Punjab is a small and compact state which encompasses the brilliant land where Sikhs reign supreme.

A nice change of pace from Hindi and Islamic India; Gurdwaras outnumber temples here.  Punjab translates to five waters and was named such for its five rivers: the Beas, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej.  Punjab is fertile from both an agricultural point of view as well as a cultural one.

Tourism in Punjab

There is an ever looming sense of tradition here, and sites such as Amritsar’s Golden temple do little to dispel this.  This temple must certainly be one of the most mesmerizing buildings in India and is Sikhism’s most sacred shrine. Originally just a small lake where Guru Nanak and his disciples came to meditate, over many years this place became a center of Sikhs religion and their resistance to Islam. Lake became larger and temple was destroyed several times but it was always rebuilt. It represents a great mixture of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles and it shouldn’t be overlooked. Near the Temple, a large pilgrim complex was built, where all people, disregarding their race, gender and religion are fed for free.

Some of the smaller country towns in the state of Punjab are also a must see for any person who wants to see the country lifestyle of a  Punjab family, with their traditional Punjabi homes, monuments, temples, farms, and everyday life.  It is said that the Punjab lead by example they more than often exude a hearty and robust attitude to life and work fulfils many. A lot of the farmers in Punjab work just as well in the fields with prosperity as they do in their chosen religion.  The work ethic is often indistinguishable from that of their religion

Just like Punjab’s have travelled the width and breadth of the world, the width and breadth of the world has come to visit Punjab.  The tourism types here are almost endless, from cultural to historical and natural and spiritual.  And the Punjab state does a brilliant job in accommodating them.  With many tourist attractions like the Battle ground of Kurukshetra, the Golden temple or Jallianwallas Bagh, Punjab is a searing reminder of the pain that India has been through in the past.

Economy and culture in Punjab

Rice, pearl millet, wheat, barley, sugarcane, maize, veggies and fruit undoubtedly factor into this state’s economy with the production of wheat being so high that this state has been dubbed the “bread basket of India”.  Not only that, as if all that bounty wasn’t enough, this small region of India also produced 15% of India’s cotton.

Punjabis have carried their culture the width and breadth of the world and have by far the most expats per capita than any other Indian state.  Not surprisingly the foreign remittances of this global population are sizable and have completely fast-tracked Punjab’s economy and development.