Punjab
PUNJAB

General Information about Punjab :

Population	21.6 Million
Area	50,362 sq. km.
Capital	CHANDIGARH
People per Sq. Km	433
Main Language	PUNJABI

Punjab is an Indo-Iranian word meaning "the land of five rivers". Punjab lies at the cross-roads of the great civilizations of the world. Historicaly, the area west of Punjab was under the sphere of influence of the Persians, the east was the heartland of the Indian civilization, the south under the influence of the Arabs and the north under the Turko-Mongolian influence. Many great religious movements which found world-wide appeal grew in the fertile plains of Punjab. They include Budhism, Sikhism and many schools of Sufi thought in Islam . This ethnic and religous diversity is reflected in the cultural mosaic of todays's Punjab.

The historical area of Punjab was defined to the east from the basin of the river Bias (including Dehli) to the basin of River Indus in the west. To the north it was bounded by the Himalayas of Kashmir and to the south it stretched as far as the plains of Cholistan and Rajasthan. Over different periods of history Punjab has seen its boundries expand and shrink. The high time for Punjab was during the reign of Mughal emperor Babur (and also during the time of Ranjit Singh more recently) when Punjab along with Babur's empire streteched from Dehli in the east to Kabul and Ghazni to the West. But never in the history, did the boundries of Punjab shrink so much as they did after the division of India in 1947. The tragic incident resulted in the division of Punjab into two parts as the Indian state of Punjab and the Pakistani province of Punjab. Indian Punjab was further divided twice for administrative reasons . Today's Punjab(Indian) is about one-fourth of the Punjab that existed before partition.

Punjab suffered the most destruction and damage at the time of Partition of India. Prior to partition the Punjab extended across both sides of what is now the India-Pakistan border, and its capital Lahore is now the capital of the Pakistani state of Punjab. The major city in the Punjab is Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs. Chandigarh, a new planned city, was concieved and built in the 1950s to serve as the capital of the new Punjab. In 1966, Punjab underwent another split. It was divided into the predominantly Sikh and Punjabi- speaking state of Punjab and the state of Haryana. At the same time some of the northern parts of the Punjab were hived off to Himachal Pradesh. Chandigarh on the border of Punjab and Haryana, remains the capital of the two states, yet is administered as a Union Territory from Delhi.

The Punjab's per capita income is nearly double the all-India average (in second place is Haryana). Although Punjabi's comprise less than 2.5% of India's population, they provide 22% of India's Wheat and 10% of its rice. The Punjab provides a third of all the milk production in India. Punjab also has a number of thriving industries including Hero Bicycles at Ludhiana.

From the travellers point of view, the area has just one attraction -the beautiful Golden Temple in Amritsar. Apart from this the states are mainly places of transit for travellers on their way to the Himachal hill stations, Pakistan, and Kashmir.

PLACES OF INTEREST

AMRITSAR: Visit the Golden temple - The sacred Sikh sanctuary, marbled, bronzed & covered with gold leaf wherein the Guru Granth Sahib- The Bible of the Sikhs is placed reverently. Also see the Community Kitchen where 10000 pilgrims are fed daily on voluntary and complementary basis. Visit the historic Jallianwala Bagh where Gen. Dyer's bullets killed scores of innocent Indians and the beautiful Ram Bagh Gardens.

CHANDIGARH : Chandigarh was Designed by Le Corbusier, is the state capital of Punjab and Harayana states. The famous French architect. Half day tour includes visit to the Secretariat, High Court, State Library, Assembly Chambers, University, Botanical Garden and the beautiful lake. Asia's largest rose garden, Zakir Gulab Bagh, spread out over 30 acres of land, boasting of 50,000 rose-trees of 1600 different species!!

Covering an area of 56 square kilometres, Chandigarh is the first `planned' city of India. The city has neatly laid out roads and parks, buildings ranging against mountain peaks, boulevards and streets lined by endless rows of trees and shrubs. The city is named after the Goddess Chandi Devi, whose white - domed temple stands on the slope of a hill in the north east of Chandigarh, on the edge of the Shivalik hills. Spread over an area of 114 sq. kms, it is a modern city, built in 47 sectors.

