Tourism Punjab

PUNJAB TOURISM:

Punjab is bounded on the west by Pakistan, on the north by Jammu and Kashmir, on the northeast by Himachal Pradesh and on the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. Punjab extends from the latitudes 29.30° North to 32.32° North and longitudes 73.55° East to 76.50° East. Due to the presence of a large number of rivers, most of the Punjab is a fertile plain. Tributaries of the rivers Indus, Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, and Ghaggar flow towards the southeast crossing the entire state. There are many sub-tributaries of these rivers that provide a base for the most extensive canal system in India. The southeast region of the state is semi-arid and gradually presents a desert landscape. A belt of undulating hills extends along the northeastern part of the state at the foot of the Himalayas. 

Punjab was the first place on the Indian subcontinent where the Aryans actually decided to settle after a long period of grazing and fighting with the aboriginal communities. This was the place where later parts of the Rgveda and other Vedas were written. This was also the place where first war for the control of entire north India or Aryawart (as it was known in those days) was fought between the Aryans and non-Aryans, known as Dasragya War (war of 10 kings). Draupadi, wife of the Pandava princes in Mahabharat, was the princess of Panchal though her father fought in the war of Mahabharat against the Pandavas. When the Aryans finally settled down in India, the region came under the rulers of Magadh kingdom in the last century BC. 

Punjab always had a strategic importance due to its position on the famous Grand Trunk Road that connected the eastern parts of India to the extreme northwest point of Taxila (now in Afghanistan). This road was first constructed by Ashoka to have a better administration of the northwestern frontier, which was always a problem. After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, the Indo Greeks, Guptas, and Vardhans ruled this region in succession. After the coming of Muslims in the 9th-10th century AD, the region became an integral part of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. It was also under the Maratha rule for some time. 

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the most prominent ruler in this land was Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 19th century. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikhs could not hold on to their territory for long and the British controlled most of the region either directly or through the princely states. The Partition of India in 1947 was a turning point for this state. Most of the Muslim dominated areas went out with Pakistan; while the Sikh and Hindu dominated areas remained with India. Lakhs of people were killed in the mayhem that engulfed in this region in the wake of the Partition. After independence, a new state of Punjab was created with modern day Haryana and Himachal Pradesh being a part of this state. 

The festivals in Punjab have always been celebrated with much exuberance and fanfare. For the masses these festivals are popular occasions for social interaction and enjoyment. 

Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on its food grain production, it is little wonder that its most significant festival is Baisakhi, which marks the arrival of the harvesting season. For the Sikhs, Baisakhi has a special significance because on this day in 1699, their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh organized the Order of the Khalsa. 

The Gurpurab festival is celebrated by the Sikhs to express their reverence for their gurus. Two major Gurpurabs are celebrated during the year. The first in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) to celebrate the teachings of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, and the second in the month of Pausa (December-January) to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. On all Gurpurabs, non-stop recital of the granth sahib and religious discourses are held. Langars (free meals) are served to all without distinction of caste or creed. 

A day after Holi, the Sikh community in Punjab observes Holla Mohalla with thousands of devout Sikhs gathering at Anandpur Sahib-where Guru Gobind Singh was baptized-to participate in the grand fair of Holla Mohalla. The whole place wears a festive look and processions are taken out and the people participate in the festivities with gaiety and fervor. 

Tika is celebrated in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov.) one day after Diwali. Women put a tika of saffron and rice grains on the foreheads of their brothers, to protect them from evil. Like most other festivals of Punjab, Lohri too is a festival related to the seasons. Celebrated in the month of Pausa (December-January), it marks the end of the winter season. A huge bonfire is made in every house and the fire god is worshipped. 

Teej heralds the onset of Sawan (monsoon), which is essential for the agricultural prosperity of the state. Dressed in all their finery, with menndi on their hands, the womenfolk converge to welcome the rains and pray for the long life of their husbands. The most important tourist center in the state is Amritsar with its Golden Temple. This temple is considered to be the holiest of all the pilgrimages of Sikhism and houses Akal Takht, the supreme governing body of Sikhism. The Jalianwallah Bagh is a small park in the city where many pilgrims were massacred by the British police in the year 1919. 

Wagah is the only open land point between India and Pakistan. The Changing of Guards and the ceremonial lowering of the flags ceremony at sundown are great tourist attractions and have their own symbolic importance. 
Ludhiana is famous for its hosiery and woolen goods and products from Ludhiana are exported all over the world. For its production of hosiery, Ludhiana is also known as the Manchester of India. It also boasts of the world famous Punjab Agricultural University, which organizes the Kisan Mela every Year. Nearby is Killa Raipur, which is famous for its Rural Olympics. Patiala is famous for its healthy food, loving people, wonderful parandaas, exciting Patiala peg and jootis. Easily accessible and well maintained, Patiala is a place that would give one the much-needed tranquility far from urban chaos. The Sports School and the Moti Bagh Palace are some of the places that one must visit to get a clear picture of the past of the state. 

If Varanasi symbolizes the spirit of ancient India, then Chandigarh is its city of 'today'. It is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. The city is considered to be a Mecca of modern architecture and planning all over the world. What makes Chandigarh extraordinary is the fact that within four decades, a barren landscape has been transformed into a modern and model human habitation. The making of a new city is like inventing a new tomorrow. And Chandigarh succeeds in ushering in a new dawn. The major attractions of this city are the Capitol Complex, Secretariat, Assembly, High Court, Open Hand, City Beautiful, Garden City, Piazza, Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill, Martyr's Memorial, Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Leisure Valley, Rose Garden, Garden of Tranquility, Garden of Rare Plants, Garden of Annuals, Bougainvillea Garden, Botanical Garden, Garden of Aromatic Plants, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Museum of Evolution of Life, and International Dolls Museum. Jalandhar is an ancient city but not much of its evidence is left now. Today, it is a major rail and road junction and an army cantonment. The Yadavendra Gardens 24 kilometers on the Shimla road at Pinjore has charming Mughal style terraced lawns, flower beds, fountains, water channels and airy pavilions enclosed by high walls swathed in the mauve and magenta bougainvillea. 

