Punjab, also synonymously known as ‘The land of fiverivers, is one of the North-Western frontier states of India. Punjab has alwaysbeen considered an ideal land for settlement by many civilizations due to itsabundance in fertility and greenery. Punjab is also a state which is known forits cultural and religious diversity. The breathtaking landscape, iconichistory, and world-famous religious sites make it a tourist hotspot! Here wegive you the top 10 places that are a must-visit in Punjab:
Amritsar
‘IkOnkar’- Theparadigm for One God, One Universal Presence in Sikhism, reverberates insideyou when you visit the most famous religious tourist attraction Golden Temple inAmritsar. Amritsar is home to many other historic attractions and shrines likethe JalianwalaBagh, Wagah Border, Rambagh Garden, etc. What adds to the fervoris the Amritsari cuisine – AmritsariKulcha, Bhature, Jalebi with Rabri, Tikkas,and kababs! Your mind and mouth both will be swept off their feet!
• GoldenTemple
• JallianwalaBagh
• Akal Takht
• TaranTaranSahib
• MaharajaRanjit Singh Panorama
• WagahBorder
• MaharajaRanjit Singh Museum
• RambaghGarden
• SummerPalace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
• HarikeWetland and Bird Sanctuary
• DurgianaTemple
• BathindaFort
• Kaiser BaghPark
Chandigarh
Chandigarh – the City BEAUTIFUL OF India, which alsohappens to be the capital of the state of Punjab and Haryana, and a U.T. is avery organized, clean, and green city. With roads running wide, Chandigarh isthe city that connects Punjab with the Himalayas, as it lies on the foothillsof the Shivalik Range. Chandigarh reflects modern India while preserving thetraditional roots of Punjab. Following are the tourist attraction to definitelycheck out, in Chandigarh:
• The RockGarden
• Sukhna Lake
• LeisureValley
• Shanti Kunj
• Morni Hills
• ChhatbirZoo
• Rose Garden
• GovernmentMuseum and Art Gallery
• SarkariaCactus Garden
• TimberTrail
• ButterflyPark
• YadvinderGarden
• Garden ofFragrance
• ChandigarhBotanical Garden and Nature Park
• ChhatbirZoo
• TerracedGarden
• InternationalDolls Museum
Mohali
Mohali, one of the cities which along with Chandigarh andPanchkulaforms the trifecta of Tricity, is named after Guru Gobind Singh’seldest son SahibzadaAjit Singh, also called SAS Nagar. It is the neighboringcity of Chandigarh with many parks and the Chandigarh International Airport andthe Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. Mohali has now developed into anindustrial hub with a lot many IT companies setting up their units over here.Also, with all comforts of a good scenic life amidst Nature, it is an amazingplace for residential stays as well. The must-visit tourist attractionsinclude:
• Rose Garden
• Silvi Park
• Mataur Lake
• SukhnaWildlife Sanctuary
• GurdwaraAmbSahib
• PunjabCricket Association Stadium
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is very famous for its industrial production ofsports goods. Jalandhar is another historical city of Punjab. Famous for itsmention in the Hindu mythology Mahabharatha, it proudly boasts of a few historicallysignificant attractions like:
• Imam NasirMasjid
• TulsiMandir
• Shaheed-E-AzamSardarBhagatSingh Museum
• DeviTalabMandir
• RanglaPunjab Haveli
• Shiv Mandir
• PushpaGujralScience City
• CompanyBagh
• SheetlaMandir
Ludhiana
Ludhiana is the largest city in Punjab and is theindustrial capital of Punjab. Although it is a very technical city, withindustries spanning everywhere, it does have its own historical contributionsto boast about. A lot of martyrs belong to Ludhiana who sacrificed their livesin the struggle for India's independence. The Lodhi Fort was the officialentrance to SikanderLodhi’s illustrious empire and honor for Maharaja RanjitSingh. If you are visiting Ludhiana, then do not forget to explore:
• Lodhi Fort
• RuralHeritage Museum
• Tiger Zoo
• PunjabAgricultural University Museum
• GurudwaraCharanKamal
• MaharajaRanjit Singh War Museum
• PhillaurFort
• Nehru RoseGarden
• Deer Park
Bhatinda
Bhatinda is again one of the oldest cities of Punjabwhich dates back to 3000 BC. Therefore, it has witnessed the rise and fall ofmany civilizations. It is on the soil of this very city that Guru Gobind Singhchallenged and fought the Mughals with chivalry and courage – like a true Sikhwarrior. The following are the most popular tourist locations in Bhatinda:
• BhatindaFort
• QilaMubarak
• Rose Garden
• BhatindaLake
• BhatindaZoological Park
• LakhiJungle
• BirTalabZoo
• Chetak Park
• DhobiBazaar
Patiala
Earlier referred to as the princely state of Punjab,Patiala, is one of the most Royal cities of Punjab. Presently it enjoys beingcalled the ‘City of newspapers’. The city still retains its originalmagnanimous architecture which is a beautiful blend of Rajput, Punjabi, andMughal cultures. The tourist attractions in Patiala include.
• QilaMubarak Complex
• MotiBaghPalace
• Samana
• BaradariGarden
• Kali Temple
• SheeshMahal
• Darbar Hall
• BirMotiBaghSanctuary
• LachmanJhoola
Pathankot
Pathankot enjoys its historical importance due to itsstrategic location; it is a confluence of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, andHimachal Pradesh. Flanked by the low-lying Himalayan Ranges on one side, theShahpurkandi Fort built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, along the Iravatiriver, nowknown as Ravi, demonstrates the culture and history of the particular era, itbelongs to! The following list of places, are a must visit in Pathankot:
• MukteshwarTemple
• AshapurniMandir
• KathgarhTemple
• Nurpur Fort
• RanjitSagarDam
• HydraulicResearch Station
• ShahpurkandiFort
• Kali MataKaMandir
Kapurthala
Kapurthala is a beautiful city known for its scenicbeauty, spectacular architecture, and lush gardens, especially in BritishIndia. It was named ‘Paris of Punjab’. Its religious significance lies in thefact that Guru Nanak DevJi had attained his enlightenment in this city in 1499!Following places are the most important places to visit:
• TheJagatjit Palace
• JagatjitClub
• ElyseePalace
• PanjMandir
• ShalimarGarden
• NihalPalace
• MoorishMosque
Ropar
And, last but not the least, Ropar, better known asRupnagar, is another ancient town in Punjab. Archaeological evidence suggeststhat Ropar was a part of the ancient Harappan Civilization. Also, it enjoys theprivilege of being the first Harappan civilization in India that was excavatedin independent India. The top destinations in Ropar include:
• AnandpurSahib
• ChamkaurSahib
• BhakraNangalDam
• GurudwaraParivarVichhoraSahib
• GurudwaraBhattaSahib
• JateshwarMahadevTemple
Also Read: 8 Best Things To Do In Punjab
Now, with so much history associated with it, don’t youfeel like planning a trip already to Punjab.? Why just History? Be it business,be it culture, architecture – everything! If you are someone who wants to delvedeeper into the History and Culture of Punjab, then planning just one shorttrip will not cover all the places! However, please feel free to pick one placeat a time and explore it to your heart's content. The best place about visitingPunjab is, while you are traveling and unraveling all the history of Punjab,you also know a part of Indian history!