Punjab

Introduction to Punjab

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.
The state Punjab has achieved tremendous growth over the years due to the success of the Green Revolution in the early 70s. For a major period in the second half of the 20th century, Punjab led the other states in India to achieve self-sufficiency in crop production. The other major reason for the prosperity of the state are the great number of people who left their home for the countries in Europe and North America and, after long struggles, achieved successes there.

Tourist Attraction:

Golden Temple: The world's most renowned Sikh pilgrimage is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Punjab. The edifice of gold-laden dome and the marble base enshrine the holy script of Guru Granth Sahib. It took 400kg of gold leaves to cover it. The architecture showcases an exquisite blend of Hindu and Islamic style.

Kurukshetra: 160 km away from Delhi along the national highway NH1, it is the battle ground between the Pandavas and the Kauravas as mentioned in the great Indian epic the Mahabharata. This is where, Lord Krishna inculcated Arjuna, the lessons of Karma and Dharma, which took shape in the Bhagwat Gita.

Anandpur Sahib: On the left bank of Sutlej River, the historic town founded by Guru Teg Bahadur, houses a number of importamt Gurudwaras. Guru Govind Singh created Khalsa here in 1699 at Guru dwara Keshgarh Sahib.

Jallianwallah Bagh: This is an important landmark in the history Indian Freedon Struggle. It commemorates the death of hundreds of men, women and children who were murdered by the ruthless firing by the British Police in 1919. The bullet marks are still alive on the boundary walls.

Sheesh Mahal: It is a beautiful palace built by Maharaja Narinder Singh with terraces, gardens, fountains and an artificial lake. The in-house gallery displays antique paintings, bronzes, sculptures and portraits of the Maharajas of Patiala.

Wagha Border: This is the border of India and Pakistan. In the evening, the change of guard among the Indian Border Security Forces is an enchanting spectacle.

Fairs and festivals are major tourist attractions in Punjab. The prosperous state is always in a festive mood. At the slightest excuse the cheery Punjabi folks jump into some celebration or other. Packed with fun and excitement these turn out to be a riot of colours too. Some important festivals in Punjab are: Baisakhi, Lohri etc.
 

How to Reach Punjab

By Air: The state has two airports namely Amritsar and Chandigarh. Almost all important airlines operate flights to both of these airports connecting them to major Indian cities.

By Road: An extensive road network links the state directly to most of the significant places in northern and eastern India. National Highways 1 (Grand Trunk Road or G.T. Road), 15, 19, 20, 21, and 1A and numerous of state highways literally crisscross the state making road travel an easy affair.

By Rail: The state also boasts of a good rail network. Main Railway Stations in the state are: Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Ferozepur and Jalandhar. Important trains service these stations regularly.

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