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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pul Kanjri پل کنجری
| type = Historical Site
| image_skyline = Pul Kanjiri.JPG
| pushpin_map = India Punjab#India
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Punjab, India
| coordinates = {{coord|31|38|N|74|33|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Amritsar district|Amritsar]]
}}

'''Pul Kanjri''' is a historical site situated 35 km away from [[Amritsar]] on Amritsar-[[Lahore]] road, near the villages of Dhanoa Khurd and Dhanoa Kalan on the [[Wagah]] border. It is one of the heritage sites built by [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]], where he used to rest while travelling with his troops. During his reign, Pul Kanjari was an important trading centre. The legend has it when Maharaja Ranjit Singh married Begum Gul Bahar, on their way to Lahore they had to cross this canal on Ravi river. People used to cross the canal by foot but Begum Gul Bahar refused to do so. Since Maharaja Ranjit Singh was deeply in love with Begum Gul Bahar, he had a small bridge built for her. Some part of the bridge still exists. It was named Pul Kanjri. It was grately in news during 1971 war.
This fortress also contains a bathing pool, a temple, a Gurudwara and a mosque.

People used to come to Pul Kanjri from far-flung areas, including Amritsar and Lahore, for shopping. The town was inhabited by Arora Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus who lived happily till [[partition of India]]. The historical town has been reduced to a tiny village now.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://colorsofamritsar.com/place/pul-kanjari/ | title=Pul Kanjari | access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref> The area is located on the present day border of the two states and it was briefly occupied by Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. However, the area was later returned to India as a part of peace treaty between the countries.

==History==

[[Moran_Sarkar|"Moran"]] was a dancer from nearby village Makhanpura and used to perform in the Royal Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. On the way, she had to cross a small canal linked to river Ravi, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in order to irrigate Shalimar Gardens of Lahore. This canal did not have a bridge. One day while crossing the canal Moran lost her silver sandals that had been presented to her by the Maharaja. Disappointed over the loss, she refused to perform in the court of Maharaja. When the incident was brought to the notice of Maharaja, he immediately ordered the construction of a bridge on the canal. The dancers were not given much respect in those days and they were addressed as "Kanjari". Hence the bridge constructed to facilitate Moran was known as "Pul Kanjari".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amritsarcity.org/tourists-places-to-visit-in-around-amritsar/Pul-Kanjari-Amritsar-India,-Pul-Moran-Amritsar-India.php |title=Pul Kanjari Amritsar | access-date=29 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1267298| title=HARKING BACK: Mai Moran and ever-changing face of Pappar Mandi | access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Pul kanjari.JPG|thumb|left|Fence on International Border visible from Pul Kanjari]]

[[File:Pul Kanjari.JPG|thumb|left|Pul kanjari Sarovar]]

[[File:Wall Painting in Temple.JPG|thumb|left|Beautiful wall Painting]]
Now, this historical memorial has been renovated and is being preserved by The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and Govt. of Punjab. Renovations were made to the Mosque, Mandir, Baradari and a Sarovar.

==Shiv Temple==

On the right side of the memorial is a Shiv Temple made of Nanakshahi Bricks. Inside on the roof of the temple and sides is fresco work that has faded with the passage of time.

==Sarovar==

Originally, it was a store house (pool) for the water, but later on the name Sarovar was given to it. The water to the pool was supplied from the nearby canal. There is an open space for the gents to take a dip and a covered one for the ladies, whereas there is a separate slope for the animals.

==Baradari==

The stay house of Maharaja Ranjit Singh known as baradari (the house with 12 doors), is almost in ruins.

==Battle of Pul kanjari==
[[File:BOP of BSF.JPG|thumb|right|Border Outer Post Of BSF]]

Pul Kanjri was captured by the Pakistani army during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. However, it was later returned to India as a part of peace treaty between the countries.

[[File:Memory stone of 1971 war.JPG|thumb|left]]

''On December 17th and 18th, 2 Sikh attacked and recaptured the Pulkanjri village. During this attack L/Naik Shangara Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry in clearing two machinegun posts which were holding the attack up. Shangara Singh dashed through a minefield and hurled a grenade at one of the post. He then charged the second gun and leaping over the loophole he snatched the gun from its occupants. As he stood with the gun in his hands he received a fatal burst in his abdomen and fell to the ground with the gun still in his hand. He was awarded a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra. N/ Sub. Gian Singh received a posthumous Vir Chakra. The Pakistanis tried to recapture the Pulkanjri village using a company of 43 Punjab and two companies of 15 Punjab. The Sikhs stood firm and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy's 15 Punjab. In a local counter attack they captured 1 officer and 8 OR's of 43 Punjab and 4 OR's of 15 Punjab.)''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.info-sikh.com/SSPage1.html | title=Sikh Regiment | access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref>
[[File:War Memorial of 1971 war.JPG|thumb|right|War memorial of Indo- Pak war 1971]]

==How to reach==

It is situated nearly 35 km from [[Amritsar]] railway station and 5 km from Indo-Pak border at [[Wagah]] at village Audhar. After crossing Atari from Amritsar side, nearly 500 yards ahead, there is a road on the right, leading to village Attalgarh through Mode(ਮੋਦੇ). After Mode([[ਮੋਦੇ]]) the road ends at Pul Kanjari.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pulkanjari.blogspot.in/2014/01/pul-kanjari-historical-place-on.html | title=Pul Kanjari, A historical Place on International Border | access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref>)

Known for her interest in art & history and its preservation, Manveen Kaur Sandhu stressed for the need to replace the name "Pul Kanjari" to "Pul Moran" as the word kanjari is taken as an abuse in Punjabi language. At the same time Ms. Sandhu cited that word Kanjari is a mutation of Persian word ''Kanchani'' (means dipped in gold and fully blossomed). She cited that it was the quality and behaviour of [[Moran_Sarkar|Moran]] that brought her near the king.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080824/spectrum/main3.htm|title=Moran, the mystery woman|last=Nayar|first=Aruti|date=24 August 2008|website=TribuneIndia.com|publisher=The Tribune Trust|location=Chandigargh, India|access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Tourism in Punjab, India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
6. Moran Da Maharaja book written by Balraj Singh Sidhu

==External links==
*[http://wikimapia.org/2284705/Baradari-of-Maharaja-Ranjit-singh-at-Pul-Kanjri @Wikimapia]
*[https://goo.gl/maps/xM2HVbJZXN7jipMA7 Link to War Memorial on Google Maps]
*[https://www.facebook.com/pulkanjri/ Link to Pulkanjri on Facebook]

{{Amritsar district}}
[[Category:Villages in Amritsar district]]
[[Category:Tourism in Punjab, India]]

Pul Kanjri - Revision history

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