Pul Kanjri

Tripoto
Photo of Pul Kanjri 1/5 by Rajeshwar Dayal Mathur
Pul Kanjari War Memorial
Photo of Pul Kanjri 2/5 by Rajeshwar Dayal Mathur
Shivling inside the temple
Photo of Pul Kanjri 3/5 by Rajeshwar Dayal Mathur
Ceiling of the Shiva temple
Photo of Pul Kanjri 4/5 by Rajeshwar Dayal Mathur
Another view of the monument
Photo of Pul Kanjri 5/5 by Rajeshwar Dayal Mathur
Pul Kanjri monument
On way to Wagah Border, 35 km from Amritsar on Amritsar-Lahore highway, near the Daoka and Dhanoa Kalan village lies the historical Pul Kanjri. It is a World heritage site and is one among the many buildings built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 

He would stay here with his royal troops, on his way to Lahore from Amritsar. The story goes that a dancer, from nearby village Makhanpura called Moran would often perform for the king. Once while crossing the water stream, built by Shah Jehan to carry water to Shalimar Bagh in Lahore, she lost her Silver jooti (slipper) and complained to the king. 

He then built a pul (bridge) across the stream with a fortress containing a bathing pool, with a separate enclosure for women. He also constructed a temple, a Gurudwara and a mosque at this site. People later named that pul as Kanjri Pul.
 
It later became an important trading centre. People would come from far-flung areas, including Amritsar and Lahore, for shopping. The main inhabitants were Arora Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus who lived here happily till the partition of Punjab. The historical town has now been reduced to a tiny village. 
During the Indo Pak war in 1971, this area was captured by Pakistani troops to be later reclaimed by India. There is a war memorial where on 22 August each year, people come to pay their tributes to their ancestors and perform Akhand path in the memory of those who had died. 
 
It is a beautiful place to spend an evening. You can combine it with your visit to Wagah on your return journey.