• AMRITSAR:

• THE GOLDEN TEMPLE: 
  

The Golden Temple is a pilgrim spot for Sikh religious community,   located in the holy city of Amritsar. Popularly known as the Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, this gurudwara is acclaimed as one of the holiest sites of the Sikhs. Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Sikh Guru began the construction of this gurudwara in 1585 AD. The construction was completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604.
Fondly known as Swarn Mandir, this two storied structure is covered with around 400 kg of gold. The temple is surrounded by a large lake, which is known as sarovar. This sarovar is considered to be filled of Amrit, which means 'holy water' or 'immortal nectar'. The water in sarovar is believed to have medicinal properties and curative powers and hence, devotees bath in the tank to cleanse their soul.There is a narrow walkway of around 202 feet X 21 feet, which leads to the temple. There are four entrances to the temple that signify the importance of acceptance and openness. These doorways and arches reflect both Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture. Within the temple complex, there are shrines dedicated to the Sikh gurus, saints and martyrs.The Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book of the Sikh, lies inside the Golden Temple. All the decoration and marble work of the temple dates back to 19th century. With the support of Hukam Singh Chimni and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the temple was decorated with gold and marble work. Visitors are required to remove their shoes and cover their head before entering the temple.

• TARN TARAN:

Tarn Taran, which is believed to be one of the most sacred places for Sikhs, is located just 22 km away from the Amritsar city. Founded by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru, this city has several historical gurudwaras like Darbar Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Gurudwara Guru Ka Khuh.Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran, which was built by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, is the main gurudwara in the city. This holy shrine is famous for its sarovar, which islargest holy tank in the world. Other major gurudwaras like Gurudwara Bibi Bhani Da Khuh, Gurudwara Takkar Sahib and Gurudwara Lakeer Sahib are also located within the city. e Sikh, lies inside the Golden Temple. All the decoration and marble work of the temple dates back to 19th century. With the support of Hukam Singh Chimni and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the temple was decorated with gold and marble work. Visitors are required to remove their shoes and cover their head before entering the temple.

• WAGAH BORDER:
  

Wagah Border is the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan. Often known as Berlin wall of Asia, this border lies on the Grand Trunk Road between Amritsar and Lahore. On this border, a retreat ceremony called 'lowering of the flags’ is held every evening, since 1959. During the ceremony, Border Security Force (B.S.F) of India and the Pakistan Rangers soldiers perform energetic parade.
This 40  minutes ceremony takes place every evening before sunset at the Wagah Border. As the sun sets, the iron gate at the border is opened and the flags of India and Pakistan are lowered and folded by their respective soldiers. The ceremony ends with a  handshake between the soldiers of both the countries. Wagah Border opens between 10 am and 4 pm, while the flag down ceremony starts at 4:30pm and ends with the national anthem at 5 pm.Located around 30 km away from Amritsar, Attari Wagah Border can bereached by buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Since, there is no tourist accommodation available at Wagah; tourists prefer to stay at Amritsar.

• JALLIANWALA BAGH: 
  

Jallianwala Bagh is a garden site of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that is located close to the Golden Temple Complex. This public garden houses a memorial, which was established in 1951, to pay homage to the thousands of people, who were killed in the incident.Around 10,000 people gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh to peacefully protest against the Rowlatt Act, on 13th April 1919. Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer with his army of 150 troops ordered open fire at the crowd. 400 people were killed on the spot and 1500 wounded people were left to die in the well within the garden.In 1961, a 45 foot red stone pillar in the shape of flame was built in the Jallianwala Bagh. Tourists visiting the park can see the bullet marks on the walls and the point from where 1600 rounds of bullets were fired by troops on innocent people.
Spread over 26,000 sq. mt, this garden site houses a Martyr’s Gallery, which holds an exhibit of portraits of some freedom fighters. Managed by the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust, this memorial was established as per the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Act passed by the Government of India in 1951.

• HALL BAZAAR:

Shopping in Amritsar proffers tremendous and multi hued of bazaars. The leading shopping complex in Amritsar, Hall Bazaar presents a wide range of products from electronics items, ornaments, best quality books, handicrafts and ready-made garments. Most import place in this Bazaar is the Gandhi Gate, which serves as the entry point to the Bazaar. This gate is also called as Hall Gate.

The signboard and the giant clock in the gate are having a caption "Amritsar - Sifti Da Ghar". The structural elegance of this gate take one back to the Mughal era. Reasonably priced chinese lights in various models are available which seems to be worthy for the money one is paying.

MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH MUSEUM: 

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum was originally the summer palace of first king of Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Transformed into a museum, this palace is surrounded by a garden called Ram Bagh. The museum holds exhibit of arms, armours, paintings, old coins and manuscripts, all of which belong to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.The paintings displayed in the galleries of the museum showcase the court and camp of the king. Among all the paintings, one that depicts the city of Lahore is most famous. Coins and manuscripts displayed at the museum reflect the spirit of secularism in the king and rich history of Sikh province, respectively.

• GURUDWARA PIPLI SAHIB:

Gurudwara Pipli Sahib is a popular tourist attraction, which was built inmemory of the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji. This gurudwara is located about 1.5 km west of Amritsar railway station, in Putlighar. The gurudwara owes it’s name to the big Pipal tree, which once stood here. This gurudwara is linked to main Sher Shah Suri Marg near Putlighar by a 150 m long road.Basant Panchmi is the main festival, which is celebrated in this gurudwara.

BATHINDA FORT: 

Bathinda Fort, which was built by Bhatti Reo around 1800 years ago, is a prime tourist spot of Amritsar. In 1754 AD, this fort was captured by MaharajaAla Singh of Patiala. This schooner-shaped fort was visited by Guru GobindSingh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru. In order to commemorate his visit, a gurudwarawas also established near the fort.Razia Sultan, the first female Sultan of Delhi (AD 1236-1240) was kept as a prisoner in this fort and according to tradition, Razia Sultan escaped by jumping off the balcony in order to muster an army to fight back. In 1745 AD it was captured by Maharaja Ala Singh of Patiala. The tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh also visited this fort and a small Gurudwara commemorates his visit.

