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Punjab, the land of five rivers and integrated cultural
history, is a treasure trove for an avid
tourist. For this land of the great gurus not only boasts of ancient monuments but throbs with historical
embodiments. It is no secret that whoever comes to this land of yellow fields with blue mountains providing the romantic and picturesque backdrop has never gone back without imbibing the essence of Punjab. There is no dearth of breathtaking
palaces, for Punjab was the seat of royality,
as the imposing Quila Mubarak will tell you. Museums galore and so are the religious places with the Golden Temple offering succour to the mind and soul of any one
visiting. |
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If you are a wild life
freak, then Punjab can take you on a tour of the
sanctuaries, which are hot favourites with migratory birds.
Since this state borders Pakistan, there are two main posts from which you can peep into the land that was once an integral part of Punjab and experience the feelings of the people separated by a line. The much truncated India's portion of present Punjab is divided into three natural regions :the
Majha, the Doaba and the Malwa. Punjab is the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization, more than 4000 years old. Archaeological excavations, throughout the state, have revealed evidences of the magnificent cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, that lived and died along the banks of the mighty Indus and its tributaries.
The Mahabharata, which narrates life between the 7th and 5th century BC, contains rich descriptions of the land and people of Punjab at that time. It is believed that parts of the Ramayana too, were written around the Shri Ram Tirath Ashram, near Amritsar; and it was in these forests that Lav and Kush grew up.Other great historical discoveries have been unearthed at Ropar, Kiratpur, Dholbaha, Rohira and Ghuram. These relics throw light on the culture and changing architectural styles of Punjab, since the Harappan age. At Sanghol, in Fatehgarh Sahib district near Ludhiana, sites associated with great Mauryan Dynasty, have yielded remarkable relics that record the presence of Buddhism in the region.
POOL & NECTAR
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The world famous Golden Temple. Harmindar Sahib in which is enshrined the Holy Book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, is the center of a 400-year-old pool in Amritsar. Next to the Golden Temple is the Akal Takht or the Immortal Throne, which was established by Guru Har Gobind Singh in the early 17th century. This is the supreme seat of Sikh temporal authority. Another edifice is a 9-storey tower built in the memory of Baba Atal Rai decorated with frescoes depicting the life of the founder of Sikhism - Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Jalianwala Bagh is a pilgrim place of every Indian, as it symbolizes India's struggle for freedom. |
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On the outskirts of Amritsar is Hari-ke-Pattan, a picnic spot (Bird Sanctuary) where rivers Beas and Sutlej meet. Thirty kilometers southeast of Amritsar is Govindwal Sahib, which has a fine Gurudwara and Samadhi of Guru Angad Dev, the second Sikh Guru.
Twenty kilometers southeast of Amritsar is Taran Taran, which has a Gurudwara in Mughal architecture with a Tomb covered with copper.
Click here for more details about Punjab cultural tours
SHOPPING
Besides a thriving industry, Punjab is known for its
handicrafts and handlooms, Phulkari (the age-old
traditional embroidery), lacquer woodwork,
furniture, footwear, carpets, jewelry, woolens and
blankets. Jalandhar is shoppers' paradise for
sports-wear and sports goods, Patiala is known for
jutties (shoes) and parandees (hair
ornaments).
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Punjab has its own colourful vibrant way of celebrating festivals.
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January-February |
Basant Panchami (spring festival). |
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March |
Hola Mohalla |
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April |
Baisakhi |
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October-November |
Dussehra and Diwali. Guru Purab, the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh. |
| December |
Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib. |
CUISINE
Famous for it's rich cuisine and milk products. Punjab offers the food lover lavish options. Its traditional Makki-ki-Roti and Sarson-ka-Saag with chunks of homemade butter and accompanied by a glass of buttermilk (Lassi) is best known. Also popular are exotic pulaos, biryanis and kebabs.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
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Climate |
Clothing |
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Summer: |
March to June (Warm) Light Cottons |
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Monsoon: |
July to August (Warm) Woolens |
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Winter: |
November to February (Cold & Pleasant) |
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OUR RECOMMENDED ITINERARY (I)
9 Days/8 Nights
DAY1 : ARRIVE DELHI
DAY2 : FULL DAY SIGHT SEEING OF OLD & NEW DELHI
DAY3 : BOARD TRAIN FOR AMRITSAR. ARRIVE AMRITSAR AND TRANSFER TO HOTEL
DAY4 : FULL DAY AT LEISURE TO VISIT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE AT DAWN AND AT DUSK. EXPERIENCE THE GRANDEUR OF "PALKI SAHIB". CHERSIH LANGAR IN THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN. |
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DAY5 : DRIVE TO VISIT TARAN TARAN AND BABA BUDHA JI GURUDWARA. OVERNIGHT AT AMRITSAR
DAY6 : DRIVE TO VISIT GOINDWAL SAHIB AND THE LOCAL GURUDWARAS OF AMRITSAR
DAY7 : DRIVE TO ANANDPUR SAHIB ENROUTE VISITING SIRHIND SAHIB. EXPERIENCE OVERNIGHT STAYAT GURUDWARA
DAY8 : VISIT KESHGARH SAHIB AND DRIVE TO CHANDIGARH
DAY9 : DRIVE CHANDIGARH-DELHI. ARRIVE DELHI AND TRANSFER TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR ONWARD DESTINATION |
OUR RECOMMENDED ITINERARY (II)
12 Days/11 Nights
DAY1 : ARRIVE DELHI
DAY2 : FULL DAY SIGHT SEEING OF OLD & NEW DELHI
DAY3 : DRIVE FROM DELHI - RISHIKESH.
DAY4 : DRIVE RISHIKESH - GOVIND GHAT
DAY5 : GOVIND GHAT - GOVIND DHAM
DAY6 : GOVIND DHAM - HEMKUND SAHIB - GOVIND DHAM
DAY7 : GOVIND DHAM - GOVIND GHAT
DAY8 : GOVIND GHAT - DEHRADUN
DAY9 : DEHRADUN - PAONTA SAHIB
DAY10 : PAONTA SAHIB - ANANDPUR SAHIB
DAY11 : ANANDPUR SAHIB - MANIKARAN SAHIB
DAY12 : REST DAY
DAY13 : MANIKARAN SAHIB - TRANSFER TO KULLU AIRPORT AND FLY TO DELHI. ARRIVE DELHI AND TRANSFER TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR ONWARD DESTINATION
For more information
of tours to Punjab of North India, please visit the following links:
India Travels offers
online booking for Tours to Punjab. Please fill the
form given below:
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