In its inner sanctum, priests and musicians chant from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, while elsewhere in Punjab, frequent festivals bounce to a soundtrack of Bhangra beats. Butter chicken is a famous foodie speciality, as are syrupy gulab jamuns. It’s a heady mix. In fact, forget just sightseeing – a visit to Punjab is about immersing the senses and opening the mind to magical, memorable experiences.

About

Punjab is a state in northern India. Forming part of the larger punjab region of the Indian subcontinent the state is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast, Rajasthan to the southwest, and the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west. The state covers an area of 50,362 square kilometres, 1.53% of India’s total geographical area. It is the 20th-largest Indian state by area. With 27,704,236 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Punjab is the 16th-largest Indian state, comprising 22 districts. Punjabi is the most widely spoken and official language of the state. The main ethnic group are the Punjabi, with Sikhs (58%) and Hindus (38%). The state capital is Chandigarh, a Union Territory and also the capital of the neighbouring state of Haryana. The five tributary rivers of the Indus river from which the region took its name are Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Jhelum Rivers; Sutlej, Ravi and Beas are part of the Indian Punjab.

Places to visit

AMRITSAR

Amritsar is a big, busy city in Punjab near the border of Pakistan. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is one of the major tourist destinations of Punjab and indeed India, attracting more visitors than the Taj Mahal. The golden temple is surrounded by water on all sides. When we enter the temple there is water flowing in which we have to wash our hands and feets. Boys have to wear bandanna and girls have to wear scarves as it is a part of traditional dress. Jaillanwala Baug and Wagah border are the two main other attractions in Amritsar. Wagah Border is a road border between India and Pakistan. It is a famous tourist spot nowadays because of the famous beating retreat ceremony that is held every day before sunset. Almost 5000 people visit the border to be a part of this ceremony. The flag ceremony is conducted by the Indian Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers. Jallianwala Bagh is a place of great historical importance during the Indian struggle for Independence. It is a public garden in Amritsar which houses a memorial of national importance that was established by the government of India in 1951 to commemorate the massacre of peaceful celebrators by British forces on April 13,1919.

CHANDIGARH

Rose Garden is located in sector 16 of Chandigarh, Rose Garden is a blooming exhibit that showcases around 825 varieties of flowers and 32,500 varieties of trees and medicinal shrubs. Rose Garden in Chandigarh also known as Zakir Hussain Rose Garden after the former president of India, is spread over 30 acres and is decked up with an exquisite variety of flowers making it quite popular among tourists and nature enthusiasts. It is the largest garden of its kind in Asia and was built in the year 1967 under the guidance of the First Chief Commissioner, MS Randhawa. Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh paints a pretty picture. Stretching for a distance of 3 sq. km. Sukhna Lake is a man-made lake and is the only one of its kind in the city created in the year 1958 by damming the seasonal Sukhna Choe (Stream) that flows down the Shivalik Hills with its pristine blue water, the lake serves as a perfect location for a stream of morning joggers and walkers who can also enjoy the fresh air.

JALANDHAR

St. Mary’s Cathedral is located on Mall road in Jalandhar Cantonment area, Punjab. It comes under the province of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi. It is a representation of the secular culture of India and was first built in 1847 by Rev. Fr. John McDonnell, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (O.F.M.CAP). Soon after Independence, the old Church was demolished in 1857. Sadar Bazar is one of the bustling commercial streets located in Jalandhar Cantonment Area in Punjab. It is the hub of recent imports from all across India. Its stocks are not only restricted to clothes, but expand to jewellery – necklaces, earrings, bracelets – and shoes, and sunglasses and watches. The Bazar exhibits glass-cased showrooms and tiny roadside stalls that provide locals and tourists with a wide variety of items.

LUDHIANA

Lodhi Fort is one of the forts in the vicinity of Ludhiana in Punjab. Locally known as Purana Qila or Old Fort, it is a grand structure which now lies in ruins due to poor maintenance. The fort stands on a large piece of land now encroached from all sides.Surprisingly, a large percent of the local population is not even aware of the whereabouts of this fort. With more than twelve galleries catering to subjects like the Kargil War and Ancient History, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum contains an extensive memoir of India’s past.

Food of Punjab

Punjab is a major producer of wheat, rice and dairy products. These products also form the staple diet of the Punjabi people. The state of Punjab has one of the highest capita usage of dairy products in India. Therefore, dairy products form an important component of Punjabi diet.Clarified butter, mustard oil, sunflower oil, paneer and butter are used in Punjabi cooking. Some north Punjab villages have also developed a local cheese variant known as dhaag, but the tradition of making dhaag is dying out. This cuisine has a rich tradition of many distinct and local ways of cooking. One is a special form of tandoori cooking that is now famous in other parts of India, UK, Canada, Hong Kong and in many parts of the world. Butter chicken, aloo ke paratha, sarso da saag and lassi are some famous items of Punjab. The street food has the best taste over there. The local cuisine of Punjab is heavily influenced by the agriculture and farming lifestyle.

Places to Stay

Homestay is the best source of stay in punjab if you really want to enjoy the real state and its farms if mustard and enjoy the basic life but in a luxurious way.

Review..

Review is not rating the place but its just a personal fun and experience that I had during my complete travel 9/10 . Punjab is worth going and experiencing the natural beauty of the well developed village.