• GOBINDGARH FORT:
  

Gobindgarh Fort was built by the army of Gujjar Singh Bhangi of Sikh Misls. This fort was reconstructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh between 1805 and 1809. During the British rule, this fort was in the army's possession for nearly 150 years. The Darbar Hall, Hawa Mahal and the Phansi Ghar were added to the fort during British rule only. After the Indian Independence, Indian army took control over the fort and till date it is under the administration of Indian Defence Force.This fort has another entrance called Keelar Gate, which is believed to beconnected with the tunnel of Lahore. Originally, there were 25 cannons on the ramparts of this fort that are now replaced with modern weaponry. In the heart of the fort, lies a Toshakhana, which was constructed to store grainsand provisions for the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 

• KAISER BAGH:
  

Kaiser Bagh is a quadrangular park, which was built between 1845 and 1850. This park features a pavilion, which is flanked by yellow coloured builds on the three sides. Tourists visiting this park are attracted to the entrance, which has a flight of stairs that lead to the main floor. There is a small temple in the middle of these stairs, which give an impression of a bridge. The architectural style of this park is a blend of Gothic and Mughal style.

• HARIKE WETLAND AND BIRD SANCTUARY:
  
  
  
  Harike is a bird sanctuary that spreads over three districts of Kapurthala, Firozepur and Amritsar in Punjab. The Wetland, along with a lake, came into being in 1953 when the Harike barrage was constructed on the confluence of Rivers Beas and Sutlej. 
  This is the ideal place for nature lovers and bird watchers as the sanctuary is home to migratory birds, especially in winter. During the migratory seasons, around 20,000 ducks can be found in the sanctuary. Moreover, about 200 species of birds visit the lake every winter. The birds commonly found in the sanctuary are striated grass bird, sulphur- bellied warbler, great crested grebe, white-browed fantail, yellow-legged gull, brown shrike, common wood shrike, white-tailed stonechat, yellow-eyed pigeon, tufted duck and yellow-crowned woodpecker. Besides birds, animals like jungle cat, smooth Indian otter, mongoose and Indian wild boar are seen in the sanctuary.The only entry point into the Harike wetlands is from the Nanaksar Gurudwara across the barrage. Permits are required from the Harike wildlife office for entry.
  
  
  
  
• JALANDHAR:

• Attractins of jalandhar:
• DEVI TALAB MANDIR:
  

Devi Talab Mandir is located in the heart of Jalandhar, just 1 km away from the railway station. In place of the old Devi Talab a new temple has been built in the centre. Recently a model of Amarnath Yatra has been built within the premises. Near the Devi Talab, one can find an old temple of Goddess Kali.In the past, the mandir was invaded by several foreign rulers. It is one of the fifty one Shakti Peeths and it is believed that Mata Sati's right breast fell here. In Jalandhar, Goddess Kali is also known as Tripurmalini. Lord Shiva of this temple is known as Bhishan Bhairav.This mandir is famous for the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan held every year in the month of December. In Devi Talab Mandir, there is a 200 year old large

• WONDERLAND THEME PARK:
  
  
  
  

Wonderland Theme Park, spread over 11 acres, is located about 6 km from Jalandhar bus terminus and 8 km from the railway station on Nakodar Road. This park offers many thrilling rides.The water rides include bumper cars, flying jets, horror house, boating, kiddies' boating, play house, flying dragon and a slide splash. Among the several attractions, the wave pool is probably the most popular.There is an aqua dance floor, where visitors can dance to the tunes of the latest Punjabi songs. The dance floor is underneath a canopy, which hasartificial clouds from where the water comes down like a rainfall. The Dry Park is open throughout the year, but the Water Park is closed during winters.

RANGLA PUNJAB HAVELI:

A traditional Punjabi village themed resort. Haveli, a traditional Punjabi restaurant on the G.T. Road, Jalandhar-Phagwara Highway, a wayside eating resort off Jalandhar.The resort that came up a few years ago, close to the popular Lucky Dhaba, has clicked like anything. It offers the ambience of a lost Punjabi village with a truck interior very much a part of the interior and waiters togged in tehmat-kurtas and phulkari jackets. Now it has grown to add a marriage palace and an enlosure called Rangla Punjab, which has a cultural programme every evening. Many wayside resorts are trying to go the Haveli way but this place, run by Jains of Jalandhar, remains unparalleled in success. The only thing that is not to be found here is non-vegetarian fare but people still come out in large numbers to Haveli. It's a new-age dhaba with a heady flavour of bygone Punjab. Haveli, a traditional Punjabi restaurant on the Grand Trunk Road near Jalandhar, has redefined roadside eating by a delectable blend of Punjabi cuisine and culture. Making it a clean break from the dust-and-flies fixture of the highway dhabas, this 23-acre food plaza offers ethnic food in a folk-laced ambience imbued with neatness and nostalgia. Haveli spawned a couple of copycats with "Haveli" suffix in Punjab and Haryana. On average, this 24x7 eatery attracts 5,000 to 8,000 customers every day per one of their employee. The high turnover makes Haveli's gastronomical delights easy on the pocket. Haveli's USP is its ethnic look. From an exterior of "Nanakshahi" bricks to a bevy of antique artifacts, the place evokes the old world charm. Even the music is distinctly folk. Not surprisingly, it has become a must-stop eatery for the NRIs heading to or from Punjab in winters. While Haveli has expanded into a one-stop food plaza, Rangla Punjab, its entry-on-coupon eatery, takes the cake. Haveli has an all-vegetarian menu of Punjabi food cooked in desi ghee (clarified butter). Dal Tadka, Karahi Paneer and Kheer are its top-selling all-season delicacies. In winters, Saron Da Saag and Makki Di Roti (Punjabi village winter speciality) is the most favourite dish. 

Every evening, the place reverberates with folk songs and dances, keeping Haveli's cash registers ringing.

• KARTARPUR GURUDWARA: 

Kartarpur Gurudwara was built by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Devji in 1656. This gurudwara is located in Kartarpur about 16 km from Jalandhar. Every yearseveral devotees gather here for the fair held on the birth anniversary of the Guru.Kartarpur is also known as the birthplace of Swami Virjananda, teacher of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. A memorial has been constructed here in the memory of Guru Virjananda.

