Morni Hills, a famous tourist hill station, is situated in the Panchkula district of Haryana. Many people know Haryana as the northern plains of India. But there are many places in the Shivalik range of the Himalayas that offer visitors some respite from the scorching heat of summer.
History of Morni Hills
Morni derives its name from the name of the queen, who was thought to have ruled the area for two thousand years. Morni Hills is an important archaeological site where findings dating to the 7th century have been found in Thakur Dwar Temple.
During medieval times, Rajput Thakur lived around the Morni Hills. Following the Thakurs, the Mughals ruled the areas, but their power waned with the arrival of the British. During the British Raj, the location received little attention. Following independence, the Haryana government recognized the opportunity to develop the palace for tourism. Haryana Tosim’s mountainous Quial tourist resort is a great place to stop over.
Morni Hills is situated at 1,220 meters ft) above sea level. There are two lakes that are interconnected under the hill that divides them. Lake is auspicious to the locals and is revered during celebrations.
Activities in Morni hills
Morni Hills offer a range of activities to pursue. You can visit the nearby Morni fort or hike up to the Ghaggar River, which flows through the Morni Hills.
If you looking to beat the heat of summer, the adventure park nearby offers activities like rock climbing, rappelling, commando nets
Forts in Morni hills
Morni fort museum
A two-thousand-year-old fort is located on the Morni Hills, which were once ruled by Queen Morni. The Forest Department of Haryana converted the fort into a museum in 2017–18.
Museums house photographs of endangered animals, birds, and forts.
Garhi Kotaha fort
The fort in its present form is not in good shape. The fort was demolished by the British during the Indian rebellion of 1857. It’s located 27 kilometers south of Morni Fort.
Masoompur fort
Massompur village is 5 kilometers from the Garhi Kotaha fort. It is reachable by road after crossing Rehana village.
Morni pheasant breeding center
The center is a breeding center for red jungle fowl and Kalij pheasants. Once upon a time, red jungle fowls became extinct, and there was concern over their genetic purity due to breeding with other species of fowl. In 1991–1992, the government established a pheasant breeding center at Morning Hills.
Thakur Dwar temple
One of the oldest structures is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple is situated on the bank of Tikkar Taal. During the 1970 excavations, Hindu sculptures dating back to the Pratihara era revealed important information about the location. All the findings of the excavations are housed at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh.
Bhuri Singh Deota temple
The temple is located at a height of 1870 meters on the cliffs of Pejarli village. From the cliff, you get a scenic view of the Ghaggar river (Sarasvati)
How to reach Morni Hills
By road: Morni Hills is located approximately 45 km from Chandigarh and is well connected by road to major cities in the region, including Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Shimla. Taxis and buses are available from these cities to Morni Hills.
By air: The nearest airport to Morni Hills is the Chandigarh International Airport, located approximately 40 km away. From there, one can take a taxi or bus to reach Morni Hills.
By train: The nearest railway station to Morni Hills is the Chandigarh Railway Station, located approximately 40 km away. From there, one can take a taxi or bus to reach Morni Hills.