — Shaheed Major Narain Singh Bridge (Beri Wala Pull)
After the retreat, take a short detour north (≈ 1.25 km) along the Drain-cum-Bund road toward Gurmi Khera/Beri Wala (coordinates: 30.378488, 73.929254). Here lies Shaheed Major Narain Singh Bridge (Beri Wala Pull), a site where history and natural beauty meet at dusk. In December 1971, this was the scene of the Battle of Beriwal, where Major Narain Singh (4 Jat), leading Indian troops, recaptured the bridge from enemy forces in hand-to-hand combat and made the supreme sacrifice. Fragments of bunkers and defensive works remain, silhouetted by golden light as the sun sets over paddy fields. As you stand there, watching the Tricolor sway, it’s more than a photo moment—it is a moment to remember courage, loss, and legacy.

Stop 7: Fazilka TV Tower (“Fazilka Eiffel Tower”)
Return to Fazilka and gaze upward at the TV Tower—a towering lattice structure reaching 304.8 m (1,000 ft). It ranks as the 44th tallest structure globally and second tallest man-made structure in India. Built between 1996 and 2007, it was meant to broadcast signals across ~100 km. Today, it remains an iconic silhouette—dubbed the “Fazilka Eiffel Tower,” even if the resemblance is more poetic than architectural.

Stop 8: Village Khuikhera – Mid-block Food Stop
As night falls, head 15 km from Fazilka toward Abohar and pull into Khuikhera village, where a roadside eatery welcomes you with hearty Punjabi fare—a blend of Rajasthani, Haryanvi, and Punjabi flavors from local farms. Dine al fresco, inhale the evening air, and sip jaggery tea for dessert. Then either return to Fazilka or choose to stay in rural lodgings near Forest View or Jyani Farm Stay around Katehra for a quieter, countryside night.

Day 2: Fazilka → Abohar (32 km)

Stop 1: Jyani Haveli, Katehra (Rural Farmstay Experience)
Begin your day with calm, at Jyani Haveli, in the village of Katehra, spread across 100+ acres of organic farmland. Stroll through fields, unwind in shaded groves, ride tractors, bathe in tube wells, enjoy home-cooked meals, and soak in the rhythmic cadence of rural life. Sunrise here is especially serene—wake early for soft light across the agricultural landscape.

Stop 2: Gurudwara Shri Badtirath Sahib, Haripura
Next, head toward NH-62 to Haripura, near Khuian Sarwar. This gurudwara holds dual significance: Guru Nanak Dev Ji is said to have visited during his first Udasi, and Guru Gobind Singh Ji is believed to have been here after the Battle of Muktsar. The complex includes a two-storey shrine, a sacred sarovar (pool), langar hall, and spacious courtyards. It is a sanctuary of peace and reflection.

Stop 3: Abohar Blackbuck Sanctuary
As you approach the Abohar Blackbuck Sanctuary, keep in mind that this is no conventional refuge. Instead, you’re traveling through a living, breathing landscape—farmland and villages merged with wildlife terrain. The sanctuary encompasses 13 Bishnoi villages, officially notified in 2000, yet remains largely community-owned. In fact, the Bishnoi people are the sanctuary’s guardians, not passive residents—they actively patrol, rescue injured wildlife, guard against poachers, and even perform last rites for animals.

Inside the sanctuary, wildlife walks freely: you’ll see blackbucks grazing beside crops, nilgais meandering across fields, hares darting through scrub, and jackals or wild boars glimpsed in the distance. There’s also a Shaheed Mata Amrita Devi Bishnoi Memorial Park, opened recently in Maharana village, funded by the state to honor Amrita Devi and 363 Bishnois who sacrificed their lives in 1730 resisting deforestation. While some infrastructure is in place, access may vary—check ahead for opening status

As you explore (on foot or by vehicle), look for signs of human–wildlife harmony: water troughs placed for animals, fields kept chemical-lite, and community homes interspersed with grazing zones. But be aware of challenges too—stray dog attacks and barbed cable fences have harmed deer in recent years. What you witness here is not just nature, but a centuries-old alliance between belief, land, and life—the Bishnoi way

Stop 4: Mud Fort, Abohar (ASI Protected Mound)
As you approach Abohar, make a detour to the historic Mud Fort Mound, officially protected by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1941. The site is not a conventional fort with standing walls; rather, it is an archaeological mound of mud-brick ruins and relics, revealing layers of Abohar’s past from Kushan to medieval periods. Visitors may observe exposed earthen walls, pottery fragments, clay beads, and other artifacts in rain gullies and shallow sections. Though the site is in a fragile state and lacks full visitor facilities, it offers a compelling window into Punjab’s layered history. A local guide or heritage-project group may help interpret the ruins and stories behind them.