Welcome to my Hometown! - Karnal, India - by Armaan Bruno

Hi there! ✌ My name is Armaan Bruno. I was a student at the Faculty of Business and Economics (GTK) at the University of Pannonia and I studied Master in Tourism Management (Class of 2019). Let me introduce my hometown to you!

Karnal is the headquarters city of the Karnal district in Haryana. The city and the district are famous for their tourist monuments and attractions. The city is believed to have been founded during ancient times of Mahabharata by King Karna, a mythological hero in the epic tale. It is located on the National Highway 1 and is about a three-hour drive from Delhi.

Karnal is home to several world-class institutes for research and development including the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR), Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). 🤓 🔬 Karnal was once the site of a cantonment of the British East Indian Company army established in the year 1805 A.D. but later abandoned due to a malaria outbreak. The cantonment was subsequently shifted to Ambala and later came to be known as the famous Ambala Cantonment established in 1843 A.D.

The city is also famous for its lush green pastures and production of high-quality Basmati rice. In addition, it is an important center for the manufacture of agricultural implements and its spares. The city is known as a walled town. The citadel of old time can still be seen in form of Kot Mohalla (Kot means fort). The fort was built by Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind. The fort was used in many ways as British converted it into a residence for Dost Mohammad Khan, Amir of Kabul, part of it was also used as jail and a school was also running in the fort.

Karnal is one of the most famous tourist destinations in North India. 📸 Apart from being an important research centre, it is home to several interesting monuments and buildings. You can visit many sites, such as Kos Minar, Kalander Shah’s tomb, the Karan Tal and Babar’s Masjid.

The main highlight of the town is the Lake Karna Tal. Legend has it that it was here that the mythological hero Karna, after whom Karnal is named, gave away alms to the poor and needy. 

Managed by the Haryana Tourism Authority, it offers several facilities including dining.

You can also visit Pukka Pul, located at about 7 km from the city. There is a shrine here which plays venue to several events and therefore, it is very popular with the local people.

Another must visit offered by Karnal tourism is the Kalandar Shah’s tomb made of pure marble. The complex also contains a mosque which is believed to have been built by the Alamgir. Then there is the Miran Sahib’s tomb, which also houses a mosque. Karnal is also home to several religious sites, such as Durga Bhawani Temple and Gurudwara Manji Sahib.

The British too have left their imprints in Karnal. You can visit the Karnal Cantonment Church Tower and the Christian cemetery. For some peaceful moments, you can head to the Oasis complex and if your holiday is incomplete without a round of golf, you will find the perfect destination in Karnal golf course. Karnal tourism offers several scenic places that you can visit including Gogripur and Taraori.

Come and explore my hometown! 😃