Introduction

Located twenty kilometers from Jammu, the small town of Akhnoor lies on the banks of the river Chenab in the foothills of the Pir Panjal ranges – which are a sub-system of the Himalaya. It was at Akhnoor that the ‘raj tilak’ ceremony of Gulab Singh, who went on to rule the state of Jammu and Kashmir was performed by the powerful Sikh Maharaja of the Punjab, Ranjit Singh. This was at Jio Pota on the banks of the river.

The place name ‘Akhnoor’ is believed to come from a combination of two words ‘Akh’, eye and ‘Noor’, light – and thus, the ‘light of the eye’; that is how beautiful the place was considered to be. And to a substantial measure, all that beauty is still there. The population of Akhnoor is around 13,000 persons and there is sizable presence of the army and large well tended cantonment. The border with Pakistan is a bare ten kilometers away.

Excavations at Akhnoor date back to the times of the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization; nearby Ambran has the remains of a Buddhist monastery that existed between 1 to 7 CE – some artifacts from this may be seen at the Dogra Art Gallery in Jammu.

The old fort dominates the town. Excavations within its walls have revealed the remains of Harappan and pre-Harappan civilization which date back some 4,000 years and this is believed to be the northern-most site that has been found so far of this civilization. The fort was built by Raja Teg Singh in the middle of the eighteenth century at a time in the history of the region when several forts were built as outposts a little away from the towns they were designed to protect. Over the passage of time, the fort fell into disuse and relative disrepair. At the moment, this houses various government offices, including a police post. The fort is under the charge of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and a major restoration of the fort is being mooted.

Special Attributes

Small town with considerable beauty

Nuisance

None as such

Dressing restrictions

Comfortable but conservative.

Connectivity

Taxis and buses

Enjoyed by

Nature, history and general interest

Exposure

Yes. Especially in summer.

Avoidable Season

null

Facilities

Restaurants, small hotels and parking

Things Not Allowed

Some restrictions on vehicles in the cantonment area

Tip

Try and plan this as a full-day excursion

Type of site

Small town