The district shares its borders with Pakistan to the west and lies strategically close to the states of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, making it a vital trade and transportation hub in the region.

The original name of Pathankot was Paithan during Mughal times, which is in turn believed to be a derivative of Sanskrit Pratisthana.

Later Paithan was retrieved again by Chandravanshi Rajput clan (Pathania “meaning No Pathans”) and named Pathankot.

Mamoon, a suburb of Pathankot, is heading towards the biggest army cantonment in Asia.

Surprisingly enough, the town is totally devoid of any monumental evidence to speak of its rich past except for a high ridge called Shimla Pahari, where the historical fort once existed, and some part of the rouni around the Gulmohar Tourist Complex.

Gulmohar Tourist Complex, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Municipal Library, Lal Bahadur Shastri Park, the Relay center of Doordarshan, and an office of the central PWD are located at the site of the Fort.