What to do what not to do in Punjab

Golden Temple in Amritsar

The century old state of Punjab calls for a colorful and exciting holiday. This state is famous for the culture, history, and tourist attractions. Some of the major cities of Punjab include Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. The dream of the traveler gets fulfilled in Punjab as it is home to pilgrimage centers, shrines, monuments bearing Sikh architecture and natural beauty. Many rivers flow across Punjab, making it a fertile plain. The southwest part is semiarid and merges into the Thar Desert and the northeastern part houses the Shiwalik range, adding natural beauty to Punjab. Make your visit to Punjab a memorable one by visiting the following places:

Golden Temple in Amritsar :-Amritsar is the home of the Golden Temple and it is an ancient city in India. The name Amritsar means pool of nectar, which implies to the water body surrounding the Golden Temple. The fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas founded the Golden Temple and his successor Guru Arjan Dev completed it. The original name of the temple is Harmandir Sahib and it is considered as one of the most sacred places in the entire world. The gold-plated exterior standing on a square tank gives a magnificent look. A dip in the Amrit Saras Kund is considered as a gesture of self purification. The four sided doorway is an indication that the temple welcomes all.

Jallian Wala Bagh

Jallian Wala Bagh:-To the north of the Golden Temple, Jallian Wala Bagh is known for the massacre of innocent civilians by General Reginald Dyer during the British rule. To celebrate the festival of Baisakhi on 13 April, 1919 people had gathered at this bagh for a public meeting. Leading the troop, General Dyer fired on the mass without any prior notice. Thousands of Indians died, creating a massacre all over. Today, this place is a memorial ground for the ones who passed away on 13 April, 1919. The memorial plaque tells us the history, which is difficult to forget. The bullet holes can still be seen on the walls at Jallian Wala Bagh.


Wagah Border :-As the sun sets, it is reunion time at the border of India and Pakistan. You just cannot come back from Punjab without going to the Wagah Border. The retreat ceremony includes Border Security Force from India and The Sutlej Rangers from Pakistan and it is a spectacular display by the guards. Bugles from both the countries are blown together, flags are retrieved, and lights are turned off marking the end of the day.

Ram Bagh Garden:-This garden is a place, which was the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who is named the Lion of Punjab. In his memory, a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh saddled on a horse has been made in the garden. This garden has been converted to a museum. Weapons belonging to the Mughal period and replica of the Kohinoor Diamond can be seen here. The beautification of the garden has been performed by water channels, fountains and plants.

Ludhiana:- Ludhiana is one of the centrally located cities of Punjab and it is the industrial hub of the state. Named after the Lodhis, Ludhiana is also called the Manchester of India. The places to see here are Nehru Rose Garden, Hardy's World (amusement park), Guru Nanak Bhawan, Rural Museum, Tiger Safari in Amaltas, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum.

Rock Garden in Chandigarh

Chandigarh:-Chandigarh is one of the best planned cities in India, which was made under the supervision of Le Corbusier. This city is an example of modernization existing with nature's conservation. The places to see here are the Rock Garden, the High Court, the Secretariat, the Open Hand Monument, Kansal and Nepali forest trek, and Rose Garden.

Other cities to visit

The other cities in Punjab which are often visited by tourists are Barnala, Jalandhar, Patiala, Mohali, Pathankot and Jagraon.The main religion of the state is Sikhism and the language spoken is Punjabi. The other major attractions of Punjab which should not be missed are: The Royal Punjabi Palaces, Bhakra Nangal Dam, Hussaini Wala Border, Ancient Fort at Bathinda, Shahpur Kandi Fort, Gurdwara Nanaksar, and Indus Valley civilization site at Ropar.

Fairs and festivals of Punjab :-Punjab gets brighter and colorful during festivals and fairs. Most of the festivals in India are celebrated in a grand way in Punjab. The major festivals celebrated here are Hola Mohalla in February, Baisakhi in March, Lohri in January, Diwali in October, birthday of GuruGobind Singhji and installation of Guru Granth Sahibji. The most important fairs of Punjab are Maghi Mela, Hola Mohalla, Chappar Mela and Ram Tirth.
 
Cuisine of Punjab :-You just cannot miss sarson ki saag and makki di roti during your trip to Punjab! The Punjabi cuisine has the flavor of Mughal dishes. The vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes are equally tasty and they are made to pamper your taste buds. The dishes which you should have are dal maharani, rajma, tandoori chicken, paneer pakora, sohan papdi/patisa and gajar halwa.


What not to do in Punjab

Given below are few tips which will help you understand what not to do in Punjab:

•    Beware of pickpockets here.
•    Do not carry many expensive things with you.
•    Don't do rash driving.
•    Girls should not walk alone.
•    Don't infringe traffic rules.
•    Don't forget to call your near and dear ones first during emergency.
•    Don't drink and drive.
•    Don't forget to carry identity card and passport with you.
•    Do not mingle with strangers.

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