About the State
The state of Punjab is located in the northwestern part of the Indian
subcontinent. The state forms a part of the larger Punjab region that
includes the province of Punjab (Pakistan) too. Punjab (India) shares its
borders with Punjab (Pakistan) on its west, Jammu and Kashmir on its north,
Himachal Pradesh on its northeast and Rajasthan on the southwest. Punjab,
meaning the 'Land of Five Rivers' is named after the rivers the Jhelum, the
Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej. Sikkhism is the main religion in
the Indian Punjab, forming around 65% of the total population. The state is
particularly known for its splendid Golden Temple, located in the city of
Amritsar.
Climate Check
Summer extends from March to June and Punjab can be as hot as 48 degrees
during this period. July to September is the time of the monsoons. The
annual rainfall in the sub-mountain region records 96 cm while in the plains
it is 58 cm. Winter begins in December and continues till February, with
temperature dropping down to as low as 0 degree in the month of January.
Chief Cities of the State
Amritsar
Amritsar, the second largest city in Punjab, is internationally renowned for
the Golden Temple or Harimandir Sahib. Amritsar is the very city where the
horrible Jallianwala Bagh massacre had taken place. Other tourist
attractions of the city include the Durgiana Temple, Rambagh, Ram Teerth and
Taren Taran.
Chandigarh
Chandigarh, the capital city of Punjab, is known for its modern
architecture and planning. The city offers hordes of attractions like the
Rock Garden, the Tower of Shadows, the Open Hand Monument, the Sukhna Lake,
the Leisure Valley, the Rose Garden and the International Dolls Museum among
others.
Ludhiana
Known as the 'Manchester of India', the city of Ludhiana is popular for
hosiery and woollen goods that are exported all across the globe. Major
tourist attractions are Gurudwara Shrimanji Sahib Alamgir, Pir-i-Dastgir
Shrine, the Phillaur Fort, the Bilwanwali Masjid, the Gurudwara Charan Kamal
etc.
Patiala
The city of Patiala is unique in its own right. It offers tourists the much
sought after tranquility, far from the hustle bustle of the cities. The city
is popular with the tourists for its delicious food and warm people. Peg and
Jutis of Patiala are no less interesting.
Jalandhar
Jalandhar
(previously Jullundhar) lies at a distance of 80 km from Amritsar, the 'City
of the Golden Temple'. Believed to be the oldest city of the state,
Jalandhar is today a major industrial centre of the country. Here, Phagwara
and Kartarpur are famous for cloth manufacturing and export of quality
furniture respectively.
Major Airports & Railway Stations
The major airports are located at Chandigarh and Amritsar. The Indian
Airlines and the Jet Airways operate regular flights to the key destinations
of the country. The capital city of Chandigarh lies at a distance of 246 km
from Delhi. Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Ferozepur are the major
railheads in the state and there are daily trains from these cities to New
Delhi. By express trains, it's a three-hour journey from Delhi to Chandigarh
while Delhi to Amritsar is a distance of six hours.
