Punjab, the land of five rivers and astounding cultural history is located in the north west of India. Popularly referred to as the "Granary of India", it is the second largest producer of major agricultural products in the country. Punjab is renowned for its sports and hosiery goods industry. It is one of the most prosperous states of India in terms of infrastructure and per capita income. The charming cities and towns of Punjab are dotted with numerous ancient monuments, gurudwaras, temples, ashrams, serene lakes, sacred shrines, museums, and wildlife sanctuaries, which are home to many rare species of animals and migratory birds.
Punjab in India is the perfect tourist destination renowned for its cuisine, culture and history. Tourism in Punjab is ideally suited for tourists interested in ancient civilization, heritage, culture, and spirituality.
Punjab tourism department has taken several initiatives to encourage the promotion and growth of tourism in Punjab. The major cities of Punjab, which include Amritsar, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Ropar, Bhatinda, Pathankot, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and Kapurthala, have been developed as prime tourist circuits by Punjab Tourism.
In order to popularize the rich art and culture of Punjab, the Department of Tourism Punjab organizes folk shows and cultural programs every year, which draw a large number of domestic and international tourists. Punjab tourism also puts in a lot of effort to promote the traditional and local handicrafts, handlooms and cuisine of Punjab.
The best time to visit Punjab is in the spring, from February to April, and in the autumn, from September to November.
Golden Temple, Wagah Border, Quila Mubarak, Jallianwalah Bagh, Art Gallery at Sheesh Mahal, Sukhna lake, Gurudwara Bhabour Sahib Purana Quila, Asafwala War Memorial, Bhakra Nangal Dam, Hussaini Wala Border in Ferozpur, Mehdiana Sahib Gurudwara and Shahpur Kandi fort are some of the major tourist attractions in Punjab that are not to be missed out during a tour to Punjab. The important travel destinations in Punjab are Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Roopnagar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Faridkot, Bhatinda, Moga, Sangrur, Sirhand, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Muktsar, that are replete with numerous places of interest.
By Air : Punjab has two airports located at Chandigarh and Amritsar. Al most all-important airlines operate regular flights to both of these airports connecting them to major cities of India.
By Rail : Punjab is well linked to other parts of India by extensive railway network. Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Pathankot are the major railway stations in the state, which are served many important trains.
By Road : An excellent network of roads and state highways connect all-important cities of Punjab. The National highways NH1 or the Grand Trunk Road link the state directly to most of the significant places in northern and eastern India.