10 Top Sights and Best Places to Visit in Punjab
Punjab, “Punj (five) + Aab (water)”, the land of five rivers, is famous for its ancient history, vibrant culture, friendly people, Sikh architecture, and delicious cuisine. For tourists there are many best places to visit in Punjab, The Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh add to its popularity and make the state a favorite among tourists.
Punjabi cuisine is very popular in India, known for its rich, buttery flavor as well as a wide range of vegetarian and non-veg dishes. Punjab, dominated by Sikh People is also a very rich and developed state of India.
Best Places to Visit in Punjab
1. Golden Temple
The Amritsar word is derived from Amrit Sarovar (Nectar Lake), which was built by Guru Ram Das the fourth Sikh Guru, in the village “Tung”. Amritsar City is a very holy and historical city for Sikhism and India which is known for legends, patriotism, and spirituality. Amritsar tops the list of religious places to visit in Punjab.
The Golden Temple, or Sri Harmandir Sahib, is the most important pilgrimage site for Sikhs and they pay obeisance at the Golden Temple before starting any new work in their lives.
Top Sights in Amritsar
Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Shri Durgiana Temple, Wagah Border, The Partition Museum, Gobindgarh Fort, Akal Takht.
2. Ludhiana
Photo Credit: Hardy’s World
Ludhiana is the largest city in the state of Punjab and derives its name from the Lodhi dynasty word Lodhi-ana, situated on the banks of the Sutlej River.
Ludhiana is called the “Manchester of India” because of its apparel industry or hosiery industry. Ludhiana is Asia’s largest center for bicycle manufacturing and produces over 50% of India’s bicycle production every year.
For tourists, Ludhiana is one of the best places to visit in Punjab, it offers many historical attractions, places for family and kids fun, and the best shopping for winter clothes and textile products.
You can really enjoy delicious Punjabi food in Ludhiana, which includes chicken, paneer, fish, naan, and a lot more. The most popular
Punjabi food is Sarson Ka Saag and Makai Ki Roti along with many other local favorites like Dal Makhani, Rajma Chawal, Kadhi Chawal, Chole Bhature etc.
Top Sights in Ludhiana
Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum, Lodhi Fort (Purana Qila), Phillaur Fort, Hardy’s World, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort, Pavilion Mall, Rakh Bagh Park.
3. Chandigarh
Chandigarh city is the capital of the state of Punjab and it is counted among the metro cities of India, it is a very clean and beautifully designed city.
This modern city is one of the best places to visit in Punjab for tourism, it offers a variety of man-made gardens, fountains, museums, lakes, wildlife safaris, and much more.
One of the best attractions of the city, the 40-acre rock garden is made entirely out of industrial and domestic waste and discarded items like tiles, glasses, bangles, ceramic pots, sinks, etc.
It houses more than 5000 sculptures and idols made of waste; the beauty of the Rock Garden cannot be described in words.
Top Sights in Chandigarh
Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, International Dolls Museum, Sector 17 Market, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Lion Safari at Chhatbir Zoo
4. Patiala
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Patiala is the fourth largest city in the state of Punjab and is a royal and beautiful city. The city was originally known as “Pati Ala” which means the area under Raja Ala Singh, the founder of the city of Patiala.
The city is famous for the traditional style of clothing of Patiala and Punjab, such as the Royal turbans of the Sikh people, Parandas, Patiala salwars, Juttis, etc.
The Patiala Peg (a measure of alcohol) is also very popular among drinkers in India due to its large size.
One of the best places to visit in Punjab is Patiala, famous as the city of palaces, forts, and gardens, which was the former princely state of Punjab.
Top Sights in Patiala
Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib, Kali Devi Mandir, Qila Mubarak complex, Bahadurgarh Fort, Baradari Gardens, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Bagh Palace.
5. Jalandhar
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Jalandhar is the third largest and oldest city in the state of Punjab, a highly industrialized center known as the “City of Sports”. Sports goods manufactured in Jalandhar are exported to various countries.
Apart from sports goods, Jalandhar is also famous for leather goods.
An exciting mix of ancient monuments, temples, modern attractions, designer clothes, jewelery shopping, and much more makes it one of the best places to visit in Punjab.
Top Sights in Jalandhar
Devi Talab Mandir, Jang-e-Azadi Memorial, Pushpa Gujral Science City, Wonderland, TR Enjoy World, Sodal Mandir, St. Mary’s Cathedral.