• LUDHIANA:
• Tourist Attractionsin Ludhiana:

• PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY MUSEUM:

The Punjab Agricultural University Museum is located on the outskirts of the city of Ludhiana. This Museum is situated within the premises of Punjab Agricultural University and is one of the significant educational sightseeing points of Ludhiana.The Punjab Agriculture University was set up in 1962 as a replica of the Land Grant of America. The museum of this university comprises local arts, craftsand several other varieties of ancient objects. There is also a popular ‘Kisan Mela’ organized at this university every year. This fair displays various farming equipments and old bronze utensils.

• GURDUWARA SHRIMANJI SAHIB ALAMGIR:

GURUDWARA SHRI MANJI SAHIB (ALAMGIR SAHIB) is situated in the Alamgir Village In Ludhiana Distt. SHRI GURU GOBIND SINGH JI, after his four sons & mother were martyred by the Mughals, was going from Machhiwara on a bed as " Uchh Da Pir " & reached here on 14 Poh 1761 Bikrami (1704 A.D.). On reaching here , one of the horse traders of the village named Bhai Nigahia Singh, gifted a horse to GURU SAHIB. Nabi Khan & Gani Khan were sent back with the bed. GURU SAHIB asked an old lady who was picking cow dung whether he could get some water from somewhere to take bath to which the old lady replied that " Pir Ji this is a place of ruins, there is no water here. There is a well far away but there is a big python that lives there, no one goes there. GURU SAHIB Ji hit the python with an arrow & gave it " Mukti " ( exemption from further transmigration ) & the python fell into the well. When the Sikhs went to fetch water, the water had gone bad so close to where GURU SAHIB was sitting, GURU SAHIB hit one more arrow & there was a water spring that came out & all the sikhs had a bath. On seeing this miracle, the old lady fell into GURU SAHIB's feet & said " Peer Ji you are a wonderful Peer, I have a request. I have leprosy & i have gone to various places to get the treatment done but it has not been cured, kindly cure my disease & help me to get rid of this disease. GURU SAHIB said that whoever takes a bath under this water spring with belief, GOD will cure all his sadness. Then GURU JI sat on the horse given by Bhai Nigahia Singh & went towards Raikot. The old lady had a bath in that water spring & was cured. She went back to the village & told about the whole story. The place where Bhai Nabi Khan & Bhai Gani Khan kept GURU SAHIB's bed, today at that place exists a beautiful Gurudwara known as Manji Sahib.

• PHILLAUR FORT:

The Phillaur fort  has a fascinating history behind it. Situated on the Grand Trunk  Road,  it  has a great  historical background. The  town  of  Phillaur in which  the  fort is located owes it origin to a Sanghera Jat, Phul,  who named it after himself as “Phulnagar”. The Naru Rajputs of Mau,  a nearby  township, had  cast covetous  eyes  on  Phillaur  and  eventually under their Chief Rae Shahr  they wrested it from the Jats. Rae Rattan  Pal,  the son of Rae Shahr, liked it so much that he abandoned Mau and settled in Phillaur. The Jats then left the place.Later, however, at some period unknown, the  Rajputs also deserted it. Nothing is known thereafter until the reign of the Mughal   Emperor Shah  Jahan  (1627-1658) when  an  imperial  Sarai  was  built  at  Phillaur. Later, the town was   occupied  by Kakarah Sikhs  and  held  until  Mahraja  Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) seized all  the Kakarah Estates. After  the  collapse  of  the Mughal Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent  Dewan Mohkam Chand,about the year 1809, to take possession of the Imperial Serai and converted it into  a formidable Fort with the help of his French and Italian officers, namely Generals Ventura, Allard, and Avitabile. It  was built  in  reply  to  the  British  who  had  built a  small  Fort  at Ludhiana on the remnantssaid to be of an old Lodhi Fort, and to guard  the  ferry of Phillaur. The British occupied this Fort in 1846  after the Sikhs  were  defeated in the battle of Aliwal. Phillaur, thereafter, became  a Cantonment  and  Fort remained under the charge of Army authorities till 1890 when it  was handed over to the  Civil authorities and has been used thereafter for police training purposes. The fort was renamed as 'Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort' by the Punjab Government by a notification dated 6th April, 1973.

• MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH WAR MUSEUM:

Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum is a major attraction is situated on GT Road, Ludhiana – Amritsar Highway (NH-1), about 5 KM from Ludhiana Railway Station covers an area of 4 acres. The foundation of this museum was laid in 1990. The museum was planned with an intention to create general awareness about the defense services. It's role is not only to protect the country but also to increase the bond of national integration and unity. This museum was established in 1999 by the Government of Punjab at an International standard in order to honor the courageous soldiers .

A huge statue of maharaja Ranjit singh sitting very proudly and magnificently on a throne can be seen at the entrance of the museum and on the left and right side of the statue we can see tanks, apec car, anti-aircraft gun, car scout and an old sukhoi fighter aircraft, along with a massive model of the ins vikrant .By climbing several steps we can reach the entrance hall and on its right side a row of photographs of the Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra award holders of Punjab are fixed and on its left side a row of the photographs of the generals, admirals, and air chief marshals of Punjab are fixed. The museum have 12 Galleries like Ancient History Gallery, Post Independence History Gallery, War Hero’s Gallery, Costume Gallery, Library, Kargil Gallery, Signal and Medical Corps Gallery, Air Force and Navy Gallery, Sound & Light Show hall, Audio Visual Theatre, Main Foyer etc. and also have 2 beautiful lawns where War trophies of Army, Navy & Air force are displayed.

