Punjab Travel Guide
About Punjab:
Punjab, the land of five rivers & 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 throls with historical embodiments.
It is no secret that whoever come to this land of yellow fields with
blue mountains providing the romantic & picturesque backdrop has
never gone back without imbiding the essence of Punjab.There is no
dearth of breathtaking palaces, for Punjabwas the seat of royalty, as
the imposing Quila Mubara will tell you.
Getting There:
By Air -
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.
By Rail -
Punjab is extensively linked to the other parts of the country by rail.
Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Pathankot, and Jalandhar are the major
railway hubs in the state from where one can take trains for most parts
of the country.
By Road -
The entire state is connected through an extensive network of medalled
roads. State Highways connect major cities to the state capital. NH 1 or
the Grand Trunk Road connects the state with most of the north as well
as east India. Other National Highways that pass through the state are
NH 15, 19, 20, 21, and 1A.
Fact File:
Area : 50,362 sq km
Capital : Chandigarh
Languages : Punjabi, Hindi
Religion : Hindus (34.46%), Sikhs (62.95%), others
(2.59%)
Literacy rate : 57.14%
Best Time To Visit : October To March
Tourist Attractions:
Patiala:
Patiala is famous for its healthy food, loving people, wonderful
parandaas, exciting Patiala peg and jootis. Easily accessible and well
maintained, Patiala is a place that would give one the much-needed
tranquility far from urban chaos. The Sports School and the Moti Bagh
Palace are some of the places that one must visit to get a clear picture
of the past of the state.
Ludhiana:
Ludhiana, the sight of a great battle in the First Sikh War (1845) is
now Punjab's most populated metropolitan and industrial city. Ludhiana
situated on the banks of the Sutlej River, was founded in 1480 by Lodhi
princess from Delhi. It is a major textile and light engineering centre.
Its hosiery goods are in great demand in all the markets of the east and
the west. It exports woolen garments, machine tools, dyes, cycle parts,
mopeds, sewing machines and motor parts to all over the world. The
famous Punjab Agricultural University is situated on the outskirts of
Ludhiana. It has a large grain market and is famous for rural Olympics.
Ludhiana is an Industrial Town of India. Ludhiana Business Community has
proved its Industrial Strength not only on the Indian Map but also on
the World Map. Ludhiana is playing a dominant role in Indian Economy.
Jalandhar:
It is the oldest city in Punjab. It is the centre of that area of the
State which has maximum Non-Resident Indians. This has made it a rich
and forward looking city. Jalandhar is India's foremost producer of
sports goods as it is of hockey Olympians and leading football players.
It is one of the biggest centres of the vernacular press in India.
Golden Temple:
The Golden Temple is the ultimate Sikh pilgrimage. The Harmandir Sahib,
as it is traditionally known, actually means the temple of Hari or the
Supreme God. Also known as the Darbar Sahib, the stupendous,
architectural phenomena is located at the city of Amritsar. The temple's
exterior is gold-plated and the structure stands in the middle of a
square tank. There is a causeway across the Pool of Nectar to reach the
Temple. The shrine is symbolical of the doctrines of Sikhism. It also
represents the magnificent strength of all the Sikhs. The amazing thing
about Harmandir Sahib is that it has doorways on all four sides, meant
to be open for the people of the all four castes. All over the, the
Sikhs always look forward to visit to the magnificent temple and offer
prayers at the Harmandir Sahib.
Amritsar:
Amritsar City is one of the most ancient and captivating cities of
India. The holiest pilgrimage of the Sikhs, is most significant to Sikh
history and culture. Gateway for the visitors coming to India on the
overland route from central Asia, it soon became the centre of various
commercial activities. There are various historical and religious sites
in & around Amritsar. The most famous of them all in the Golden
Temple which was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas and
completed by his successor Guru Arjan Dev.
