Punjab, a state bordering Pakistan, is the heart of India’s Sikh community. The city of Amritsar, founded in the 1570s by Sikh Guru Ram Das, is the site of Harmandir Sahib, the holiest gurdwara (Sikh place of worship). Known in English as the Golden Temple, and surrounded by the Pool of Nectar, it’s a major pilgrimage site. Also in Amritsar is Durgiana Temple, a Hindu shrine famed for its engraved silver doors.
Land area: 50,362 km²
Capital: Chandigarh
Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
Chief minister: Bhagwant Mann
History
The Punjab region is noted as the site of one of the earliest urban societies, the Indus Valley Civilization that flourished from about 3000 B.C. and declined rapidly 1,000 years later, following the Indo-Aryan migrations that overran the region in waves between 1500 and 500 B.C. Frequent intertribal wars stimulated the growth of larger groupings ruled by chieftains and kings, who ruled local kingdoms known as Mahajanapadas. The rise of kingdoms and dynasties in the Punjab is chronicled in the ancient Hindu epics, particularly the Mahabharata. The epic battles described in the Mahabharata are chronicled as being fought in what is now the state of Haryana and historic Punjab. The Gandharas, Kambojas, Trigartas, Andhra, Pauravas, Bahlikas (Bactrian settlers of the Punjab), Yaudheyas, and others sided with the Kauravas in the great battle fought at Kurukshetra. According to Dr Fauja Singh and Dr. L. M. Joshi: “There is no doubt that the Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Andhra, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas, Saindhavas, and Kurus had jointly contributed to the heroic tradition and composite culture of ancient Punjab.
With its streets teeming with history and culture, there is no shortage of places to visit in Punjab. The magnificent monuments, landscaped gardens and stunning temples, a day spent in Punjab is never a dull one. The historical and religious monuments here are some of the most inviting tourist places in Punjab.
From the enthralling Golden Temple in Amritsar to the magnificent Devi Talav Mandir in Jalandhar, the religious attractions of Punjab are a must-visit. The tourist places to see in Punjab also stand testament to the country’s vibrant past and its quest for freedom- with the quaint Jallianwala Bagh that was the seat of the historical massacre, to the Wagah Border that separates India from the neighboring country of Pakistan.
The forts of Punjab are also popular tourist magnets here. While the sprawling red structure of Amritsar’s Gobindgarh Fort beguiles all onlookers, the Phillaur Fort in Ludhiana is known for its stunning display of traditional European architecture. Tourists seeking solace can find their way to the lush, beautifully landscaped gardens of Punjab. From Chandigarh’s Rock Garden with its magnificent display of rock sculptures, to the quietude of Zakir Hussain Rose Garden- one is spoilt for choice here.