In the Air Force and Navy Gallery we can see the exhibits of the various uniforms of the Indian army; air force and navy of the British era and also depicts the different stripes, medals and ranks won by the officials. War Hero’s Gallery exhibits the photographs and busts of Punjab’s army men who succeeds in the three wars in 1948,‘65, and ‘71. The six bust that stand in the gallery are of officers who had received Victoria Cross. In the light and sound hall regular shows are conducted through the effects of light and sound. These shows describes the courageous stories of Punjabi soldiers in the war of independence . Kargil Gallery displays the complete description of Kargil war. It describes the brief history of Kargil, Maskhoh Valley, Darass, Batalic and Kaksar area with map and huge blow up showing the true scene of war. It also exhibits a Diorama of Operation Vijay and also have a rotating transilate,which depicts the photographs of bravery awardees. A touch figure Multi-Media Kiosk has also been installed in this gallery for detailed information .Historic Gallery Gallery displays Diorama of 1st and 2nd battles of Panipat and Battle of Aliwal (Anglo Sikh War) and Blowups of Rama Ravna Yudh, Alexander and Porus, Maharaja Sher singh and Sardar Baghel Singh along with their great warriors. The Gallery is equipped with photographs of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Nawab Kapur Singh, Talking Soldiers of Krishna, Gupta, Mughal and Sikh era. Muti-Media kiosks have been installed for detailed information.

• BHATINDA:

Bathinda or Bhatinda, named after the Bhati Rajput kings, is one of the oldest cities in Punjab and the current administrative headquarters of Bathinda District. It is situated in north-western India in the Malwa (Punjab) Region. Courtesy to two artificial lakes in the city, Bathinda is also known as "The city of Lakes". Bathinda is a historical city. It was associated with the imprisonment of first woman emperor of India, Razia Sultan in 1239 in the fort here.

It is home to two modern thermal power plants, a fertilizer plant, a large oil refinery, a Zoo, and the Qila Mubarak fort. Bathinda is one of the biggest food grain and cotton markets in northern India, and the area around Bathinda has become a large grape growing area. Bathinda's railway station is one of the biggest railway junctions in the country and is currently undergoing a project for modernization.

• Attrractions of Bhatinda:

BHATINDA FORT:

Built in 1930, Bahia Fort once served as the formal residence to the family of the army of Patiala. This fort was converted into a plush hotel in 1980 and was renovated with a blend of modern and traditional architecture. From a non-star hotel of 1980, regular up-gradation sponsored by the Government of India has awarded this hotel with 4 stars in 2000, which happened to be the first of its kinds in Bhatinda. The Government of India has reconfirmed this status of 4-star again in 2009.Currently, Hotel Bahia Fort has 43 luxury rooms with modern facilities and a banquet hall befitting conferences or marriages with capacity to accommodate around 500 people. There is a Club Room, Beauty Parlour and Kitty Hall in this fort too.

• ROSE GARDEN:
  

This is a popular tourist and a weekend destination at Bhatinda. Located near the Thermal Plant and stretched over an area of 40,000 sq. metres, thisgarden blooms in all colours of roses during winter.Owing to itsconvenient location, near Bhatinda this garden is a popular picnic spot and attracts several visitors throughout the year.

QILA MUBARAK:

Located at the heart of Patiala is the beautiful Qila Mubarak. It is a fort cum palace and is a rare and superb example of Sikh Palace architectural style in India. It was constructed under the benevolent auspices of Maharaja Ala Singh in 1764. 

The whole complex comprises of Ran Baas (guest house) and the darbar Hall. It also has Quila Androon, with an underground sewerage system within the Quila. It is a worth visting place in Patiala.  

• DAMDAMA SAHIB  :
  
      

Towards the south of Bhatinda, around 18 km from the city is the hamlet ofTalwandi Tehsil or popularly known as Damdama Sahib. The place derives its name from a historic incident. Guru Gobind Singh, after the battles with Mughals at Chamkaur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and Muktsar, went to the forest of Malwa. In the Talwandi Sabo, Guru Gobind took “Dam” or rest for 9 months and 9 days and since then the place is called by this name. Damdama Sahib is busiest during the Baisakhi Fair.It is also known as Guru- ki- Kanshi, as Guru Gobind made this place a hub for preaching. This place is also known by the name of Khalse Da Takhat as he re-delivered Adi - Granth at this spot. Even a seal was prepared at this place. Damdama Sahib has three tanks and ten Gurudwaras. The Nanksar Sarovar was named after Guru Nanak Dev Ji who visited this hamlet in 1510 A.D when he went on his 2nd Padyatra to Rajputana. The Gurusar Sarovar was dug up as commanded by Guru Tej Bahadurji. The Akalsar Sarovar is linked with Guru Gobind Singhji and the water of this tank, if consumed is said to destroy all sufferings and diseases.

• MOHALI:

Mohali is situated in the west of Chandigarh and is an extension of the state capital. It is named after Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS Nagar), the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh. Mohali, Panchkula and Chandigarh make the Chandigarh, a Tri-city. The city has lush green surroundings, open and spacious places and ecosystems that sustain numerous bird species. Previously, the city was a part of the Rupnagar district of the state of Punjab.Flourishing with the pace of this modern world, the city has developed into one of the most significant sites for the IT industries. Headquarters of many IT companies such as Dell, Quark and Philips are located in Mohali that speak of its development in the recent past. Apart from an industrial center, the city has many things to offer to the travelling multitude.

• Attractions of Mohali:

ROSE GARDEN:

The Rose Garden of Chandigarh, also known as the Dr. Zakir Rose Garden, was established in 1967. It is counted amongst Asia's largest rose gardens. The garden was set up with the help of the late Dr. M. S. Randhawa, the first Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh.It is spread over an area of 27 acres and displays more than 17,000 plants and nearly 1,600 varieties of roses. The garden, apart from roses, has a variety of plants and trees such as bahera, yellow-gulmohar and camphor, some of which are medicinal as well. A major cultural event, known as the Rose Festival, is organised here in the months of February and March.

• CRICKET STADIUM-MOHALI:

Mohali Cricket Stadium, commonly known as the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, is located on the outskirts of Chandigarh. Established in 1993, it iscounted amongst the largest cricket stadiums in India, having a seating capacity of 45000 viewers. The construction of the site took three years to complete and cost around INR 25 crores.The stadium was inaugurated during the Hero Cup, a one-day international match played between India and South Africa, in 1993. The first test match was played in December 1994, between India and the West Indies. This stadium has also witnessed many ODIs, but arguably, the most exciting among all was the 1996 World Cup semi-final between Australia and the West Indies. It is also home to the Kings XI Punjab, one of the teams of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

ROCK GARDEN:

The Rock Garden is located in Sector 1, between the Capitol Complex and Sukhna Lake. It was founded by Nek Chand, a former Road Inspector in the Engineering Department of Chandigarh Capital Project. The Rock Garden is an open air exhibition, sprawling over several acres. Each of the displayed art is made of discarded waste materials like metal wires, marble, auto parts, mudguards, handle bars and stones.The entrance of the garden is adorned with an arrangement of rocks, brokenchinaware, boulders, discarded fluorescent tubes as well as broken and cast away glass bangles. The creator of the park has made use of various other material, such as building wastes, coal and clay, to form different figures like palaces, temples, soldiers, villages, monkeys and women. Other major attractions of the garden include a waterfall, numerous pools and an open air theatre.

