laurensmith2569: Punjab Travel Guide

A part of Punjab was annexed to form Pakistan in the year 1947; however the greater region came to India.
????About Punjab

The name Punjab literally translates to ?five rivers?. The five rivers that cross this state are Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Jhelum. Chandigarh is the capital and Punjabi is the most widely spoken language here. Punjab is the state where Sikhism took its roots. A sizeable region of current Punjab state was a part of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Where Is Punjab

Punjab is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and Rajasthan to the southwest. Punjab shares International borders with the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Major Cities

Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Mohali, Jalandhar and Bhatinda are major cities in Punjab. Chandigarh, the administrative capital of both Punjab and Haryana, is a separate Union Territory wedged between Punjab and Haryana. Amritsar is the cultural and spiritual center of the Sikhs. Ludhiana is the largest city in the state. Mohali is a planned city like Chandigarh.

Places to Visit

Punjab is famous for its culture, history and cuisine. The Sikh architecture in buildings stands unique and attracts millions of tourists every year.

Gobindgarh Fort in Amritsar, Payal Fort in Ludhiana, the Ancient Fort at Bhatinda, and the historic monuments at Sangrur and Nabha are often visited by tourists. The Mughal Serai in Shambhu and Doraha are fine examples of Mughal architecture.

The Golden Temple in Amritsar, GurudwaraBer Sahib in SultanpurLodhi, Khadur Sahib, GurdwaraFatehgarh Sahib are some of the prominent Gurdwaras visited by Sikh pilgrims. Ram Tirath temple in Amritsar and Kali Devi Temple in Patiala are prominent temples in the state.

The infamous JallianwalaBagh located in Amritsar, Bansar Gardens in Sangrur, and Shalimar Garden in Kapurthala are regular tourist destinations in Punjab.

Wagah Border, Bhakra Dam, Indus Valley Civilization heritage site at Ropar, Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, Zoological Park at Chhatbir and Satlujwaterbody wetland are other important tourist destinations.

How to Reach

Air: Sri Guru Ram DassJee International Airport located in Amritsar is the second busiest airport in North India. There are regular flights to major international destinations and prominent cities inside the country. Punjab also has domestic airports at Chandigarh, Pathankot, Patiala, Sahnewal, Ludhiana and Mohali.

Rail: Amritsar has the largest railway station in Punjab. Bhatinda is the largest railway junction in Asia. All cities in Punjab are connected efficiently through railway lines. Indian Railways operates Samjhautha Express to Pakistan via Amritsar.

Road: Grand Trunk Road (NH1), which runs between Calcutta and Peshawar, passes through Amritsar and Jalandhar in Punjab. There are 12 national highways and 5 state highways in Punjab that connect prominent cities inside and outside the state. Public transportation infrastructure in Punjab has been unanimously lauded by everyone who visits the state.