Punjab, a state in India. bordering Pakistan is the heart of India’s Sikh community. Punjab is famously referred to as ‘The land of five rivers’, This fertile land ranks amongst the most ancient civilizations in the world. Punjab is also famous for its religious diversity as it was here many religious movements were initiated. Punjab is amongst the most affluent states and has the least poor population. The region was originally called Sapta Sindhu, the Vedic land of the seven rivers flowing into the sea.
The Sanskrit name for the region, as mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharata for example, was Panchanada which means “Land of the Five Rivers”, and was translated to Persian as Punjab after the Muslim conquests. Punjab is a major producer of wheat, rice and dairy products. These products also form the staple diet of the Punjabi people. The state of Punjab has one of the highest capita usages of dairy products in India. The Indian State of Punjab was created in 1947, when the partition of India split the former Raj province of Punjab between India and Pakistan.
The mostly Muslim western part of the province became Pakistan’s Punjab Province; the mostly Sikh eastern part became India’s Punjab state. Amritsar is one of the largest and most important cities in Punjab and is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre. It is also the centre of Sikhism and the site of the Sikhs’ principal place of worship—the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple. also called Darbar Saheb, the holiest gurdwara (Sikh place of worship).
Known in English as the Golden Temple, and surrounded by the Pool of Nectar, it’s a major pilgrimage site. Also, in Amritsar is Durgiana Temple, a Hindu shrine famed for its engraved silver doors. Located on the crossroads towards the plains of India strategically the state has been hit by numerous invading forces from the Greeks to Mongols, to Turkish, to Mughals, Afghans and more. the state gained its maximum glory when it came under the rule of the Sikh Kingdom, which was set up by Maharaja Ranjit Singh with its capital in Lahore.
Though the kingdom was lost after several wars with the British in the 1830s and with it the loss of Kohinoor, one of the world’s most famous diamobnd owned by Ranjit Singh was lost. It was also part of ancient Indus Valley civilization. People in Punjab speak, Punjabi, first developed in the 12th century and gained prominence when Sufi poets such as Shah Hussain, Bulleh Shah among others began to use the Lahore/Amritsar spoken dialect with infused Persian vocabulary in their works in the Shahmukhi script. The state shares its capital Chandigarh with Haryana. The speciality of Punjab is its mouth-watering food items.
Traditional Punjabi food that is very popular is – Sarson ka saag, Shahi paneer, Dal makhani, Rajma, Chole, Aloo, Chicken karahi, Chicken Tandori, Makki di Roti, Naan, Phulka, Puri, Papad, Lassi, Kheer, rabri. Culture and Tradition of Punjab – The culture of Punjab is the richest culture in the world. The people of Punjab are known as fun-loving, happy lot who are known to provide selfless service for the sake of humanity to the needy. The state is also known for its numerous forts and places, The state is where also located, is the jalianwala bagh sight of the 1919 massacre also played a major role in India’s freedom struggle. Besides Amritsar, being a major tourist location other cities worth visiting are Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bhatinda, Hoshiarpur., Pathankot, Kapurthala, Mohali and Ropar.
Punjab is known for its vibrant and peppy music and cinema. Punjab is known for its industrial output and numerous well-known factories owned by reputed companies making everything from trucks, tractors, to textiles, is present. A major food processing hub due to the state being the largest producer of food and cereals Punjab attracts labourers from across the country. Also called the trucking capital of India, with the maximum number of trucks owned in the country., Punjab is considered as one of the most important contributors to armed forces. The state is known for its colourful festivals like Baisakhi as well as its song and dance like Bhangra.
As its rich, the state has a huge shopping industry with numerous shopping malls and markets selling all sorts of local and branded products. There are numerous hotels, lodges, guesthouses that provide luxurious, mid-range and budget accommodation in the state. the restaurants in the state sell a variety of veg no/non-veg dishes. The state is also known as a major education hub that attracts students from across India and the world. Tourism in Punjab is centred around Amritsar and has several natural Wildlife hotspots,. The state is ideal for an extended weekend visit
