Punjab, located in the north west of India, is one of the smallest and the most prosperous states of India. The five rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum gave it its name 'punj-ab' or the 'land of five waters'. Punjab is primarily an agricultural state and enjoys the natural benefits of fertile soils and abundant waters.

The Punjabi language has its origins in the Indo-European family of languages, which also included Persian and Latin. A land of ethnic and religious diversity, it is the birthplace of Sikhism.

Enterprise and endeavor, these two words symbolize the essential spirit of the people of Punjab. Since Independence, over 5 decades, the state has earned its epithet: "Granary of India" through the enterprising spirit, and untiring toil of its people. Its average growth rate of 10% is amongst the highest in the country, clearly reflecting the progressive economy of the state. Punjab also boasts a 58% literacy rate and the highest per capita income in India.

Since the recent liberalization of India's economy, Punjab has started making its mark on the global business mainstream, with major players from around the world forming joint ventures in the field of agriculture business.

Privileged by nature and the dynamism of its people, Punjab is a land of rivers, fertile soils and steady achievement. With its inimitable style of transforming every potential opportunity into a success story, the state was the first to translate agricultural technology into the "green revolution", recording highest growth rate in food production. From a minor producer it emerged a major rice surplus state. Providing the impetus for the "White revolution", during Operation Flood, it was Punjab that recorded the highest per capita availability of milk.

Places to visit

Amritsar

Amritsar - the holy city of Sikhs, has grown from a sacred village pond into a spiritual temporal centre of Sikh culture. The city gets its name from the pool-Amritsar (Pool of Nectar), which was constructed by the fourth religious preceptor of the Sikh faith. It also lies on the Asian Highway.

In and around

Golden Temple

Akal Takht 

Durgiana Temple 

Jallianwala Bagh   

Jalandhar

Jalandhar is located at a distance of about 84 km from Amritsar on the Grand Trunk road to Calcutta. Known for its diverse industries like sports, steel and iron re-rolling mills, rubber goods, electric goods, automobile parts, and sewing machine factories and handloom products.

The City of Jalandhar aptly fits the description of an ancient city with a modern face. This presently industrialized town also retains its antiquity amidst high commercial activity. Jalandhar also produces world-class sports equipment. Some of our finest sports people also hail from Jalandhar.

The city derives its name from a demon called Jalandhar who finds a mention in the Puranas. As per Historical evidence Jalandhar defined the northwestern boundary of Pushyamitra Sunga's kingdom in 185 B.C. The place also finds mention in accounts of King Harsha's reign during 606 A.D. Udita. During the 9th century, Jalandhar was a small but independent kingdom known as Trigarta. The city continued to flourish under the Moguls and a number of patriots born here played a key role in the freedom struggle. According to another legend, Jalandhar was the capital of the kingdom of Lav, son of Rama. Yet another version suggests that Jalandhar is said to have derived its name from the vernacular term 'Jalandhar' means area inside the water, i.e. tract between the two rivers Satluj and Beas.

Despite its industrial face, Jalandhar has many a historical monument. Among the prominent monuments is the Mausoleum of Iman Nasir and the fort at Phillaur that once served as Maharaja Ranjit Singh's line of defense against the British. Of religious prominence is the Shiv Mandir which dates back to the Lodhi era and the Gurudwara at Kartarpur.

The Gurudwara at Kartarpur is located about 16 km from Jalandhar town and was built by the Fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Sahib in 1656. A fair is organized here every year to commemorate the Guru's birth anniversary. Kartarpur also happens to be the birthplace of Swami Virjanand who was the teacher of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the illustrious founder of the Arya Samaj. A memorial called Guru Virjanand Smarak has been constructed in his memory. Kartarpur is also known for its grand furniture industry.

 In and around

Shiv Mandir -- Situated in Gur Mandi, the Shiv Mandir was built by the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi, near Masjid imarn Nasar.

Catholic Cathedral -- This rare cathedral built by the representatives of His Holiness, the Pope, is the one of its kind in the East. Its cosmo-cultural design is a tribute to the Punjabi tradition.  

Nurmahal -- Nurmahal is a small town around 13 km from Nakodar. The place is famous for Nurjehan's (the famous queen of Jehangir), Palace "Mogul Serai."

Khatkar Kalan -- The town of Khatkar Kalan is known for its "Memorial Museum" which was set up to commemorate the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The museum was inaugurated on the 50th martyrdom anniversary of the great freedom fighter on March 23, 1981. The museum is situated at Khatkar Kalan, on Nawanshahar-Banga road in Jalandhar district, at a distance of 55 kilometers from Jalandhar.

Nakodar -- Nakodar is known for the 2 beautiful tombs that date back to the 17th Century. The tomb of Ustad (teacher) was built in the memory Mohmmad Momin Hussain, a musician in the service of Khan-e-Khana during the early reign of jehangir the other monument is the tomb of his pupil, Hazi Jamal. The town as it was during 1947 had a characteristic of its own. The town was divided into kots and bastis. It had 12 kots, 12 gates and 12 bastis. The Kots were predominantly Hindu areas and had gates while bastis were mostly Muslims. Only a few of these basties, Kots, and gates can be seen in the present time Jalandhar.  

Monuments (Kots and Bastis) --Temple of Vrinda An ancient monument in the City, it was built in the honor of the, wife of Jalandhara, in the Kot Kishan Chand locality. It is now known as Tulsi Mandir. On one side of the temple is a tank which is said to have been the bathing place of the demon Jalandhara.

Temple of Gupha at some distance from the Temple of Vrinda is the temple of Gupha dedicated to Annapurna (goddess of food grains). Also located nearby are Brahm Kund and some temples dedicated to Shiva.

Gurudwara Chhevin Padshahi -- Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of Sikhs, visited the city of Jalandhar during his tour of Doaba area. It is here at the spot, where Guru Hargobind Singh was interviewed by a holy Musilm saint, Sheikh Darvesh, that the Gurdwara Chhevin Padshahi stands. The saint blindfolded his eyes so that he could swear before the Mogul authorities that he had not seen the Guru. The great Guru had an in depth discussion with the saint about spiritual matters.

Other religious places

There is Sheetla Mandir near the Balmiki gate, known to be as ancient as the City of Jalandhar. Within its premises are also two small old temples of Hanuman and Shiva. There is old Devi Talab which has now been renovated. A new temple ahs been built in its center. An old temple of goddess Kali also stands by the side of the Devi Talab.