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Punjab Cities

Jallianwala Bagh Memorial

Heart and Soul of Punjab

Covering an area of nearly 50, 362 sq km, Punjab is divided into 20 districts. The capital of Punjab is Chandigarh whish is considered as a different union territory. Served by five Rivers, most of the cities of the state are based on agriculture. From tourism point of view, all the cities of Punjab are full of attractions that are a must visit. The most important of all is Amritsar as it home to the sacred Harmandir Sahib, famously known as The Golden Temple. It is the most revered pilgrimage destination in Sikhism. Punjab also boosts of a glorious history which is depicted by the many heritage monuments across the state like Jallianwala Bagh.

Amritsar

Amritsar is the administrative center of the state of Punjab which arguably the most sacred pilgrimage destination for Sikhism. It is home to the world famous gurudwara Harmandir Sahib, more popularly known as The Golden Temple. Amritsar is the heart of Punjab where one could see the amalgamation of different aspects of Punjabi culture like arts and crafts, music and dance. Amritsar was witness to one of the most gruesome act on Indian soil, the Jallianwala Bagh incident. Amritsar is just 24 Km from the international border between India and Pakistan.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh is the first planned city in India designed by French architect Le Corbusier. Chandigarh serves as a capital for states of Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh was recognized as a different Union territory in the year 1966 and is directly under Government of India. The main tourist attraction in Chandigarh are the Rock Garden, Sukana lake, Pinjore Gardens, and Rose Gardens.

Ludhiana

Situated by the old bank of Sutlej River, Ludhiana is the largest city in Punjab. Ludhiana, often referred to as 'Manchester of India' for its world famous hosiery products, is one of the most important industrial and agricultural cities in North India. Ludhiana is also a budding tourist destination with some really splendid tourist attractions like Nehru Rose Gardens, Rakh Bagh, Raja Ranjeet Singh Fort and Tiger Safari. Like other cities of Punjab, Ludhiana too faces extreme climatic conditions. In Summers, it is extremely hot and in winters it is chillingly cold.

Jalandhar

Earlier known as Jullundur, Jalandhar is among the most ancient cities of Punjab. Situated around 90 km from Amritsar, it was the capital of Punjab till 1953 after which Chandigarh was made the capital. The main attraction of this old city is the 800 year old Imran Musoleum, 400 year old Jamma Masjid and the magnificent Devi Talab Mandir. All these monuments are known for their splendid architecture and carvings. Other than its tourist attractions, Jalandhar is most famous for the production of sports items and leather goods. In fact, Jalandhar is the highest producer of leather tool pouches and aprons in the world with its client base spread to all corners of the world.

Patiala

Patiala is among the most culturally beautiful cities of Punjab. Every festival is celebrated with such fervor and grandeur that it is a great loss to not be a part of even one of them. Tread through the streets of Patiala and you would be able to guess the royal past of the city. Many evidences of it being a once princely state are still present in their glory. The best of them all is the Moti Bagh Palace situated in the heart of Jalandhar. It resembles a lot to the Shalimar Garden of Lahore. Today it houses National Institute of Sports and a well-maintained and nicely stocked art gallery. Attraction like Quila Mubarak complex, Sheesh Mahal and Lachman Jhoola are also great crowd gatherers. Winters starting from November till February are the best time to visit.