Punjab
Photos: Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Traveltoindia23 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ranjity (CC0)
Sikh heartland on the Pakistan border: the Golden Temple and Attari-Wagah at Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib's Khalsa heritage, princely Patiala and Kapurthala, Ramsar wetlands and some of India's richest food.
Base yourself in Amritsar for 2-3 days (Golden Temple, old city, Wagah), then add Sikh heritage towns (Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Tarn Taran) and the princely cities of Patiala and Kapurthala. Distances are short and the GT Road, Shatabdi trains and frequent buses link most places within a few hours.
Highlights: Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib) and its langar, Amritsar · Retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border · Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum · Virasat-e-Khalsa and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib · Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib · Qila Mubarak and Sheesh Mahal, Patiala · Moorish Mosque and Jagatjit Palace, Kapurthala · Harike Wetland birdwatching · Amritsari kulcha, fish and lassi food trail · Gobindgarh Fort evening shows
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Amritsar
Home of the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum, 28 km from the Attari-Wagah border; also Punjab's food capital.
Ludhiana
Punjab's largest industrial city: Ghanta Ghar, the War Museum, PAU Rural Museum, Lodhi Fort, a tiger safari and hosiery markets.
Jalandhar
Doaba hub on the GT Road: Devi Talab Mandir, the Jang-e-Azadi memorial at Kartarpur, Science City and Mughal sarais nearby.
Patiala
Former princely capital of the Phulkian rulers: Qila Mubarak, Sheesh Mahal, Baradari Gardens and Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib.
Bathinda
Malwa city of lakes with the ancient Qila Mubarak fort, gateway to Takht Sri Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo.
Kapurthala
The "Paris of Punjab": Versailles-style Jagatjit Palace, the Moorish Mosque, Panch Mandir, Kanjli Wetland and nearby Sultanpur Lodhi.
Rupnagar
Ropar on the Sutlej: a Harappan site and museum, the Ropar Ramsar wetland, and the gateway to Anandpur Sahib, Kiratpur and Bhakra.
Attari
Border village 28 km from Amritsar, home of the daily Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony and the samadhi of Sham Singh Attariwala.
Anandpur Sahib
Birthplace of the Khalsa in the Shivalik foothills: Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Virasat-e-Khalsa museum and the Hola Mohalla festival.
Tarn Taran Sahib
Gurdwara town 25 km from Amritsar founded by Guru Arjan Dev, with the largest sarovar of any gurdwara; base for Goindwal and Harike.
Fatehgarh Sahib
Sirhind on the GT Road: Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib of the younger Sahibzadas, the Rauza Sharif and the Mughal Aam Khas Bagh.
Harike
Sanghol
Top sights
Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh's summer palace in Ram Bagh garden, a museum of arms, paintings, coins and manuscripts since 1977.
Partition Museum
The world's first museum devoted to the 1947 Partition, in Amritsar's old Town Hall near the Golden Temple.
Akal Takht
The highest seat of Sikh temporal authority, facing the Golden Temple sanctum across the causeway.
Harmandir Sahib
The Golden Temple: the holiest Sikh shrine, a gilded sanctum in the middle of the Amrit Sarovar pool, open day and night to people of all faiths.
Gurdwara Baba Atal
Nine-storey tower near the Golden Temple built in memory of Atal Rai, son of Guru Hargobind.
Durgiana Temple
Hindu temple near Lohgarh Gate rebuilt in 1921 in the style of the Golden Temple, set in its own sacred tank.
Ram Teerath
Valmiki ashram 11 km from Amritsar, believed birthplace of Luv and Kush, with a temple in a large sarovar.
Jallianwala Bagh
National memorial garden marking the 13 April 1919 massacre, with bullet-marked walls and the Martyrs Well, steps from the Golden Temple.
Nature and outdoors
Ram Bagh
garden in Amritsar, Punjab, India
Gobindgarh Fort
18th-century fort rebuilt by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, now a living-history park with a coin museum, 7D film and evening projection show.
