Punjab - The Land of Five Rivers

Situated in the northwest part of India, Punjab is one of the most affluent states known for its rich culture, religious sentiments, and warm hospitality. Punjab was named after the five rivers, Beas, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi, which divided it into three regions - Doaba, Malwa, and Maja. Having the privilege of natural benefits of fertile soils and abundance of water, Punjab is undoubtedly an agricultural State. Being a land of multiple cultures, Punjab is the birthplace of many religious movements, including Sikhism, Buddhism, and several Sufi schools of Islam. The State shares the long border with a neighboring nation, Pakistan. It is perhaps one of the oldest civilizations having disguised culture.

History

Punjab has a deep-rooted historical backdrop. The State mainly prospered drastically during the supremacy of the Great Mughal Emperor, Babar, and continued under the regime of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1838 AD). The State became the witness of a big downfall during the partition of India in 1947.

Economy

Despite the partition, Punjab has made significant progress in terms of its economy. Known for its fertile soils, the State, at present, contributes almost two thirds to the overall production of food grains and one-third of milk production in India. Besides that, it is also considered as the top wheat production State producing 2 million tonnes annually. Punjab is even known for a significant agricultural movement initiative referred to as the ‘Green Revolution.’ Presently, Punjab is just a fourth of its actual area due to the partition.

Tourist Attractions

Coupled with a perfect blend of urban and rural flavors, Punjab has various attractions to lure tourists. The State is the heart of the Sikh community. Therefore, tourists witness to a host of Gurudwaras.

Popular Cities

Amritsar: Founded somewhere in the 16th Century, it is the most sacred city of India. The name of the city has been derived from ‘Amrit Sarovar,’ a middle of which the Golden Temple situated. It is one of the holiest Sikh shrines where tourists and pilgrims from all around the world come. Besides the Golden Temple, tourists can visit Jallianwala Bagh, a precious monument that showcases India’s freedom struggle. The city gives an unforgettable experience to the tourists through its ancient legends, historical monuments, Gurudwaras & Temples, traditional bazaars, theatre, and lively festivals. Situated at Indo-Pak line of control, Wagah Border is also a place where tourists love to go to see the flag on/off ceremony.

Some Tourist Attractions

Bathinda Fort
Khalsa College
Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama
Akal Takht
Golden Temples
Jallianwala Bagh
Tarn Taran Sahib
Wagah Border
Rambagh Garden
Harike Wetland and Bird Sanctuary
Durgiana Temple
Kaiser Bagh Park

Chandigarh : The other name given to the city is “The City Beautiful” as it the best-planned city in India. It is the capital of both Haryana and Punjab, and it is among the seven Union Territories of India as well. This city is blessed with these attractive spots:

Terraced Garden
Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park
Garden of Fragrance
Butterfly Park
Sarkaria Cactus Garden
Le Corbusier Centre
Chhatbir Zoo
Shanti Kunj
Sukhna Lake
The Rock Garden
Leisure Valley
Morni Hills
Rose Garden
Government Museum and Art Gallery
Timber Trail
Yadvinder Garden
Chandigarh Botanical Garden and Nature Park
Chhatbir Zoo
International Dolls Museum

Fatehgarh Sahib: The town is also known for its holy backdrop. It is named after the youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh. In the past, Fatehgarh Sahib was called Sirhind.

Ludhiana: Founded in the 15th century during the supremacy of Lodi Sultans, the city is mainly known for its small and medium scale businesses. It is a manufacturing hub for hosiery, woolens, and bicycle parts.

Some places to visit:

Nehru Rose Garden
Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum
Punjab Agricultural University Museum
Rural Heritage Museum
Lodhi Fort
Tiger Zoo
Gurudwara Charan Kamal
Phillaur Fort
Deer Park

Patiala: Among the most prosperous city of Punjab, Patiala is primarily known for its deep-rooted history, rich heritage of art, and ancient legends. During the period of Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals, the city was a part of Sirhind (presently known as Fatehgarh Sahib).
The city is famous for:

The city is famous for:

Lachman Jhoola
Darbar Hall
Baradari Garden
Banur
Qila Mubarak Complex
Moti Bagh Palace
Samana
Sheesh Mahal
Bir Moti Bagh Sanctuary
Kali Temple

Bathinda: Derived its name from Bhati Rajputs, it is seen as one of the oldest towns of Punjab. The town is famous for its Bhatinda fort – a symbol of the Christian era.

Some other attractions are:

Chetak Park
Lakhi Jungle
Bhatinda Lake
Qila Mubarak
Bhatinda Fort
Rose Garden
Bhatinda Zoological Park
Bir Talab Zoo
Dhobi Bazaar

Hoshiarpur: The history of this town dates back to the era of Mahabharata. It is believed that Pandavas had spent 13 years in exile in this part of town. It has an ancient Biranwala temple believed to be 400-year-old in Balachaur, a few kilometers of the main town.

Pathankot: It is the center of the traffic to the Himalaya region. Pathankot is the central hub for railway and roadways transportation to continue the journey to Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Popular tourist attractions are:

Shahpurkandi Fort
Ranjit Sagar Dam
Kathgarh Temple
Mukteshwar Temple
Ashapurni Mandir
Nurpur Fort
Hydraulic Research Station
Kali Mata Ka Mandir

Gurdaspur: The city shares its boundary with many districts of Punjab including Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, and Kapurthala. The city is known for its perfect blend of the historical and spiritual backdrop. It is said that the Great, Alexander fought one of his battles on this land.

