Punjab Tourism

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Religious | Heritage 

Punjab Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 3 - 5 days

Best Time: October to March Read More

Major Airports: Chandigarh, Amritsar

"Smiling State Of India"

Punjab, India

Located in the northwestern part of India, Punjab means the land of five rivers. Known for its cuisine, culture and history, Punjab is visited by tourists who want to enjoy its vibrant culture and food.

The fertile land of farms and forts, Punjab has been aptly nicknamed the 'Smiling Soul of India' where you will always see smiles on the faces of the inhabitants who take pride in their religion and culture. Though the state does not have any significant adventure activity to offer, yet entertainment is guaranteed! 

There are many Forts in the state that tell the tale of the land's past. The Golden Temple, The Wagah border, The Jallianwala Bagh, The Sheesh Mahal are some of the major tourist attractions in Punjab. The list becomes endless as every street of Punjab is an attraction in itself; each region of Punjab has a different story and unique beauty hidden inside it.

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Holidify's opinion on Travel to Punjab

What's Great about Travelling to Punjab?

A sacred and serene place. Lively and energetic people. A popular place studded with gleaming gurudwaras. Delectable cuisine.

What's Not So Great about Travelling to Punjab?

No adventures. Extreme temperatures. The state has mostly religious places for tourists.

Who should Travel to Punjab?

Punjab is perfect for religious people. A beautiful place for peace lovers. People from all over can visit it as it has something to offer to everybody. 

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FAQs on Punjab

What are the major festivals celebrated in Punjab?

All the festivals of Punjab are celebrated with great vim and vigour. They depict the distinct Punjabi culture and traditions. Lohri festival, which marks the end of winter celebrates fertility. People gather around bonfires and throw puffed rice or popcorns in flames, sing popular songs and exchange greetings. A puja is also conducted. Basant Panchami is another traditional festival of Punjab. Basant Fair is held, and people dress in yellow costumes. Kite-flying is also enjoyed during this festival. Hola Mohalla is a three-day festival of the state and was started by Guru Gobind Singh. Thousands of Sikhs gather to celebrate. Horse riding, archery and sword fencing are an essential part of this festival. Baisakhi is also an important harvest festival for the winter crop, rabi. Processions are carried out throughout the state and Bhangra, or Gidda dance forms are also performed. Gurupurab is celebrated on the birth anniversaries of Sikh Gurus. In religious processions, holy hymns are chanted. People visit gurudwaras, seek blessings and relish the sacred langar.

What is the traditional dress of Punjab?

Women most commonly wear Chudidar and Kurta. Phulkari, which is a type of flower work is unique to this region. Men wear Kurta Pyjama or Dhotis. Their clothes are usually dazzling, shiny and in dark colours. Colourful pagdi or turban is customary for Punjabi men. Footwear includes Juttis, mostly for both males and females. Punjabis also wear kadhas, which are traditional steel bangles which have a religious significance. 

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What are the major airports in Punjab?

Punjab is well-developed when it comes to transport facilities. There are modern airports spread throughout the state, and some are international also. Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is located at Amritsar and is about 11 km from the city. It is connected to all the key cities of India. Chandigarh Airport is another international airport in Punjab. Sahnewal airport is in Ludhiana district. Other airports of the state are Patiala Airport, Bathinda Airport and Pathankot Airport. These all are domestic airports.

What are the best things to buy in Punjab?

When in Punjab, you can't go back without taking back some traditional items. You should add embroidered Juttis on your shopping list. They have different patterns and contain pearls, beads or mirrors which look quite enticing. Dresses having phulkari work are also very famous in Punjab. Parandis are worn on hair by Punjabi women, and they are tied towards the end of the braid and are mostly used on special occasions. Shawls from Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana also allure tourists. They have intricate designs and are comfortable too. Some of the markets where you can head out for shopping are Rainak Bazaar of Jalandhar, Shastri Market and Palika Bazaar of Chandigarh, Sector 7 Market of Panchkula.

How are the local people of Punjab?

The biggest community of Punjab comprises of the Sikhs and the Jats who are incredibly hard-working and are mostly into agriculture. The people of Punjab are well-known for their warmth, hospitality and fun-loving nature as they celebrate all the festivals with great enthusiasm, devouring hard on food and drinks. In their big, kind hearts kindle bravery and pride, and they are valued for their courage and martial prowess. Punjabi is the official and the local language of Punjab while people also communicate in Hindi, English and Urdu. Communication with local people will not be a problem if you are visiting Punjab for the first time. Sikhism and Hinduism are the two major religions of Punjab, and there are followers of Islam, Jainism, Buddhism and Christianity as well. People worship Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth master of the Sikh religion. As per the Sikh religion, God is invisible and present in every form of life. The Golden Temple of Amritsar is one of the world-famous pilgrimage centres. The rich culture of Punjab has songs for every occasion, and both men and women participate in this rhythmic and energetic dance form. The craft of needlework on bedspreads, garments and other textile products is practised by the women and phulkari (embroidered floral motifs) is the most famous pattern.

What is the history of Punjab?

The history of Punjab takes us back to the time when Aryans settled in the region in about 1500 BC. After this, Alexander the Great invaded Punjab and then, the rule of Chandragupta Maurya ruled the region until the 1st century AD. By 1000 AD, Muslims took control of Punjab and finally Mughal rule was established. However, Guru Gobind Singh created an army of saint-warriors to protest against the Mughals.

The Sikhs continued their struggle and after the defeat of Banda Bahadur, they established themselves as rulers of the greater part of Punjab. In the early 19th century, Britishers took over and after a long struggle for Independence, when India got freedom in 1947, Punjab was divided and a larger part of Punjab went to Pakistan.

What is the landscape of Punjab?

Punjab state is located in the north-western part of India. It is situated between Pakistan on the west, Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Himachal Pradesh to its northeast, Haryana and Rajasthan on the south. The topography of the state can be divided into two parts- the upper portion consists of the Shivalik area, and the rest of Punjab is situated on the Sutlej-Ghaggar river basin. The largest city in the state is Ludhiana. The other main cities of Punjab are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, and Mohali.

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