Punjab, the land of five rivers and integrated cultural history, is a treasure trove for an avid tourist. For this land of the great gurus not only boasts of ancient monuments but throbs with historical embodiments. It is no secret that whoever comes to this land of yellow fields with blue mountains providing the romantic and picturesque backdrop has never gone back without imbibing the essence of Punjab.
There is no dearth of breathtaking palaces, for Punjab was the seat of royalty, as the imposing Quila Mubarak will tell you. Museums galore and so are the religious places with the Golden Temple offering succour to the mind and soul of any one visiting. If you are a wild life freak, then Punjab can take you on a tour of the sanctuaries, which are hot favourites with migratory birds. Since this state borders Pakistan, there are two main posts from which you can peep into the land that was once an integral part of Punjab and experience the feelings of the people separated by a line.
The much truncated India's portion of present Punjab is divided into three natural regions :the Majha,the Doaba and the Malwa.
Punjab, the chief wheat producing area of the country, is the overland entry point into India. The state is also known for its production of sports and hosiry goods. The holiest shrine for the Sikhs is the Golden Temple in Amritsar, so called because the dome is covered with gold leaf.Home of the fiercly proud and independent sikhs, the state of Punjab is steeped in histroy and culture of India.
Places to Visit in Punjab
Amritsar || Chandigarh
Temples in Punjab
Ram Tirth, Amritsar : Location 11Kilometres west of Amritsar on Chogawan road, dates back to the period of Ramayana, Rishi Balmiki's hermitage. The place has an ancient tank and many temples. A hut marks the site where Mata Sita gave birth to Luv & Kush and also, still extant are Rishi Balmiki's hut and the well with stairs where Mata Sita used to take her bath.
Forts of Punjab
Govindgarh Fort Amritsar : Early 19th century designed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Has special defence mechanism against artillery attacks, which were frequent when Punjab was still open to depredations of the Afghan hordes. Being with paramilitary forces it is not open to visitors now.
History of Punjab
The History of Punjab is as old as the history of the Indian Civilization. The land of five rivers, this state was known as Panchal when the Aryans came to India in the third millennium BC. before that, the whole region of the Sindhu (Indus) and its tributaries were inhibited by the Harappans or the people of Copper age who constructed great cities in this region. Ropar in modern Punjab is a great example of this civilization.
Tourist Attractions in Punjab
The most important tourist center in the state is Amritsar with its Golden Temple. This temple is considered to be the holiest of all the pilgrimages of Sikhism and houses Akal Takht, the supreme governing body of Sikhism. The Jalianwallah Bagh is a small park in the city where many pilgrims were massacred by the British police in the year 1919.
Mosques in Punjab
Mazaar, Pir Baba Haji Rattan, Bathinda City : Situated between the Civil Hospital and the grain Market. It attracts devotees from all faiths. Baba Haji Rattan had visited Mecca as an ambassador of Raja Bhoj. On returning to India he had settled at Bhatinda. The Mazaar ( mausoleum) marks the site where the Peer used to meditate. The place is halloed by the visits of the 1st and the 10th Prophets of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji.Palaces of Punjab
Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1838 AD) , AMRITSAR : It was constructed under the supervision of Fakir Azeez-ud-din and Sardars Lehna Singh and Desa Singh Majithia, nobles of the Lahore Darbar at a cost of Nanak Shahi Rs. 1,25,000/- Originally, laid in a garden spreading across 84 acres of rare plants, trees and flowers, surrounded by a boundary wall, 14 feet high and a moat all around it, this beautiful palace had also several equally beautiful clusters of structure which were converted into clubs and libraries, the lawns around them into tennis courts by the British.
Location of Punjab
Punjab is bounded on the west by Pakistan, on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the northeast by Himachal Pradesh and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. Punjab extends from the latitudes 29.30° North to 32.32° North and longitudes 73.55° East to 76.50° East.