Jalandhar: Located between two rivers, Beas and Sutlej, the city is the education hub of Punjab. It is believed that the city named after a demon king stated in the Puranas and the

Some popular attraction spots are:

Prithvi’s Planet
Niku Park
Pushpa Gujral Science City
Shiv Mandir
Wonderland Theme Park
Tulsi Mandir
Imam Nasir Masjid
Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Museum
Devi Talab Mandir
St. Mary’s Cathedral Church
Company Bagh
Rangla Punjab Haveli
Sheetla Mandir

Transportation

Air: There are mainly two major airports in Punjab, one at Amritsar and another at Ludhiana. Tourists can take daily flights from Delhi to Amritsar. However, people coming from other parts of the world need to land at Delhi first then after can take a flight to Punjab.

Rail: Punjab is well connected with various parts of India through the railways. Many Super-fast, Express, and local AMU/DMU trains cross almost all the cities of Punjab. The Union Territory, Chandigarh, also connects the State with big cities like Delhi, Varanasi, and Lucknow.

Road: The mode of road transportation is the best way to explore Punjab. The buses of Punjab Roadways and private operators connect the State with Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh. People can even hire private taxis to roam in and around the State. While traveling from Delhi to Punjab, people can enjoy the delicious foods at dhabas (local restaurants).

Best Time to Visit

Due to located one side at the foothills of Himalayas and another side of the semiarid desert, the climate of Punjab is continental and humid. Therefore, the best time to enter the State is between October and March when the temperature remains cold.

Cuisine

Punjab is known for its mouth-watering variety of cuisines. Punjabi foods are considered as the richest cuisine in India. The foods have mainly been agrarian in nature, traditionally witnessed in the remains of granaries and a unique relic of Indus Valley Civilization. The specialties of Punjabi cuisines are Chole Baturey, Makke ki roti (Maize bread), and Sarsoo da saag (mustard curry leaf), tandoori chicken, rajma-chawal, and kadhi. The food seems incomplete without a glass of lassi or milk.

Festivals and Events

Punjab is well-known for its festivals where people dance on loud music and dhols (drum beats). During the festive season, the State looks quite energetic and vibrant. Both men and women perform dances together on Punjabi music. Men mainly perform Bhangra dance, whereas women love to move their feet on Giddha. The colorful dress and traditional clothes are adding charm to their performance. It is tough for people to control themselves from dancing while watching Punjabi dance. Baisakhi, Guru Nanak Jayanti, teej, and all Hindu festivals are celebrated in this region with great passion and zeal.

Language

Punjabi is the primary language spoken in this region. The recent survey reveals that Punjabi is the 11th most popular language in the world. Beside it, Hindi, English, and Urdu are also spoken in the State.

Education

The government of India has launched many programs like the “Sarva Shiksha Program” to improve the literacy rate of the country, and Punjab is one of those Indian states which are responding to these programs enthusiastically. At present, the literacy rate of Punjab has reached up to 77%.

There are many renowned universities and colleges in the state where the students are doing wonders. These are listed below:

Govt. Universities

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Punjabi University, Patiala
IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
Punjab University, Chandigarh (a Punjab State University)
Central University of Punjab - Bathinda
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Maharaja Ranjit Singh State Technical University, Bathinda
Guru Ravidas Ayurved University, Hoshiarpur
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

Deemed

Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal
Thapar University, Patiala

Private

Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, Jalandhar
Rayat Bahra University, Sahauran(Greater Mohali)
Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo
Chitkara University, Rajpura
Indian School of Business, Ajitgarh
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
Apeejay Institute of Management Technical Campus, Jalandhar
Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib
Chandigarh University, Ajitgarh
Adesh University, Bathinda
Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh
DAV University, Jalandhar
GNA University, Phagwara
Akal University

Autonomous Colleges in Punjab

Many colleges of Punjab have been granted autonomous status by UGC.

Beant College of Engineering and Technology Gurdaspur
S.G.G.S. Khalsa College, Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur district)
Khalsa College, Amritsar
Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib
Amritsar College of Engineering & Technology
Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana

Reputed colleges (Technical/Professional)

Malwa College of Nursing
Malout Institute of Management & Technology, Malout ( Govt. of Punjab)
Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali
Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar
Indian Institute of Management Amritsar
Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes, Gobindgarh, Moga, Muktsar under Desh Bhagat University
Apeejay Institute of Management Technical Campus, Jalandhar (Punjab)
Universal Group Of Institutions, Lalru
Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali
Global Institute Of Management & Emerging Technologies, Amritsar
Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University Campus (Government Engineering College), Bathinda
Bhutta College of Engineering & Technology, Ludhiana
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib

Other Institutes of Repute (General)

State College of Education, Patiala
Regional Centre Punjabi University, Bathinda
PCTE Group of Institutes (including Punjab College of Technical Education), Ludhiana
Malwa College of Nursing, Kotkapura
Khalsa College, Patiala
Gulzar Group of Institutes, Khanna (Engineering College)
Govt. Bikram College of Commerce, Patiala
College of Engineering and Management, Kapurthala
BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar
Aryabhatta group of institutions, Barnala
BCM College of Education, Ludhiana]
Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes, Gobindgarh, Moga, Muktsar under Desh Bhagat University
GHG Khalsa College of Education, GURUSAR Sudhar
Govt. College of Education, Sector 20 Chandigarh
Malwa Group of Institutions.
Kings Group of Institutions, Barnala, Punjab
Mohindra College, Patiala
Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh
SGGS Khalsa College Sector 26 Chandigarh
Swami Sarvanand Giri Panjab University Regional Centre, Hoshiarpur