Punjab Tourism

Amritsar
        Holy to Sikhs because of the Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar is the cultural capital of the state of Punjab.  Hindus also hold the city holy, as it is considered to be where Lord Rama's wife Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha, and the Durgiana Temple of the city is dedicated to this event.  
        
Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
         The holiest site of Sikhism, the Harmandir Sahib is a major pilgrimage site and attracts even more tourists than the Taj Mahal.  The centerpiece  of the complex is the beautiful Golden Temple, surrounded by a man-made lake that reflects the intricate and brilliant structure.  The surrounding old town is extremely charming as well, and provides for an excellent day exploring the history and cultural richness of the Sikh religion and Punjabi culture.
        
Akal Takht
       

           
     The heart of temporal authority of the Sikh religion, this Takht is one of five spread across Northern India.  The Akal Takht, built by Guru Har Gobind, is an icon of military and political independence, and it was a center of Sikh resistance to the Mughals in the 1600's and on.
        
Durgiana Temple
      The Durgiana Temple is a major Hindu tourist attraction, as well as for non-religious tourists, because it resembles Sikh architecture more closely than traditional Hindu temple styles.  It is widely visited by scholars for its large library of scripture.
    
Chandigarh
       The capital of Punjab, Haryana, and the union territory Chandigarh, the capital city is called "The City Beautiful" for its detailed urban planning and unique architecture.  Chandigarh is among the richest cities in India, with a standard of living rivaling many developed countries, including the USA. Built after Independence at the behest of Jawaharlal Nehru, the city is a locus of fine dining, excellent shopping, and modern art.
    
Ludhiana
        The largest city of Punjab, Ludhiana is one of the fastest growing cities in northern India.  Ludhiana is scattered with relics of its medieval past as a center of its namesake Lodhi dynasty. Today it is a burgeoning industrial and commercial city with a few sites of note, but is generally ignored by most tourist groups.
        
aba Gajjuji Thapar Shrine    
         A historical religious site built in the 1700's, the Baba Gajjuji Shrine is dedicated to the many miracles said to be done by the saint of the same name.  The shrine has become something of a symbol of the city of Ludhiana, a charismatic reminder of the power of good intentions.
        
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort
         In one of the many small towns surrounding Ludhiana is the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort, built by one of the Sikh rulers of the city just before the British Raj.  The fort is a beautiful structure, replete with intricate carvings and charming gardens.  Historically, during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, it was the site of a troop rebellion.  
Patiala
        One of the former princely cities of the Punjab and center of Sikh power, Patiala, famous across India for its traditional Sikh dress and hairstyles, and also the "patiala peg", slang across the subcontinent for doubling-up on an alcoholic beverage, a moniker the city became associated with after a particularly rambunctious Maharaja. The city is neglected by many tour groups, in spite of many of the rich sites in the city and its long and interesting culture and food.  The old town in the city has a wealth of forts and mosques for the tourist to explore, and accommodations are cheap, clean, and plentiful.
        
Qila Mubarak
        The massive Qila Mubarak fortress in the city center is the former home of the rulers of the city.  An imposing and intimidating structure, it is not easily missed, and it is an interesting place to explore.  Surrounding the fortress are warrens of bazaars, temples, and the city gates.
        
Moti Bagh Palace
         Now a seat of local sports, the Moti Bagh Palace is a beautiful, expansive building that was the home of the former Maharaja of Patiala.  Surrounded by a large Rajastani garden with many canals and paths, it is an idyllic spot for picnicking.
        
Rang Mahal
         This tomb is a masterwork of Punjabi temple architecture and features some of the most beautiful paintings and frescoes in India.  Of particular note are the mirror chambers, a dazzling spectrum of light and reflection.
        
Sheesh Mahal
       Behind the Moti Bagh Palace lies the Sheesh Mahal, a large and magnificent structure famous for its mirror chambers, similar to the nearby Rang's in splendor.  The building also houses a museum and large art gallery, and is frequented by locals and tourists alike.
        
Qila Andrun
         The Qila Andrun is another fort-palace in Patiala, distinguished by its multiple courtyards that make it seem more like ten palaces than one.  The building is open for tours and has, like the Rang and Sheesh Mahals, very impressive artisanship demonstrated in its frescoes.
    
jalandhar
        Jalandhar has a long history of change.  It has been ruled variously by Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus off and on for hundreds of years and has a distinct character speaking of its unique circumstances.  The city hosts many monuments painstakingly built to commemorate its history, many dating back hundreds of years.
        