SUKHNA LAKE: 

Sukhna lake offers the pedestrians a 2 km long stretch of road for ambling. Fitness freaks can be found roaming around the lakefront and performing yoga and other forms of exercises in morning and evening. Having the longest water stretchs in Asia for competitive rowing and yachting, this lake is one of the best Mohali attractions.

CHHATBIR ZOO: 

Chhatbir Zoo, also known as the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, issituated on the Chandigarh Patiala Road. The zoo covers an area of around 202 acres. The major attraction of this zoo is the Royal Bengal Tiger. The animals roam freely inside the zoo and visitors are given a tour in a caged vehicle. The zoo is home to around 950 species of animals and 85 types of resident as well as migratory birds.

• PATIALA:

Patiala presents a beautiful bouquet of life-style even to a casual visitor to the city. A brilliant spectrum of Rajput, Mughal and Punjabi cultures, a fine blend of modernity and tradition and a judicious synthesis of all that is beautiful in form and bold in spirit conjure up> a vision called 'Patiala'.Patiala, an erstwhile princely state, capital of PEPSU and a district headquarters of Punjab are situated in the Malwa region of Punjab. Malwa has the largest number Of districts in the reorganised Punjab, and antiquity of some of the cities goes back to the ancient and early medieval period. Patiala is relatively a young city, a few years more than two centuries old.The early history of the founders of Patiala state is more of a myth mystery than reality. The rulers of the erstwhile states of Patiala, Nabha and Jind trace their ancestry to one Chaudhary Phul. Apparently the appellation of dynasty 'Phulkian' is derived from their common founder. One of his sons, Chaudhary Ram Singh was baptised and blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. His son Ala Singh assumed the leadership in 1714 A.D. when Banda Bahadur was engaged in the fierce struggle against the Mughals. A man with vision and courage, Ala Singh carved out an independent principality from a petty Zamindari of 30 villages. Under his successors, it expanded into a big State, touching the Shivaliks in north, Rajasthan in the south and upper courses of the Jamuna and the Sutlej. While confronting the most trying and  challenging  circumstances in the middle eighteenth century, Baba Ala Singh, unlike many of his contemporaries, displayed tremendous courage and shrewdness in dealing with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas, and successfully established and maintained a state which he had started building up bit by bit from its nucleus Barnala. In 1763 Baba Ala Singh laid the foundation of the Patiala fort known as Qila Mubarak, around 'which the present city of Patiala is built.

Attractions of Patiala:

The Moti Bagh Palace, built in the 19th century, is designed after the famous Shalimar Gardens of Lahore with beautiful gardens, water channels, terraces and ”Sheesh Mahal”. The construction of Moti Bagh Palace was started during the reign of Maharaja Narinder Singh and was completed under the rule of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, in the early 20th century.  Moti Bagh Palace now houses the National Institute of Sports and the Art Gallery that contains rare photographs, medals and kits etc. of the great Indian sportsmen. It is open for the tourists from Tuesday to Sunday and entry is based on tickets.

SHEESH MAHAL: 

The then Maharaja of Patiala, Narendra Singh, built the Sheesh Mahal (in Patiala's Old Moti Bagh) in 1847, and his much-admired aesthetic sense governed the design and decoration of this stunning palace to a substantial extent. Maharaja Narendra Singh was widely acknowledged as a patron of the arts, and the Sheesh Mahal is definitely a tribute to his taste. It's a sprawling three-storied building, part-European and part-Mughal in appearance, set amidst landscaped gardens supposedly modeled on Lahore's Shalimar Bagh. Fountains, terraces and an artificial lake (near which is the Banasar Ghar, a repository for stuffed animals), verdant lawns and flowerbeds form the backdrop for the Mahal, with its two watchtowers at both end and a suspension bridge, modeled after the Laxman Jhoola at Rishikesh.

BARADARI GARDEN: 

Baradari Gardens lies to the north of old Patiala city, just outside the Sheranwala Gate.This sprawling garden-palace laid out around a Mughal-style baradari, was built in 1876 by the then ruler of Patiala Maharaja Rajinder Singh. Till then all the rulers of Patiala had lived at Qila Mubarak. The ruler wanted to move out of his residence and hence conceived the Baradari Kothi, the Baradari Gardens, the cricket ground, and the Patiala mono rail. The planning and construction of the gardens and the buildings were done by the ruler's younger brother Kaur Sahib Ranbir Singhji. This late 19th century palace, built in colonial style, housed the Punjab States Archives till recently.After the death of Maharaja Rajinder Singh in 1900, the new ruler Maharaja Bhupinder Singh - who was only nine years old - and later the Yuvraj (later Maharaja Yadavindra Singh), and the Maharaj Kumar (later Raja Bhalinder Singh), and his eldest sister the Maharaj Kumari Surinder Kaur continued to live in the Baradari Kothi.Sprawling over an area of 52 acres, the garden has a collection of all kinds of rare trees and huge fruit trees collected by the crown prince. The beautiful fern house and rock garden stands as an evidence to his interest. The fountain of the Baradari Gardens also attracts a large number of people.The Baradari Palace now houses the Punjab State Archives, a repository of rare documents of historical importance.

BIR MOTI BAGH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: 

Bir Moti Bagh wildlife sanctuary, located on the outskirts of Patiala, is a wildlife sanctuary which is a favorite destination for travelers who come to visit Patiala. The Bir was originally the hunting preserve of the Maharaja spread over an area of 1,600-acre. Most of the Bir is still forest, but parts of it have been converted into a zoo and a deer park, and a pilot project on medicinal plants.