How to Reach Punjab
Chandigarh and Amritsar both have airports are connected to other cities in India by regular flights. Indian airlines do have regular flights from Chandigarh to Delhi, Lucknow, Leh, and Amritsar. Jet air also has regular flights to Chandigarh.
Gurudwaras in Punjab
Har Mandir Sahib or Golden Temple
Amritsar City. With a part of the land granted by Emperor Akbar, the foundation stone laid by a Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir, the construction was completed in 1601. Free kitchen and recitation of the divine word never cease here. Its four gates invite everyone from all directions, the scripture is unique, it contain the divine message as received by saints, bhagats and pirs of all the faiths of India.
Wildlife in Punjab
Hari-ke-pattan, Amritsar, National Wetland & Wildlife Sanctuary : It is one of the India's most important lakes ; in winters (November-onwards) it becomes a welcome home to nearly 350 species of migratory birds, coming from as far as Siberia. It is also one of India's leading in-land sweet water fish market and home of varied wild life.
Dance of Punjab
Punjab is a land of plenty, of large hearted people and of life. Green fields, hard working men and women and good food are things that come to mind when thinking of Punjab but something that is even more characteristic are the beats of the Bhangra.
Punjab General Information
Area 50,362 sq km Religion Hindus (34.46%), Sikhs (62.95%), others (2.59%) Maximum Temperature 43.33°C
Other Places of Pilgrimage
Bhaini Sahib : Ludhiana, Centre of the sect of the Kukas. The headquarter of Kuka movement is at village Bhaini Sahib near Ludhiana. Their Guru Ram Singh Ji had anticipated the non-cooperation Movement of Mahamta Gandhi and Kukas had taken a leading role in India's freedom struggle. They are also called Namdharis. They had fought valiantly against Britishers and a large number of them laid their life at Amritsar and Malerkotla. They were also against cow sacrifice.
Gardens in Punjab
Bansar Garden, Sangrur : Sangrur is situated on Ludhiana-Jakhal Railway line and is well connected by road with Patiala, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Bathinda. The Banasar garden, in addition to its walking trails and plantations is famous for its marble Baradari (building with 12 doors), mini zoo and the old Diwan Khana which is a museum now and which stands out of the middle of a pool.
Fairs & Festivals of Punjab
The Festivals in Punjab have always been celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare. For the masses these festivals are popular occasions for social interaction and enjoyment. Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain production, it is little wonder that its most significant festival is Baisakhi, which marks the arrival of the harvesting season. For the Sikhs, Baisakhi has a special significance because on this day in 1699, their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh organized the Order of the Khalsa.
Paradise in Punjab
Punjabis have the reputation of being the greatest producers of good food and being the still greater consumers of it. Punjab has bequeathed the institution of Dhaba-originally a wayside eating joint to the world. The Dhaba moves wherever a Punjabi goes. There are vaishno dhabas where only vegetarian food is cooked in pure ghee or clarified white butter. Dal Makhni, a shining blackish lentil named Urd or Maha of the Dhaba has become world famous and is served in Punjab on all ceremonial occasions.
Museums in Punjab
Punjab museums possess an extensive range of paintings and sculptures by contemporary Indian artists as well as a collection of Indian miniatures of the Mughal Rajsathani, Pahari and Sikh schools. The museums also house a fine collection of medals, arm and armours, objects of princely states with sections on Archaeology, Anthropology, Tribal and folk arts depicting different concepts and scopes in the patterns of Art and Culture.
Shopping in Punjab
Punjab's handloom products and handicrafts and hosiery goods are exported to all the important countries of the world. The hand woven carpets of Amritsar, durees (floor covering), counterpanes handwoven and embroidered woolen shawls, handmade and embroidered juties' (Indian shoes), carved furniture, inlay furniture, lacquer finish furniture, or-namental pyjama strings and prandas, sports goods, leather garments etc. are articles for keep-sakes.
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