PUNJAB CITIES - Travel

Amritsar

The Home of world famous Har Mandar Sahib (Golden Temple) founded by Guru Ramdas the 4th Guru .Arjun Dev who also enshrined in it holy book of Sikhs Guru Granth Sahib. Amritsar is the most important seat of sikh history and culture, trade centre & also the gateway for travellers coming to india on the overland route through Pakistan.

Distance From :
Chandigarh 235 Kms.
New Delhi 450 Kms.

Bathinda

Some Important Places of Interest:
Gurdwara/Temple: Dam Dama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo
ii) Fort/Palace: Fort of Razia Sultana
iii) Garden/Bagh: Rose Garden

Faridkot

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Gurudwara/Temple: A temple of 'Lord Krishna known as a Thakur Dwara' in the town.
ii) Monuments: Mosques of Soofi Sheikh Farid in the town, Samadhies of the Rulers of Faridkot State.
iii) Fort/Palace: Quilla Mubarakat Farid Kot, Hall of Mirrors at Quilla Mubarak. Raj Mahal.

Ferozepur

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Monuments: Samadhi of Shahhed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
ii) Museum and Art Gallery: 'Anglo Sikh' war memorial.

Gurdaspur

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Gurudwara/Temple: A temple of 'Lord Shiva at Pathankot, Gurdwara Kandh Sahib at Batala
ii) Monuments: Doong Caves, Muslim Tombs, not far from the town of Pathankot.
iii) Fort/Palace: Fort in the town Pathankot, Dist. Gurdaspur.

Hoshiarpur

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Monuments: A tomb of Sant Jamal, Dating back to 1250 A.D., Mufti Mosque and Kazi Mosque.
ii) Fort/Palace: Shessh Mahal Main Bazar Hoshiarpur.

Jalandhar

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Monuments (Monuments in and around Jalandhar): 4th, Century Jama Masjid, Sarais of Nakodar and Noor Mahal.
ii) Fort/Palace: Fort of Phillaur
iii) Museum and Art Gallery: Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagt Singh Museum at Khatkar Kalan, Dist. Jalandhar.
iv) Miscellaneous: The Devi Talab a large masonary tank sacred to Hindus.

Kapurthala

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Gurudwara/Temple: State Gurdwara, Gurdwara Ber Sahib at Sultanpur Lodhi, Panj Mandir
ii) Monuments: Tomb of Pir Jumme Shah Darwesh Pind
iii) Fort/Palace: Palace of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh.
iv) Miscellaneous: Sainik School.

Ludhiana

An important industrial town, Ludhiana is famous in the world over for its hosiery goods. Woolen garment produced here are sold in the prestegious shopping centres from Moscow to Montreal and Bngkok to London and New York. The famous Punjab Agriculture University patterned after the Land Grant College of America is situated on the outskirts of the city.
Some Important Places of Interest :
i) 'Hatur' (About 54 kms. from Ludhiana sacred to Jains.
ii) Punjab Agriculture University at Ludhiana.
iii) Gurdwara Charan Kanwala at Machhiwara about 35 kms.
iv) Gurdwara Alamgir 10 kms. from Ludhiana.
v) Gurdwara Nanaksar Sahib about 38 kms from Ludhiana.

i) Gurudwara/Temple: Gurdwara Charan Kanwal at Machhiwara
ii) Monuments: Doraha Sarai Doraha.
iii) Museum and Art Gallery: Archelogical site Museum, Sanghol.
iv) Miscellaneous: Punjab Agriculture University.

Moga

How To Reach:
Moga is connected with a direct train to Delhi and other parts of India.
There is vast network of bus services of Punjab, Himachal, Delhi, Harayana, Pepsu, Chandigarh, U.P., Rajasthan State Roadways, apart from private operators. Important destinations include Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kulu, Manali, Dharmshala, Dalhousie, Ganganagar and Vaishno Devi.

