Pul Kanjri in Attari, India
Pul Moran, or as it’s famously known Pul Kanjri, is a place very few have on their itineraries when visiting Amritsar. It’s located in close proximity to the India-Pakistan international border. This structure was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the emperor of the Sikh Empire in the Panjab region of India, and was used as a resting place for him and his troops.
According to local legend, when Singh was crossing this location, his wife, Begum Gul Bahar, refused to cross by foot. Singh immensely loved his wife, so he had a Pul (translated into bridge) built for her to cross the canal.
Another legend states that Moran was a dancer very much liked by Singh. While crossing the canal, one of her silver sandals dropped into the water. She was deeply disappointed over the loss and refused to perform at Singh’s court. When this was brought to Singh’s attention, he immediately had a bridge constructed. It became known as Pul Moran.
There is a water reservoir at the location that was once used for bathing. While men once bathed in the open, there were separate enclosed rooms for women. The famous bridge cannot currently be visited due to security restrictions.
In recent history, the village was captured by Pakistani forces during the Indo-Pakistani War, however, it was recaptured by Indian forces. A war memorial was constructed nearby in memory of the Sikh soldiers who lost their lives while recapturing the village and it is open to visitors.
