10 Must Visit Places in Punjab

Punjab is a colorful and vibrant state of India which is also known as the land of five rivers. Punjab is famous for its food and rich cultural heritage. There are some beautiful places in Punjab which you must visit in case you are planning a trip to Punjab:

Also known as Darbar Sahib or the Golden Temple, this is the holiest Gurdwara in India. This religious shrine is a place of grate beauty and sublime peace. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru designed Harmandir Sahib and later on its completion, installed the Adi Granth (the holy scripture of Sikhs) inside the Harmandir Sahib. During early 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered the upper floors of the Gurudwara with intricately carved gold panels giving it a distinguished appearance. A mesmerising blend of Hindu and Mughal architectures, this sacred place calms the senses and a sense of peace dawns.

This public garden located in Amritsar has historical significance. The infamous Jallianwala Massacre during the British rule happened at this place where hundreds of innocent people were killed on the day of Baisakhi in 1919. A memorial was established at the garden by the Government of India in 1951 to commemorate the peaceful celebrators who were brutally killed by British forces. You can see the bullet marks on the walls of the park premises as well as the well which was said to have been filled with dead bodies when people jumped in the well to save themselves from the firing bullets.

This popular tourist attraction in Chandigarh is the epitome of creativity and a man's determination. The creator of the garden Nek Chand started making sculptures from waste material at a secluded land near Sukhna lake in secrecy. When it came to light, the public came in his support and the government gave Nek Chand a team of workers to assist him in realizing his dream. Spread in forty acres, this sculpture garden is made using waste material like broken bangles, tiles, crockery etc.

This botanical garden which is spread in thirty acres is famous for its roses. It has over 50,000 rose bushes of 1600 different species. It has the distinction of being Asia's largest. The place looks amazing when the roses are in full bloom.

Mughal Serai at Doraha near Ludhiana is now in a dilapidated condition due to the indifference of the government towards this historical serai which was built by Mughal Emperor Jehangir. Several scenes of the popular movie Rang de Basanti were shot here and so it's also known as RDB fort now.

Wagha Border near Amritsar is famous for its beating retreat ceremony which is attended by hundreds of people every day from both sides of the border. The border security forces of both India and Pakistan jointly conduct this military practice which includes majestic change of guards and lowering down the respective national flags every evening.

This historical fort in Patiala is a magnificent example of Sikh architecture. The beautiful artwork, magnificent mirrors and exclusive painitings of the Sikh rulers are the key highlights of the fort.

Situated at the border of Taran Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district, Harike wetland and bird sanctuary is a major biodiversity reserve and is home to a number of species of flora & fauna. 200 species of birds visit the sanctuary during winter. This is a must visit place for nature lovers and wild life photography enthusiasts.

This museum located at Sri Anandpur Sahib gives a glimpse of the historical events that led to the birth of Sikhism. The museum was constructed in thirteen years and was opened for public in 2011. It aims to highlight the vision of Sikh Gurus and their message of peace. The five hundred years of Sikh history is displayed through audio visual content.

This man-made lake in Chandigarh attracts tourists from all over due to its scenic beauty. The beautiful hills of Shivalik are visible from the lake. Thousands of migratory birds visit the lake every year during winter.