America wale (khera)
ਚਾਨੀ ਫਾਰਮ - Chani Farm
ਬਾਬਾ ਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਥੜਾ - ਚਾਨੀਆਂ
ਕੰਦੋਲਾ ਫਾਰਮ- Kandola Farm
Kamal Boss Park
Beniwal Farm
Things to do
Guru Gobind Singh Stadium
building in India
Surjit Hockey Stadium
building in India
Guru Nanak Stadium
building in India
International Hockey Stadium
building in India
Amritsar Heritage Walk
Despite visiting Amritsar and Golden temple several times, visitors find Heritage Walk experience extremely enjoyable and informative.
Old City Shopping
As you move through narrow path of old city and some other heritage buildings, you can see stalls selling everything from jootis to roasted sweet potatoes.
Pushpa Gujral Science City
Almost all students in Punjab are taken on school trips to visit Science City.
Wonderland
One the best place for enjoyment for one day outing for the entire family with thrilling rides, water games and many more.
Where to eat
Kesar Da Dhaba
Century-old vegetarian dhaba in the lanes of Chowk Passian, famous for dal, paranthas and phirni.
Bharawan Da Dhaba
Busy vegetarian dhaba by Town Hall, a short walk from the Golden Temple, known for saag, kulche and phirni.
Brothers Amritsari Dhaba
Vegetarian dhaba near Town Hall serving dal makhani, saag and gajar halwa.
Punjab Dhaba, Hall Bazar
Old-city non-vegetarian dhaba in Hall Bazar known for mutton and kadai chicken.
All India Famous Amritsari Kulcha
Morning kulcha joint on Maqbool Road serving crisp stuffed kulche with chole and lassi.
Kulcha Land
Kulcha specialist in Ranjit Avenue named by Punjab Tourism among Amritsar food points.
Pal Da Dhaba
Non-vegetarian dhaba at Hathi Gate known for mutton kharoda and keema naan.
Beera Chicken House
Majitha Road chicken specialist for tandoori and butter chicken.
Shopping
Amardas Market
Adarsh Nagar Market
Bombay Jewellers
Gold and diamond jewellery.
Tanishq & World of Titan
Jewellery and watches. Sub-brand of Tata Group.
Shopping Complex
Pavilion Mall
the biggest shopping mall in Ludhiana. The 7-screen multiplex has 1016 seats and is fitted with latest sound and projection system. It is the largest in Ludhiana.
Omaxe Mall
Dana Mandi
Food to try
- Amritsari kulcha: Crisp stuffed bread with chole, Amritsar breakfast staple
- Makki di roti and sarson da saag: Maize flatbread with mustard greens, the winter staple, with white butter
- Amritsari fish: Batter-fried fish, a Majitha Road speciality
- Tandoori chicken and butter chicken: Punjab non-vegetarian classics
- Chhole bhature and dal makhani: Everyday Punjabi dishes
- Lassi and peda: Thick sweet lassi, often topped with butter
- Pinni, patisa, jalebi, phirni: Traditional sweets
- Langar: Free vegetarian community meal at every gurdwara
Festivals
- Lohri: Months: 1; Description: Bonfires, folk songs and bhangra marking the end of winter
- Hola Mohalla: Months: 2 · 3; Description: Sikh martial festival at Anandpur Sahib with gatka, tent-pegging and horse riding
- Baisakhi: Months: 4; Description: Harvest festival and founding of the Khalsa (1699); huge gatherings at Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo
- Diwali: Months: 10 · 11; Description: Golden Temple and old Amritsar lit with thousands of lights
- Guru Nanak Gurpurab: Months: 10 · 11; Description: Celebrated at all gurdwaras, especially Sultanpur Lodhi
- Ram Tirath Fair: Months: 11; Description: Four-day fair at Ram Tirath, Amritsar, on the November full moon
- Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan: Months: 12; Description: India's oldest Hindustani classical music festival, Devi Talab Mandir, Jalandhar
- Shaheedi Jor Mela: Months: 12; Description: Three-day remembrance of the younger Sahibzadas at Fatehgarh Sahib