Places to visit in Narnaul: Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb

Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb, Narnaul

Most of the times while crossing Narnaul I do not make a detour and pass through this town without looking at the local attractions. However, this time I factored in couple of hours extra to visit few monuments which are the heritage of the area and architecturally important.

I decided to visit the Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb located in the Piran Mohalla of the town. To reach there either put on Google maps or ask for directions from a local as it is situated in the middle of a inhabited colony and there are no markers to guide you there.

When I reached there I was surprised that how well it has been maintained over the years as it has been built by Sher Shah Suri during 1540-45 in memory of his grandfather Ibrahim Khan Sur who died in Narnaul in the year 1518. The square structure made of red and grey sandstone is built on a platform and is entered from the east gate. The monument is surrounded on all sides by houses.

The tomb of Shah Ibrahim, Narnaul 

The structure is two storey high. On the ground level besides the main tomb of Ibrahim Khan Sur there are also few other smaller tombs as well. The light filters in through the trellised grills. 

One of the cupola at the Shah Inrahim Tomb, Narnaul

One can go up by means of narrow (and dark) stairs. On the second storey besides the main dome there are four cupolas giving the structure a symmetry and elegant look. One can get a 360 degree view of the city from here. 

The Pir Turkman Dargah as seen from the Shah Ibrahim Tomb, Narnaul

Close to the Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb is the Dargah of Pir Turkman. I was told that the building of the Pir Turkman predates the Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb by nearly 200 years! The buildings of the Pir Turkman though are in a dilapidated state.

The backside view of the Shah Ibrahim Tomb, Narnaul

An advice to the Archaeological Survey of India and to the Tourism department of the Government of Haryana is to provide road markers so that this important heritage site is easy to locate and reach.

Narnaul, a small town in Haryana, is about 170 km from Delhi on the Delhi-Rewari-Khetri route and can be reached by road in about three and half hours. It is also the district headquarters of Mahendergarh District

Also read:
Places to visit in Narnaul: Chor Gumbad
Dhosi Hills
Rural Tourism

Places to visit in Narnaul: Chor Gumbad

Chor Gumbad, Narnaul

I have been crossing Narnaul over the years and used to notice an old structure from the road but somehow did not see it up close. Now it is no longer visible from the road as residential houses hide the view from the road. This time, despite the fact that I was passing the place very early in the morning, I decided to stop over and see the place.

Chor Gumbad, Narnaul basking at Sunrise

The structure is located on top of a hillock in the sleepy town of Narnaul. It was built by Jamal Khan, an Afghan during the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351 to 1388 AD) as his tomb. What I heard from the locals though is that right now there is no tomb inside. It is a square shaped building with minarets at each corner. Though the administration has done some repairs to the structure but it has also closed all access to go inside the building by putting a closed perimeter fence with grills. So one can only look at the Chor Gumbad from a distance.

A dawn, Statue of Subhas Chandra Bose and a man doing Yoga

Over the centuries the place got into a state of disrepair and it became a hiding place for the thieves and vagabonds and that is why it probably acquired the name of Chor Gumbad (the dome where the thieves reside).

Chor Gumbad from a distance with the statue of Bose in the foreground

During the current days the local administration has developed a park with walking paths encircling the structure. It seems to be popular among the locals for morning and evening walks as well as a place for doing Yoga etc as I believe there are not too many parks in the city (and at that one which is well maintained and has a beautiful backdrop!). There is also a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose.

A well maintained park is popular among morning walkers at the Chor Gumbad 

Despite being arguably the most important historical building of the town there is just a small signboard. Haryana Tourism department must make proper signage’s to encourage tourists to visit the site.

Another view of the Park at Chor Gumbad, Narnaul

Narnaul, a small town in Haryana, is about 170 km from Delhi on the Delhi-Rewari-Khetri route and can be reached by road in about three and half hours. It is also the district headquarters of Mahendragarh District

Also read:
Dhosi Hills
Rural Tourism

Morni Hills & Morni Fort

Beginning of March this year I went to the only hill station of Haryana - Morni Hills. It is about 50 kns from Chandigarh bordering the state of Himachal Pradesh. The place has its own charm. Very few tourists venture towards it as everyone somehow wants to head towards the queen of the hills Shimla. Only people from Chandigarh and near by areas come this side and that also mainly as a day trip.

Sunset at Morni Hills

I experienced beautiful sunsets at both Morni and Tikkar Taal (see my earlier post of Tikkar Taal).  The sun at Morni sets high up in the sky itself. You think it would go down the horizon but it vanishes high in the sky itself.

