Punjab
Punjab
Country:India
Region:Northern India
Capital City:New Delhi
Population:16,314,838
Area :1,484 square kms
Average Climate: Punjab's climate varies according to the season. Punjab has extreme hot and extreme cold conditions. The temperature varies from 0 °C to 46 °C. Temperature is very high in Summer (April to June) & falls by 0 °C in Winter (December to February)
Best time to visit: Punjab can be visited throughout the year, but it is experienced best between October to March
Punjab is a state in the north western part of India, bordered by the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. It also shares it boundary with Pakistan. The capital is located in Chandigarh which is also a union territory. The word Punjab literally means the land of five rivers, the five rivers that flow through the state are, Beas, Satluj, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum. The state is characterized by extreme hot and extreme cold conditions, and a good amount of rainfall. The rainfall and the good quality of soil make it suitable for agriculture. The state doesn’t have much forest cover but is rich in faunal diversity, with 396 species of birds, 214 species of Lepidoptera, 55 species of fish, 20 species of reptiles, and 19 species of mammals. Eastern Goshawk (baz) is the state bird of Punjab, Blackbuck being the state animal and Shisham being the state tree.
Sikhism is the predominant religion in the state, thus making Punjab the state with the highest Sikh population in the country. Enriched with a distinct blend of rural and urban flavors, Punjab has a lot to offer to a tourist eye. Punjab has a very rich and vibrant culture, with many dance forms, Bhangra being the most famous one. Most of the people in the state are involved in agriculture and thus harvest festivals are celebrated in the state with great pomp and show. One can also find the age old tradition of storytelling, known as Kissa to be very famous.
The Punjabis are very fond of food which is evident in the cuisine of the region. The cuisine is diverse and has a wide variety of dishes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Some of the specialty dishes of the region are, Palak Paneer, Sarso da saag, makki ki roti, Tandoori Chicken, Shami Kebab. Tandoor cooking is a specialty of the Punjab region. Lassi is the much loved beverage of the region.
The Golden Temple is a major tourist attraction which attracts lakhs of tourists every day. Another place of historical importance is the Jallainwala Bagh memorial. Besides these Punjab has a number of archeological sites frequented by tourists. These include, Sanghol, Rupnagar, Dholbaha etc. Punjab also has a good number of wildlife sanctuaries and parks for the wildlife enthusiasts. One can also visit the Attari border and the Bagha border to watch the parade by the Indian and the Pakistani military every evening.
If someone wants to experience the rich and vibrant culture of north India, Punjab is a must visit place
