About Punjab
Punjab, the chief wheat producing area of the country, is the overland entry
point into India. The state is also known for its production of sports and hosiery
goods. The holiest shrine for the Sikhs is the Golden Temple in Amritsar, so
called because the dome is covered with gold leaf.Home of the fiercly proud
and independent sikhs, the state of Punjab is steeped in histroy and culture
of India.
Places
to Visit in Punjab
Amritsar ||
Chandigarh
Temples in Punjab
Ram Tirth, Amritsar : Location 11Kilometres west of Amritsar on Chogawan road,
dates back to the period of Ramayana, Rishi Balmiki's hermitage. The place has
an ancient tank and many temples. A hut marks the site where Mata Sita gave
birth to Luv & Kush and also, still extant are Rishi Balmiki's hut and the
well with stairs where Mata Sita used to take her bath.
Forts of Punjab
Govindgarh Fort Amritsar : Early 19th century designed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Has
special defence mechanism against artillery attacks, which were frequent when
Punjab was still open to depredations of the Afghan hordes. Being with paramilitary
forces it is not open to visitors now.
History
of Punjab
The History of Punjab is as old as the history of the Indian Civilization. The
land of five rivers, this state was known as Panchal when the Aryans came to
India in the third millennium BC. before that, the whole region of the Sindhu
(Indus) and its tributaries were inhibited by the Harappans or the people of
Copper age who constructed great cities in this region. Ropar in modern Punjab
is a great example of this civilization.
Tourist
Attractions in Punjab
The most important tourist center in the state is Amritsar with its Golden Temple.
This temple is considered to be the holiest of all the pilgrimages of Sikhism
and houses Akal Takht, the supreme governing body of Sikhism. The Jalianwallah
Bagh is a small park in the city where many pilgrims were massacred by the British
police in the year 1919.
Mosques in Punjab
Mazaar, Pir Baba Haji Rattan, Bathinda City : Situated between the Civil Hospital
and the grain Market. It attracts devotees from all faiths. Baba Haji Rattan
had visited Mecca as an ambassador of Raja Bhoj. On returning to India he had
settled at Bhatinda. The Mazaar ( mausoleum) marks the site where the Peer used
to meditate. The place is halloed by the visits of the 1st and the 10th Prophets
of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Palaces of Punjab
Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1838 AD) , AMRITSAR : It was constructed
under the supervision of Fakir Azeez-ud-din and Sardars Lehna Singh and Desa
Singh Majithia, nobles of the Lahore Darbar at a cost of Nanak Shahi Rs. 1,25,000/-
Originally, laid in a garden spreading across 84 acres of rare plants, trees
and flowers, surrounded by a boundary wall, 14 feet high and a moat all around
it, this beautiful palace had also several equally beautiful clusters of structure
which were converted into clubs and libraries, the lawns around them into tennis
courts by the British.
Location
of Punjab
Punjab is bounded on the west by Pakistan, on the north by Jammu and Kashmir,
on the northeast by Himachal Pradesh and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan.
Punjab extends from the latitudes 29.30° North to 32.32° North and longitudes
73.55° East to 76.50° East.
How to Reach
Punjab
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.
Gurudwaras
in Punjab
Har Mandir Sahib or Golden Temple
Amritsar City. With a part of the land granted by Emperor Akbar, the foundation
stone laid by a Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir, the construction was completed
in 1601. Free kitchen and recitation of the divine word never cease here. Its
four gates invite everyone from all directions, the scripture is unique, it
contain the divine message as received by saints, bhagats and pirs of all the
faiths of India.
Wildlife
in Punjab
Hari-ke-pattan, Amritsar, National Wetland & Wildlife Sanctuary : It is
one of the India's most important lakes ; in winters (November-onwards) it becomes
a welcome home to nearly 350 species of migratory birds, coming from as far
as Siberia. It is also one of India's leading in-land sweet water fish market
and home of varied wild life.
Dance
of Punjab
Punjab is a land of plenty, of large hearted people and of life. Green fields,
hard working men and women and good food are things that come to mind when thinking
of Punjab but something that is even more characteristic are the beats of the
Bhangra.
Punjab
General Information
Area 50,362 sq km
Religion Hindus (34.46%), Sikhs (62.95%), others
(2.59%)
Maximum Temperature 43.33°C
Other
Places of Pilgrimage
Bhaini Sahib : Ludhiana, Centre of the sect of the Kukas. The headquarter of
Kuka movement is at village Bhaini Sahib near Ludhiana. Their Guru Ram Singh
Ji had anticipated the non-cooperation Movement of Mahamta Gandhi and Kukas
had taken a leading role in India's freedom struggle. They are also called Namdharis.
They had fought valiantly against Britishers and a large number of them laid
their life at Amritsar and Malerkotla. They were also against cow sacrifice.
Gardens in
Punjab
Bansar Garden, Sangrur : Sangrur is situated on Ludhiana-Jakhal Railway line
and is well connected by road with Patiala, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Bathinda.
The Banasar garden, in addition to its walking trails and plantations is famous
for its marble Baradari (building with 12 doors), mini zoo and the old Diwan
Khana which is a museum now and which stands out of the middle of a pool.
Fairs
& Festivals of Punjab
The Festivals in Punjab have always been celebrated with much exuberance and
fanfare. For the masses these festivals are popular occasions for social interaction
and enjoyment. Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself
on its food grain production, it is little wonder that its most significant
festival is Baisakhi, which marks the arrival of the harvesting season. For
the Sikhs, Baisakhi has a special significance because on this day in 1699,
their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh organized the Order of the Khalsa.
Paradise
in Punjab
Punjabis have the reputation of being the greatest producers of good food and
being the still greater consumers of it. Punjab has bequeathed the institution
of Dhaba-originally a wayside eating joint to the world. The Dhaba moves wherever
a Punjabi goes. There are vaishno dhabas where only vegetarian food is cooked
in pure ghee or clarified white butter. Dal Makhni, a shining blackish lentil
named Urd or Maha of the Dhaba has become world famous and is served in Punjab
on all ceremonial occasions.
Museums in
Punjab
Punjab museums possess an extensive range of paintings and sculptures by contemporary
Indian artists as well as a collection of Indian miniatures of the Mughal Rajsathani,
Pahari and Sikh schools. The museums also house a fine collection of medals,
arm and armours, objects of princely states with sections on Archaeology, Anthropology,
Tribal and folk arts depicting different concepts and scopes in the patterns
of Art and Culture.
Shopping in
Punjab
Punjab's handloom products and handicrafts and hosiery goods are exported to
all the important countries of the world. The hand woven carpets of Amritsar,
durees (floor covering), counterpanes handwoven and embroidered woolen shawls,
handmade and embroidered juties' (Indian shoes), carved furniture, inlay furniture,
lacquer finish furniture, or-namental pyjama strings and prandas, sports goods,
leather garments etc. are articles for keep-sakes.