Morni or Mir Jafar Ali Fort

Besides the serene atmosphere Morni also has the Morni Fort (or the Mir Jafar Ali Fort). The Governor General of India by a 'Sanad' had bestowed the ownership of the Morni Hills and the fort to Mir Jafar Ali on 26 October 1816 in consideration of his old rights and the assistance rendered to the British troops during Gorkha campaign. The forest department acquired it in 1977 from the descendants of Mir Jafar Ali.

Morni Fort from a distance

Normally the fort is not visible from the road and only when one approaches closer is it visible. To get a better perspective I climbed a nearby hill. The view in the picture above has been taken from another hill. 

Inside view of the Morni Fort

The fort has very few visitors so one can spend quiet moments exploring the fort. How come this beautiful old structure is barely known in the tourist circuit? I feel it is not well advertised by any of the Haryana government departments.

Morni Fort

Some restoration work of the fort has been undertaken but they have been able to merge the old and the new well.

Pine Forest at Morni

The Morni hills have good weather from October to March. Some parts are well forested though in other areas agriculture is taking over the forest land. If one is seeking adventure then there are plenty of trekking options available. I for one choose my own routes at random.

A small pond with reflection of trees at Morni

I stayed at the Mountain Quail Hotel run by the Haryana Tourism. It has 16 rooms with room rates of Rs 1200, 1600 and 2000. Though the Haryana Tourism has a website to do online booking but it does not work all the time. At least I was unable to book a room online.

Hotel Mountain Quail, Morni Hills

If the Haryana Tourism wants to attract more tourists, it needs to maintain its website in a better way. Most of the time rooms are available (first couple of days only my room was occupied!). It is only on weekends and holidays that there is some rush.

Tikkar Taal Lake

I am normally interested in going to smaller and off the usual tourist destinations. Therefore, this time I decided to visit the Morni Hills and its adjoining areas. Morni Hills is the only hill station of Haryana and is located in Panchkula district. Morni Hills is also the Tehsil headquarters. Tikkar Taal (Taal means lake) is about 45 kms from Panchkula and about 300 kms from Delhi and can be reached in five hours from Delhi.The road condition from Panchkula to Tikkar Taal is good.

Sunset at Tikkar Taal

In fact at Tikkar Taal there are two lakes - the bigger is known as Tikkar Taal and the smaller is called Chota Tikkar or the Sherla Taal.

The Twin Lakes: Bada Tikkar and Chota Tikkar

The water of the smaller lake is muddy. Both the lakes are surrounded by hills on all sides and therefore have a good natural catchment area for the collection of rain water.

Chota Tikkar

Closer to the smaller lake is located the Adventure Park maintained and run by the Haryana Tourism. It has taken the concept from outside but is not of the same standard. e.g. the Tree House is build on an artificial tree. But the only good thing it that the Tree House gave me a vantage position to see the smaller lake from above.

Tree House

One can visit the Adventure Park (entry ticket is Rs 50 per person) though I was not at all impressed by the same. It has ghost house, monkey maze, tree houses, swinging bridge (seems it is broken for quite some time with no one bothering to repair it). The Adventure Park that I visited in British Columbia, Canada for example was far more advanced and interesting.

Entrance to the Adventure Park

I was also able to see some water birds for the first time which I have not seen before.

Chota Tikkar from the tree house

The bigger lake has very clear water and it is mainly on this lake that boating, camping and other adventure activities are carried out. One can take a paddle boat for two persons for Rs 100 for 15 minutes.

Tikkar Taal

The Tikkar Taal is about 550 meters by 460 meters whereas the smaller one is about 365 meters (both ways). There is also a theory that both the lakes are interconnected by an underwater channel but I have my doubts on this theory as water of Tikkar Taal is clear whereas the water of Chota Tikkar is muddy.

Tikkar Taal from another angle

Haryana Tourism maintains a hotel at Tikkar Taal which has four AC rooms (Rs 1500) and two 16 bedded dormitories (Rs 200). The location could not be better as it is right on the lakeside.

Accommodation of Haryana Tourism

The place has limited eating options - either the Haryana Tourism maintained restaurant or the Happy Restaurant (closer to the Chota Tikkar)

On week days there are few persons who visit the place so one can have the place to oneself but I believe weekends could sometimes become maddening specifically if it is some holiday like Holi. Hordes of people, mainly the young crowd, come to the place from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. Mostly they stay there for less than an hour. More than the lake, it is probably the drive to it that they enjoy.

Best time to visit the Tikkar Taal area is October to March as the weather is pleasant. One can stay either the Haryana Tourism hotel or the smaller hotels. Smaller hotels do not have a online  booking system. Of course I was not able to book a room online even on the Haryana Tourism website. They seriously need to upgrade their website and match the ones maintained for example by the Himachal Tourism.