Karnal

Karnal, District headquarter is situated in Karnal city. Karnal was founded by the Kouravs around the time of the Mahabharat for King Karna. It is 123 km from Delhi on the National Highway NH1, (called the GT Road), and 126 km from Chandigarh. Other towns are Gharaunda, Nilokheri, Assandh, Indri and Taraori.

Karnal, 'city of Daanvir Karan' has been a walled town as far as it is possible to trace and may have had a citadel one time. In 1739, the Persian King Nadir Shah defeated the Mughal ruler Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal. Karnal was annexed by the Raja of Jind in AD 1763 and was taken from him by George Thomas in 1797. The British established a cantonment in 1811, but abandoned it after thirty years due to the outbreak of malaria.

Excursion
The Karan Tal, Kalandar Shahs tomb, Cantonment Church Tower, the Kos Minar, a small fort in Katju Nagar called Traori sarai, Baburs masjid and the tombs of Mukrab Ali Khan and Mubarak Khan. Two ancient inscribed red pillars have been discovered in Amin.

Cantonment Church Tower
This is a bigold tower and can be seen from a distance of several kilometers as it is almost 35 meters in height. The tower is surrounded by a large ornamental cross. The church itself named after St. James, was dismantled with the shifting of the Cantonment to Ambala in 1841 A.D.

Kalander Shah's Tomb
Kalander Shah's tomb is situated just outside the town. The grave is made of marble and decorated with sculpture. The tomb was built by Ghias-ud-din, Emperor of Delhi, to the memory of Bo-Ali-Qualander Shah, a famous Muslim Savant and Sage, who influenced the thinking of his age and was very widely revered by all communities. Within the enclosure are mosque and a reservoir with fountains built by Emperor Alamgir and outside a Kettle Drum balcony.

Miran Sahib's Tomb
This tomb stands to the memory of a saint, Sayad Mohd. alias Miran Sahib who died in 899 A.D. He was responsible for rescuing a Brahmin girl from the clutches of a Raja in a pitched battle. The tomb is situated towards the extreme south of the town and alongside it stand a small mosque and a cemetery of many members of the Mandal family.

The Karna Tal
The Karna Tal or Tank, named after Raja Karna, son of Surya, ace archer, unrivalled warrior, terror of the Pandvas, an ardent supporter of the king Duryodhana in the Mahabharat war, donor par excellence and the founder of the city of Karnal, is now being renovated and converted into a tourist spot by Karnal municipality. It is said that Raja Karna, who was very philanthropic used to give gold in alms to the needy at the spot.

Pukka Pul
The Sayad's shrine built at Moghul Bridge about 7 kilometers from Karnal city is the scene of a big mela every Thursday. Lamps are lit. Superstitious people from far and near come to make offering at the shrine and ask for boons varying from diseases cure to elimination of ghosts from their bodies and prayers for material prosperity.

Karna Lake
Karna Lake, in Karnal district, lying 125 Km from both Chandigarh and Delhi, is a inviting tourist complex of rich greens. The beauty of the spot is heightened by an artificial lake decorated with a central island. The dark foliage on this island, is the home of a wide variety of birds, like the cormorant, the geese, ducks, some swans and a bevy of kingfishers. The variety of bird life at the small like changes with the seasons. Boating is a special attraction of this center. And for this both rowing and paddle boats have been provided. For those who want to make a halt at Karna Lake, air-conditioned rooms are available at the Motel. The rooms are tastefully decorated and situated so as to overlook the lake. Restaurant, bar, conference and banquet halls and a gift shop are housed in another building a little away from the Motel.

Oasis Complex is like a honeycomb
Small cubicles seems to spring up from every angle, where a wide range of choice delights await the visitors : Gift shops, cafeteria, restaurant, fast-food counter, chat-corner, fruit juice corner, banking counter, a filling station, a first aid dispensary and similar units tend to delight the visitors by their variety. The gardens behind the cubicles have chairs and tables laid out for those who prefer to sit out in the open. Camper cottages have been built here, for the budget tourists who want to stay on. A small Japanese garden also provides small boats for the little ones. The hum of activities at Oasis, practically round the clock, is typical of this center.

Golf Course
The Haryana Tourism has recently commissioned a new Golf course on the banks of Western Yamuna canal just near the Lake-Oasis twin complex. The golf course has been cleverly designed as it lies on both sides of the National Highway No 1, and one has to pass under the highway to continue playing. The combination of Karna Lake, Oasis Complex and the Golf Course is going to make this place in Karnal as one of the most visited tourist spots in whole of Haryana. Some restaurants and Dhabas are also situated on the opposite side of the highway and do a brisk business for travelers who are in a hurry.

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Getting There
By Rail
Karnal is an important city on Delhi-Ambala Rail Line & Sher Shah Suri Marg (G.T.Road), connected with all important places in the country. Connected by rail with Delhi (south) and Amritsar (northwest), Karnal is an important trade centre.

By Road
It is 123 kilometers from Delhi & 130 kilometers from Chandigarh.

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