QILA BAHADURGARH: 

Qila Bahadurgarh is located on the Patiala-Chandigarh Road on the outskirts of the city. Constructed by Nawab Saif Khan in 1658 AD and later renovated by Maharaja Karam Singh of the Patiala Royal family in 1837, Qila Bahadurgarh was considered impregnable due to its unique architecture.
Though in its heydays the fort had three massive walls and two huge moats, this citadel is in a dilapidated condition today. The name Bahadurgarh was given by Maharaja Karam Singh as a tribute to the Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur who stayed here for a while.Apart from its rich architecture, the fort has got a religious significance as well. The fort houses a Gurudwara, Gurdwara Sahib Patshai Nauvin, and a mosque, Saif Khan's Mosque, in its premises. Saif Khan's tomb is also found near the mosque.The best time to visit is during Mela Roza Sharit Nawab Saif Ali, a fair organized in the memory of Saif Khan in June and January.Currently, Bahadurgarh Fort is in the possession of Punjab Police.One can also visit Panch Bati Garden and Punjab University which are situated nearby.
Easily accessible, Qila Bahadurgarh is situated at a distance of 6 km from the city.

• FEROZEPUR:

FEROZEPOR, is a city in Ferozepur District in Punjab, India. The name Ferozepur obviously means the town of Feroze. The name of Ferozepur finds mention in the autobiography of Hitler (other than `Mein Camph') written by his Propaganda Minister Mr.Gobbles. During the war between Allies and Axis, the Allies used cartridges which were made in Ferozepur. In those days such ammunition was made in the Fort of Ferozepur. When Axis were loosing the battle, Hitler noted that on the said Cartridges “Made in Ferozepur” was inscribed and at that time he enquired as to where this city was because he wanted to destroy it.

• Attractions of Ferozepur:

ANGLO-SIKH WAR MEMORIAL: 

The Anglo Sikh War Memorial was built by the Punjab Government to honourthe soldiers who died while fighting against the British army at Mudki Ferozeshah Sabhraon and Chellianwala. It is a three storeyed building designed by the senior architect H S Chopra of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.Tourists can see quotes carved on bronze, relating to the wars of ShahMohammad and the Cunningham’s history of Sikhs. The Anglo Sikh War weapons from the Museum of Patiala are also displayed here. The Memorial Hall has paintings by the famous artist, Kirpal, portraying the wars of Ferozeshah Sabhraon, Chellianwala and Mudki.

NATIONAL MARTYR'S MEMORIAL: 

The National Martyrs Memorial, located in Hussainiwala is dedicated to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. National Martyrs Memorial was made to honour these great personalities for sacrificing their lives for the freedom of the country.

BARKI MEMORIAL:

 Barki Memorial  was set up in 1969 in memory of those soldiers of the 7 Infantry Division who laid down their lives on the battlefield in 1965, and paved the way for the fall of Barki, a town situated at a distance of 15 miles south-east of Lahore. The foundation stone of the Barki Memorial was laid on September 11, 1969. It has a pillar in the centre, a Patton tank and a Barki milestone in the south and a water fountain in the north. The pillar is 27 feet high, and is built of red and white sandstone.

HARIKE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: 

The Harike Wildlife Sanctuary is also known as the 'Hari-ke-Pattan'. It is located at the confluence of River Sutlej and River Beas, along the Ferozepur-Amritsar border. The site stretches over an area of about 86 sq km and was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999. It was considered as a Ramsar site in 1990 by the International Body of Wetlands.This sanctuary is home to many birds, including migratory birds from various regions like the Arctic region and Siberia. Around 375 bird species can be seen in the sanctuary. During the migratory season, travellers can spot around 45,000 ducks, in addition to shoveller, common teal, pintail, brahminy duck and wigeon. Different types of diving ducks like common pochard, tufted ducksandcrested pochard can be seen.Other animals like the jungle cat, Indian wild boar, common mongoose, smooth Indian otter and jackal can also be spotted here. Tourists can see 27different species of fish and 7 breeds of turtles in this sanctuary.

• FARIDKOT:

Faridkot District was part of the then Ferozepur Division but in the year 1996, Faridkot Division has been established with a Divisional headquarter at Faridkot which includes Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa districts. It  is situated between 29 degree 54 feet to 30 degree 54 feet north latitude and 74 degree 15 feet to 75 degree 25 feet east longitude. It lies in south west of the state and is surrounded by Ferozepur District in the north west, Moga and Ludhiana Districts in the north east and districts of Bathinda and Sangrur in the south.Headquarter of the district administration, lies on the Firozepur-Bathinda-Delhi Railway line. It is also connected by road with Chandigarh (218 km), Firozepur (32 km),Muktsar (45 km) and Bathinda (65 km). Faridkot, Kot Kapura and Jaitu Towns are linked by railway stations as well as by road.

• Attractions of Faridkot:

RAJ MAHAL: 

Raj Mahal was built during the reign of Maharaja Bikrama Singh during 1885-1889 under supervision of the, then Crown Prince (Later Maharaja) Balbir Singh, who incidentally was the first to move in and start living in it. Spread over nearly 15 acres, it presented a magnificent look with French design, dominating grassy lawns a mid semi desert area of the State.

FAIRY COTTAGE: 

Fairy Cottage is situated on the Chahal road, which is 7 km away fromFaridkot and is an ideal picnic spot. The cottage was built between 1910 and 1911 by Maharaja Brijinder Singh. The Check Tower is a part of the Fairy Cottage and is constructed near the entrance of the cottage.

DARBAR GANJ: 

Darbar Ganj, a beautiful bungalow, was used by visitors of the princely states. The complex has been transformed into a Circuit House and has a beautifulgarden.

