Pilibhit Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Pilibhit

The tiger reserve is found in the forest area on the foothills of the Himalayas. It is one of the 41 tiger reserves found in India. The Pilibhit region has over 800 sq km of forested area. The reserve itself is home to at least 36 tigers and a good prey base for their survival. The place is encompassed by the River Sharda and River Ghagara.

It houses a large number of rare species including the Bengal tiger, swamp deer, Bengal floricans and Indian leopard. Apart from serving as habitat for tigers, the reserve also exemplifies a highly diversified Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands eco-systems. It also plays home to over 125 animals, 550 bird species and 2,100 flowering plants.

Located on the banks of River Khahra, the 450-year-old Gauri Shankar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati. It is a major pilgrimage site for the Hindu community and has been visited by several distinguished people including Pandit Har Prasad and several other saints.

The temple has two huge entry gates on the Eastern and Southern side of the temple. These gates were constructed by Hafiz Rahmat Khan in the late 18th century.

Social harmony is the norm in Pilibhit, and while there are several temples in the town, the Muslims too find solace at the Jama Masjid. This more than 250 years old masjid was built during the Mughal period by Hafiz Rahmat Khan. He was later buried here after his death.

The masjid is a replica of the masjid in Delhi, and a princely sum of 3 Lakh rupees were spent on its construction. The walls are in typical Mughal style, but the curvilinear roof shows a distinct Bengali influence. Every week on Friday the Muslims congregate here for the Nawaz.

The Methodist church caters to the Christian community and also attracts visitors from all faiths.

The gurudwara is dedicated to the sixth guru of the Sikh faith. Every year, it attracts hordes of devotees from across all religions who come here to pay their respects and seek blessing. The gurudwara is around 400 years old. It is believed that the guru Govind Singhji rested here on his way to NanakMatta.

As with the case of the Chhathavi Padshahi Gurudwara, the dargah or the tomb of the seer after whom it is named is revered by all sections of the society cutting across all religions. There are several legends and myths associated with the mazaar but one that binds everyone who visits here is that if they pray with all sincerity, their wishes would be fulfilled.

The sacred temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. The word Ardhinarishwar signifies half man and half woman and accordingly the statue of Shiva is half male and half female. A stone connected to the statue depicts sacred animals who were the vahanas or vehicles of the deities such as the bull is the carrier for Shiva and lion for Parvati.

The temple also has sculptures of other Hindu deities including Hanuman and Bhairon. Other architectural gems within the temple comprise porch, cella and mandpa. The temple has been declared a protected site by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Legend has it that the Gomti River, one of the most sacred rivers of North India, which flows through major towns of Uttar Pradesh, is known as the daughter of Sage Vashistha, when it passes through Pilibhit.

The Gomat Taal is very sacred to the Hindus and draws a huge number of devotees throughout the year and especially during the solar eclipse when they flock here to take a dip in the water. The belief is that taking a bath in Gomat Taal is equivalent to the bath taken in the river in Kurukshetra.

Located between the Sharda canal and Sharda Sagar Dam in the Mahof forest range, the beach is one of the main attractions of Pilibhit. The sunsets are especially spectacular, and the calm forest setting adds to its allure.

The sangam or confluence of the two rivers, Devha and Ghaghra takes place at Bhramchari ghat near Aurvedic College in the Khakra locality in Pilibhit. As such there is no proper road to reach the place, however, this is no deterrent for the visitors and devotees who take the bullock cart to reach the spot.

You have to cross both the rivers to reach the ghat. A large number of devotees flock here during the Karthik Purnima, solar eclipse and lunar eclipse for a purifying dip. The devotees also bring along dal-bhat and distribute it to the poor after making an offering to the river.

The roots of the village can be traced to the 15th century when it existed on the banks of the River Ghaghra, Northeast of the city. It is believed that it was inhabited by the banjara (gypsy) of the Pyria community who lived in houses made of mud and other material sourced from the woods.

It is believed that the name Pilibhit is derived from a yellow mud wall which once surrounded the area.

Located in the Puranpur district of Pilibhit, about a kilometre away from the railway station, Raja Venu Ka Tila is in ruins today. However, the ruins speak of the time when the region flourished under the king Venu during his rule.