Panipat is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. The famous three historical battles were fought in and around this city.
The First Battle of Panipat fought in AD 1526 in which, the invader (Babar) defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi, on April 26. In the Second Battle of Panipat, on November 5, 1556, Akbar’s guardian, Bairam Khan defeated the Hindu ruler, Hemu. Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler, defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat that took place on 14 January, 1761.
Today, Panipat is an industrial town, which is known for its handloom products. The districts headquarter is situated in Panipat town. Other smaller towns are Israna., Naultha and Samalakha. The total area of Panipat district is 1,268 square kilometres and its population is 9,76,338.
Ibrahim Lodhi’s Tomb:
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This king, who was defeated by Babar in 1526 in the First Battle of Panipat, lies buried here in a tomb. His grave is a simple affair; just a rectangular block on a high platform approached by a flight of steps made of lakhori bricks. The tomb was renovated by the British in 1866.
Kabuli Shah’s mosque was built by Babar after his victory over Ibrahim Lodhi. He named the mosque after his wife Kabuli Begum. Six years later, when Humayun defeated Salim Shah, he got a platform called Chabutara Fateh Mubarak made around the mosque. The mosque has chambers on two sides and an inscription in Persian runs along the parapet.
Hotel:
Midtown hotel, a/c rooms and restaurant. Skylark motel, a/c rooms as well as a dormitory and restaurant; Blue Jay and Kala Amb are also decent places for short stays. Many smaller hotels and guest houses are located on GT road. There are Jain temples in Holi Mohalla and a shrine of the Muslim saint, Abu Ali Kalandar. A fort also exists at Panipat. There is also a park named after the famous Urdu poet and critic, Altaff Hussein Haali who was born in Panipat in 1837.