Akhnoor (Virat nagar)- Raj Tilak ceremony of Maharaja Gulab Singh was held here on the banks of the River Chenab at Jio Pota

Akhnoor (Virat nagar)- Raj Tilak ceremony of Maharaja Gulab Singh was held here on the banks of the River Chenab at Jio Pota

32 kms. south west of Jammu situated on the banks of mighty Chenab river is the historic town of Akhnoor. This town is associated with the legend of Soni-Mahiwal. Ruins of the Indus-Valley Civilization are to be seen along the river bank commanding a panoramic view all around.

Akhnoor: The ancient town of Akhnoor is just 20 km from Jammu. Situated on the banks of the Chenab river the town is picturesque with the river Chenab in front and the rolling hills of the Shivaliks in the backdrop. 

It is said that the town derives its name from the word Akh meaning Eye and Noor meaning light or vision. The dominating structure of the town is the Fort which is perched on a cliff overlooking the river Chenab and looms over the town. 

From the Indus Valley civilization to the present day Akhnoor has it all. Excavations have revealed remains dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization inside the Fort. Ambaran on the bank of the river has structures and brick structures dating back to the 1st to the 7th century BC. 

The Raj Tilak ceremony of Maharaja Gulab Singh was held here on the banks of the River Chenab at Jio Pota.

Akhnoor has historical places to visit, such as the caves where the Pandavas were believed to have hidden.

The popular story of how "Virat nagar" got its name converted to Akhnoor is that the Mughal emperor's wife had vision problem in her eyes. She was prescribed to wash her eyes with the holy water of Chenab River using some ayurvedic medicines by a local Hindu priest. Her vision was regained, and hence the name in Urdu the word "noor" means vision/glow/shine and the word "aankh" means the eye, so the vision regained to her eyes and hence Akhnoor.

The people of this town had fled during Indo-Pakistan War in 1965 and 1971, returning back after ceasefire. The border is around 18 km (11 mi) away by road, aerial distance is only some 8 km (5.0 mi). The people had also suffered problems when the main bridge over Chenab River was washed away on September 10, 1992 until it was rebuilt and opened on April 13, 1994.