Distance From:
Chandigarh 160 Kms.
New Delhi 380 Kms.

Nangal

How To Reach:
Nangal is on the Delhi Una line and there is a daily train "Himachal express" on this route.
There is a vast network of bus services of Punjab, Himachal, Delhi, Haryana, Pepsu, Chandigarh, Rajasthan State Roadways, apart from private operators. Important destinations include Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Jammu, Naina Devi.

Distance From:
Chandigarh 110 Kms.
New Delhi 360 Kms.

Pathankot

How To Reach:
Pathankot is connected with direct trains to Delhi, Jammu and other cities of India. The important trains include Jammu Tawi-Mumbai Express, Pooja Express from Jammu-Jaipur.

There is a vast network of bus services of Punjab, Himachal, Delhi, Haryana, Pepsu, Chandigarh, J&K apart from private operators. Important destinations include Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Jammu, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Amritsar.

Patiala (The City of Gardens and Palaces)

The Capital of Princely state Patiala has magnificent Forts, Palaces, extensive gardens like Quilla Androo Sheesh Mahal, Moti Bagh Palace, Baradari Garden, Art Galleries and National Institute of Sports. Quilla Mubarak which is still the Nucleus of the city also houses, impressive armoury and chande-liers. Colorful Parandas, Nalas, Chunnies and Patiala Juttis embroidered in Gold Thread and Phulkari motifs are unioue handicrafts of Patiala.
Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Patiala Fort
ii) Sheesh Mahal.
iii) Moti Bagh Palace.
iv) Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib
v) 'Ghuram' (40 kms from Patiala enroute to Pehowa.)
vi) Bahadurgarh Fort (1837 A.D.) situated 4 miles from North-East of Patiala.
vii) Mughal Sarai Shambhu (Located in Vill. Shambhu 11 kms from Rajpura on Rajpura-Ambala road.)

i) Gurudwara/Temple: Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib, Kali Devi Temple.
ii) Monuments: Mughal Sarai at Shambhu.
iii) Fort/Palace: Quila Mubarak, Moti Bagh Palace.

Ropar

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Gurudwara/Temple: Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Gurdwara Ptalpuri, Kiratpur Sahib, Mata Jyanti Devi Temple, Majrian.
ii) Monuments: Tomb of Hafiz Mussa Sahib, 10 kms. from Kurali, Dist. Ropar.
iii) Fort/Palace: Bhratgarh Fort
iii) Museum and Art Gallery: Guru Teg Bahadur Museum, Anandpur Sahib, Sh. Dashmesh Academy, Anandpur Sahib
iv) Miscellaneous: Bhakhra Nangal Dam

Sangrur

Some Important Places of Interest :
i) Gurudwara/Temple: Gurdwara 'Janam Asthan' at Cheema, Temple of Godess Bhiwani at Bhiwanigarh, Gurdwara Mangi Sahib at Mulowal.
ii) Monuments: Jama Masjid Malerkotla, Memorial of Shaheed Udham Singh at Sunam.
iii) Fort/Palace: Fort at Badrukhan, Fort at Bagrrian, Sheesh Mahal at Malerkotla.
iii) Museum and Art Gallery: Dsitrict Museum at Sangrur
iv) Miscellaneous: Diwan Khana.

Sanghol (The Kushanad Rediscovered)

Sanghol Located in Ludhiana District figures prominently on the archeological atlas of India. Excavations at the site have yielded coins and seats related to Nomadic rulers. Toramana and Mahiragula belonging to central Asia. A Budhist stupa was excavated in 1968, but in Feburary 1985 a rich treasure of 117 beautiful caryed stoneslabs, pillars, crosbars, figures and figurines were excavated by the experts of the Directorate of Archeology, Punjab. Scholars have related them to Kushan Scuptures of the Mathura school of 1st and 2n century A.D. These treasures have since been displayed for art lovers and historians in the museum of sanghol.

Some Important Places of Interest :
1. Site Excavation at village named 'Ucha Pind Sanghol'.
2. Archeological Museum at Sanghol (district Ludhiana)