Pathankot (Punjabi: ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ, Hindi: पठानकोट, /pəˈʈʰaːnkoːʈ/) a city and a municipal committee in Gurdaspur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur Princely state ruled by the Pathania Rajputs prior to 1849 A.D. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to its ideal location, Pathankot serves as a travel hub for the three northerly states and is a hub for the defence forces - Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Pathankot is the fifth largest city in the state of Punjab in terms of population. It is the last city in Punjab on the national highway that connects Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. Situated in the picturesque foothills of Kangra and Dalhousie, with the river Chakki flowing close by, the city is often used as a rest-stop before heading into the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, Dalhousie,Chamba, and Kangra, deep into the Himalayas. Pathankot also has the largest military base in the whole of Asia.