Punjab
The Smiling Face of India

Punjab, located in the north west of India, with its capital at Chandigarh, is one of its most prosperous states. The five rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum gave it its name 'punj-ab' or the 'land of five waters'. Punjab is the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilisation, more than 4000 years old. In 1947, at the end of British Rule, the Punjab was split between India and Pakistan. Some of the main cities in Indian Punjab are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. Enriched with a distinct blend of rural and urban flavours, Punjab has a lot to offer to a tourist eye. It has a unique religious legacy with a host of Gurudwaras, the largest and the most prominent being The Golden Temple at Amritsar. The Jallianwala Bagh of Amritsar is another historical spot which reminds one of the Punjab's sacrifices to the freedom struggle of India. Punjab is called the Granary of India or India's bread-basket as it produces 60% of its wheat and 40% of its rice. The famous Bhakra Dam, described as The New Temple of Resurgent India by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, is located across Sutlej River near its border. Above all, the warmth and hospitality of the people are the main attractions in this region.
image The GoldenTemple, Amritsar