Kapurthala was the capital city of the princely state of the same name during the British era and was ruled by the Walia dynasty. The city is said to have been founded by Rana Kapur in the 11th century.
The city has many buildings and monuments which speak volumes about the historical and cultural heritage of the city. Some of the important monuments in the city include the Sainik School which is situated in the Jagatjit Palace, the Shalamar Bagh, the Moorish Mosque, the Panch Mandir and the Clock Tower. Of these the Jagatjit Palace is of particular interest. It was built by the Maharaja of Kapurthala state and is based on the architecture of Palace of Versailles and Fontainebleau. The palace was designed by a French architect and is one of the architectural wonders of the city.
The Moorish Mosque is another example of the unique architectural styles. The Moorish Mosque is a replica of the Grand Mosque of Morocco. The construction of the mosque was also commissioned by the Maharaja of the Kapurthala state and took as many as 13 years for completion.
The Panch Mandir is a splendid example of the secular spirit of the city. The temple is a place of reverence for all religions. There are five idols installed in the temple and devotees can view the idols from the entrance door.
The city of Kapurthala is well connected by rail, road and air. The nearest airport is at Amritsar, which is situated at a distance of 66 km from Kapurthala. The city has its own bus and railway station that connects it to nearby cities and states.
