Bhatinda is one of those places that one would not visit solely for travel. My reason to visit Bhatinda was to attend a wedding. However, taking advantage of this opportunity, I spent my free day touring the city.

The fifth-largest city of Punjab is easy to cover in a day. Bhatinda is short on transportation. Therefore, the only means to navigate around the city is either on a rickshaw or personal car. We booked an auto for 700 INR that took us around the city, which turned out to be a great option. Here’s how Mom and I explored Bhatinda in 6 hours.

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12:15 p.m – Started our tour from the NFL Township

Noon is an odd time to start. However, since the wedding went on until 5 a.m. Therefore, I slept for a few hours before heading out to the city.

12:30 p.m – Brunch near Bhatinda Fort

punjabi-breakfast-in-bhatinda

Punjab is known for its breakfast, and it was impossible to give it a miss. Hence, we started our tour with a delicious breakfast at a hawker station opposite the Bhatinda Fort. Mom preferred having Chole Kulche, whereas I went for Chole Bhature.

1:15 p.m – Qila Mubarak

city-view-from-qila-mubarak

Located in the heart of the city is the oldest surviving fort in India. Delhi’s first Empress Razia Sultan was captivated here after being dethroned. This fort is also home to a Gurudwara, where you get a 360-degree view of the city. Some parts were closed for the tourists because of ongoing restoration work. Therefore, it took us merely half an hour to see the entire fort.

2:40 p.m – Mini Zoo and Deer Safari

mini-zoo-and-deer-safari

Our next stop was a tiny nature park located on the outskirts of the Bhatinda. It had two zones, a zoo and a deer park, with separate tickets (20 INR and 30 INR). Moreover, you have to pay an extra fee of 150 INR for a DSLR camera. The zoo has a few animals like Leopards, Emu and tiny birds that you can see on foot. Whereas, at Deer Park, the authorities take you to a safari on a tuk-tuk. We were not allowed to get down from the tuk-tuk inside. However, the driver was kind enough to stop the tuk-tuk at places on request to take pictures.

4:15 p.m – Tea by the Bhatinda lake

bhatinda-lake

Bhatinda Lake residing next to the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, was our last spot for the day. The city has plenty of artificial lakes. However, what made it special was the cafeteria and boating facility. We sat by the lake, sipping tea and gorging on crispy spring rolls while ogling at the beauty of our surroundings.

6:30 p.m – Heading back home

With a beautiful sunset by the lake, we ended our day at Bhatinda. We wanted to visit Dhobi Bazaar which is known for Punjabi suits and accessories. However, we were tired of all that walking and lack of sleep.

If you find yourself in Bhatinda, then follow this itinerary to make the most of your day. Moreover, let us know in the comments about your experiences. 🙂

Author

Meenakshi is a designer by profession and traveller by heart. Photography is something that she cherishes and goes on a Click! Click! Click! spree wherever she goes.

4 Comments

  1. Navdeep Singh Reply

    You should have tried other famous food spots too. But still you covered all the major things.

    • Meenakshi Bose Reply

      Please recommend me some nice food spots and I shall visit them the next time 🙂

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