6. Bathinda
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Bathinda is the fifth largest city, one of the leading, and best places to visit in Punjab. The city is also home to several major universities of Punjab and the AIIMS Bathinda. The city has two thermal plants, two cement plants, a fertilizer plant, and more.
According to Henry George Raverty, an officer in the British Indian Army, Bathinda was earlier known as Tabar-i-Hind which means “Gateway to India”.
Bathinda Tourism is inclined toward its rich historical and cultural heritage. There are many tourist places associated with religious heritage, ancient forts, theme parks, and gardens.
Top Sights in Bathinda
Qila Mubarak, Bahia Fort, Lakhi Jungle, Bir Talab Zoo, Rose Garden, Zoological Garden, Chetak Park, Peer Haji Rattan’s Mazaar.
7. Pathankot
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Situated in the foothills of Kangra, Dalhousie, the city of Pathankot is one of the best places to visit in Punjab. It is very famous for its serene greenery and historically rich past and has attracted many tourists due to its diverse naturalness.
Pathankot in Punjab has Pakistan on one side, and domestic borders with Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on the other, and also has Indian Army and Indian Air Force bases.
The city of Pathankot is surrounded by the majestic Shivalik ranges on one side and the towering Himalayas on the other, making it one of the favorite tourist destinations for its breathtaking natural beauty.
Top Sights in Pathankot
Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Mata Ashapurni Ji Mandir, Ranjit Sagar Dam Lake, Nurpur Fort, Hydraulic Research Station
8. Hoshiarpur
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Hoshiarpur is known as the ‘Land of Saints’ as it is home to many saints, gurus, and many prominent personalities of India who also hail from this charming city.
Many legends and historians have associated several places in Hoshiarpur district with the Pandavas during their exile and Dasua was the seat of King Virata of the epic Mahabharata.
Recent excavations and archaeological discoveries at various sites in the district have revealed that the area of the present Hoshiarpur district was also a part of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Enriched with hills and forests, Hoshiarpur is one of the best places to visit in Punjab, the climate of this district is mild as compared to other districts of the state.
Several archaeological sites, temples, and historical monuments make it a good tourist destination.
Top Sights in Hoshiarpur
Gurdwara Garna Sahib, Dasuya Forest Division, Prachin Pandav Sarover Temple, Takhni Rehmapur Wild Animal Sanctuary, Maa Chintpurni Temple, Pushpa Gujral Science City, Dholbaha.
9. Kapurthala
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Kapurthala is a place of religious importance for the Sikhs. It is believed that this was where Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhism, was enlightened in 1499 and started the religion. At the exact spot, at Sultanpur Lodhi, stands the Gurudwara Ber Sahib.
Kapurthala among the best places to visit in Punjab is also called the Paris of Punjab with its structures and monuments being heavily inspired by French architecture.
The Jagatjit Palace, the residence of the last king of Kapurthala, is a must-visit. The architecture of the palace was inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France and it has now been converted into Sainik School.
Top Sights in Kapurthala
Jagatjit Palace, Panch Mandir, State Gurudwara, Shalimar Gardens, Kanjili Wetlands, Moorish Mosque, Gol Kothi.
10. Nangal
The next city on the list of best places to visit in Punjab is Nangal which attracts tourists from all over the country, best known for being home to the 2nd largest dam in Asia, the Bhakra Nangal Dam, constructed across the Satluj River.
Bhakra and Nangal are two different dams but are mentioned together as both are part of the same project, Nangal dam being only 14 Km downstream to Bhakra dam located in Himachal Pradesh.
Both the structures combined are considered one of the largest man-made wonders in history with Bhakra Dam being 741 ft high and forming one of the largest water reservoirs in India, Gobindsagar Reservoir. The purpose of Nangal Dam was to control the water from Bhakra Dam.
Besides the dam, other sites to visit nearby include the Virasat-e-Khalsa museum whose structure, resembling a fort, makes it the most attractive tourist spot of the place. It was built in honor of 300 years of the beginning of Khalsa Panth and to celebrate 500 years of Sikhism.
Top Sights in Nangal
Naina Devi Temple, Bhakhra Dam, Govind Sagar Jheel, Virasat-E-Khalsa, Nangal Dam, Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Bibhor Sahib.
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