Tulsi Mandir
         The ancient Tulsi Mandir is a magnificent temple built for the worship of Vrinda, wife of the patro god of Jalandhar, Jalandhara.  It is one of the stranger looking temples in India, a truly unique architectural work.  Nearby is the also popular temple of Gupha.
        
Gurdwara Chhevin Padshahi
         A large and beautiful Sikh Gurdwara, Chhevin Padshahi is dedicated to the guru of the same who visited the city hundreds of years ago.  It is built on the site where Chhevin Padshahi spoke with Shaikh Darvesh, a Sufi mystic.  It is said the Sufi saint blindfolded himself so he could tell vengeful Mughal authorities truthfully that he had never seen the guru.
        
Bathinda
        
Damdama Sahib
         The Damdama Sahib is just south of Bathinda and is dedicated to the guru Gobing Singh, who retired in the jungle here.  His followers later built many gurdwaras here to commemorate the man, and it is a major attraction for the Sikh faithful.
        
Qila Mubarak
         The central fortress of Bathinda, it is one of the most massive fortresses in India, surpassing even the ones of much larger cities such as Lahore and Hanumangarh.  It is truly an impressive structure.

History and Culture
        Historically, the Punjab was part of a much larger region now largely in Pakistan.  The word itself, "Punjab" is Persian for "five rivers", an apt description for the five rivers running through the center of the region.  Nowadays, only two of these rivers are in the Indian part of Punjab.
    It was home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's oldest city-dwelling civilizations going back some 5,000 years.  The Punjab saw the Aryan people first in India, who came across the plains from central asia to live here.  Additionally, it saw a lot of contact with Achaemenid Persia and the Greeks led by Alexander, both of whom left strong cultural footprints in the area.  In the art of the region, there is a marked shift in styles as Greek sculptural techniques become more prominent.
    The Mauryans moved into the Punjab not long after the arrival of the Greeks, further disseminating Greek culture but also uniting Punjab with much of India.  This constant back-and-forth between the Middle East and India would come to define Punjab's history.  After the Mauryans lost power, it became a Bactrian Greek state, an amalgamation of native and foreign cultures.
    Before long, many tribes from Central Asia invaded, such as the nomadic Sakas and Kushanas, both of whom set up their own brief empires.  For a time, Hindu rulers dominated in the Punjab, but that was to change with the arrival of Islam.
    The Arabs wasted no time in spreading from Mecca to Persia, and from the ashes of the Zoroastrian Sassanid empire came the Umayyad Muslims.  Islam would change the region forever, as few parts of India came to be as heavily Muslim as the Punjab.  Repeated invasions by Perisan and Afghani raiders destroyed much of the heritage of the Punjab; some of them, such as the Ghaznavids, started successful empires in the area.
    The first Muslim empire to truly dominate the region, however, was the Delhi Sultanate.  The Punjab became a base of power for many Muslim rulers.  When the Mughals invaded from Afghanistan, it was in the Punjab that they first consolidated power.  Before long, all of Northern india was under Mughal control, the city of Lahore, now in Pakistan, being a center of culture and military might.
    During the Delhi Sultanate's and the Mughal Empire's reigns, the Sikh religion arose in the Punjab.  Several Sikh prophets fought with the Mughals, and after the collapse of Mughal authority the Sikhs came to dominate the Punjab as the most politically cohesive force of the area.  They expelled the erstwhile Afghan rulers, although they would frequently return to harass the area.  The Sikhs ruled the Punjab until 1849, when the British Raj defeated them during the Anglo-Sikh wars.
    After peace was made with the British, the Punjab became a nerve center for British rule in India.  Lahore emerged as one of the most important cities on the subcontinent, and many Sikhs joined the national military, where they have had a prominent role ever since.  British rule, however, saw some of its greatest excesses in the Punjab; in Amritsar, the infamous Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place, where hundreds of Indians were killed by British troops.  Tensions with the British were among the highest anywhere, and it was a hotbed of discontent during the Indian Independence Movement.
    Independence brought tragedy to the Punjab.  The partition of India meant many millions of Muslims fled Indian Punjab to Pakistan, and many Hindus and Sikhs left the Pakistan part to India.  Millions of people died in the violence that ensued.  
    Nowadays, most Punjabis in India are Sikh, with a large Hindu minority.  Almost all people in the state speak Punjabi, although Hindi and English are widely understood.  Punjab has a vibrant and sophisticated culture known throughout the world.  Its cuisine is very popular abroad, with dishes such as tandoori chicken having international appeal.  
    Punjab is a major tourist destination in India for its long history and multitude of sites, as well as significant religious sites and fascinating culture.  Whether foreigner or Indian national, Punjab is a place to visit and explore!