GURUDWARA TILLA BABA FARID: 

This Gudwara is also known as Gurdwara Chilla Baba Farid and is situated in Faridkot City near Qila Mubarak.Once Baba Sheikh Farid, a Great Sufi Saint, was passing through Faridkot City (known as Mokalhar at that time). The soldiers of Raja Mokalsi (a Bhatti Chief of Rajasthan and Founder of Faridkot) captured Baba Farid and put him to bonded labour for the construction work of Faridkot Fort (known as Qila Mubarak). Baba Farid carried a basket full of Earth which was seen floating over his head. When Raja Mokalsi saw that miracle he fell at Baba Ji's feet and asked for forgiveness. Baba Ji pardoned Raja and did meditation for 40 Days at a place near the Fort where now Gurdwara Tilla or Chilla Baba Farid is situated. Baba Farid Ji had wiped his hands littered with mud with a piece of wood which has been preserved here. The name of the City was changed to Faridkot from Mokalhar from that Day. 116 Holy Hymns of Baba Ji have been incorporated in the Holy Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Baba Ji went to Pakpattan (in Pakistan) from this place.

QILA MUBARAK: 

It is about 700 Years Old. Its foundation was laid by Raja Mokalsi, a Bhatti Chief of Rajasthan. In the year 1775 A.D., Raja Hamir Singh reconstructed it and many new structures were added by Raja Bikram Singh (1842-1868 A.D.) and Raja Balbir Singh (1869-1906 A.D.). The structures inside the Fort are Royal Palace, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Mahal, Modi Khana, Darbar Hall, Tosha Khana and Treasury Buildings.

The Fort has been designed in European style of architecture and is built of small Nanakshahi bricks and lime mortar. It has more than 20 feet high ramparts and large bastions to mount guns. A multi-storeyed Deori exists at the entrance which has a 14 feet wide and 22 feet high wooden gate. The ceiling of the deori is adorned with splendid artistic patterns. On the first floor of the Deori is the beautifully designed Sheesh Mahal which is decorated with mirrors and wall paintings. Two big guns have been placed in the Baradari. The huge building of Moti Mahal lies towards the South of the entrance and the Modi Khana (the military barracks) and a Gurdwara towards the North. The 34 feet wide, 90 feet long and 22 feet high Darbar Hall is the main building having magnificent architecture. It remains cool even during summer season. A Garden also exists inside the Fort.

• GURDASPUR:

Gurdaspur was founded by Guriya Ji in the beginning of 17^th century. On his name, this city was named as Gurdaspur. He bought land for Gurdaspur from Jats of Sangi Gotra. It is also established that some people used to live in huts in the old city. Guriya Ji a Sanwal Brahmin of Kaushal Gotra belonged to a village Paniar situated 5 miles north of Gurdaspur. The ancestors of Guriya Ji came from Ayodhaya long time ago and settled in Paniar. Guriya Ji had two sons Sh.Nawal Rai and Sh.Pala Ji. The descendants of Nawal Rai settled in Gurdaspur Nawal Rai’s son Baba Deep Chand was a contemporary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the title of Ganj Bakhsh (Owner Of Treasure) to Baba Deep Chand. The descendants of Baba Deep Chand are known as Mahants.

Little is known about the ancient history of the district except a few antiquities like the rock temples at Mukheshwar Gurdaspur along with its neighbouring districts was the same of the explicits of Alexander, who came up to River Beas in his grand design of world conquest. He faught a grim battle with the Kathaians at Sangala which is located near Fatehgarh in Gurdaspur.

From the latter half of the 10th century up to 1919 A.D this district was ruled by the Shahi dynasty under Jayapal and Anandpal. Kalanaur in this district was the most important town during the period of Delhi Emperor from 14th to 16 th century it wastwice attacked by Jasrath Khokhar, once after his un successful assault on Lahore in 1422 and again in 1428 when Malik Sikander marched to relieve the place and defeated Jasrath It was have that Akbar was installed by Bairam Khan on a throne on Feb 1556. The messonary, plat form which still exists about a kilometre and a half to the east of the town is the actual spot upon which his installation took place.

In the decline and fall of the Mughal supermacy and the rise of the Sikh power this district saw, its most stiring scenes. Some of the sikh Gurus have been closely associated with the district. Guru Nanak, born in 1469 in the Lahore district, married in 1485 with Sulkhani, daughter of Mool Chand, a Khatri of Pakhoke (Dera Baba Nanak) in the Batala Tehsil. There is still a wall known as Jhoolana Mahal which swings in Gurdaspur. The Sikh Guru Hargobind refounded Shri Hargobindpur which had been formerly known by the name of Rahila. Banda Bahadur, the disciple of Guru Gobind Singh used this district as a base to raid the country upto Lahore, the emperor Bahadur Shah conducted an expedition against him in 1711 but with only temporary effect. Banda Bahadar fought his last battle with the Mughal at Gurdas Nangal in the district and was captured. The history of the district then degenerates into an account of their restruggles of the rival Ramgarhia and Kanhaya Misals for supermacy in this part of the Doab, the power of the former was broken in 1808 and of the latter in 1811 by

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who thus assumed way over the whole district. Dinanagar, with its pleasant mango gardens and running canal was a favourite summer residence of the lion of the Punjab, who when not elsewhere engaged used spent here the two hot weather months of May and June.

During partition of India in 1947 the future of Gurdaspur could not be decided for many days. As majority of population of this district was Muslim. REDCLIFF Awards of Boundary transferred only Shakargarh Tehsil Of Gurdaspur district to Pakistan, and the rest of the district was transferred to India. Muslim population of the district migrated to Pakistan and refugees, the Hindus and the Sikhs of Sialkot and Tehsil Shakargarh migrated to Gurdaspur after crossing the Ravi bridge. They settled and spread in Gurdaspur district.Total area of the district is 2610 Sq.Km. It Consist of 11 blocks; Gurdaspur ,Dhariwal, Kalanaur, Dorangla, Kahnuwan, Dinanagar ,Batala, Qadian, Shri Hargobindpur, Fatehgar Churian & Dera Baba Nanak.The Gurdaspur district is the northern most district of Punjab state. It falls in the Jalandhar division and is sandwitched between river Ravi and Beas. The district lies between north-latitude 31⁰-36' and 32⁰-34' and east longitude 74⁰-56' and 75⁰-24' and shares common boundaries with Pathankot district in the north, Beas River in the north-east, Hoshiarpur district in the south-east, Kapurthala district in the south, Amritsar district in the south west and Pakistan in the north west.

DERA BABA NANAK: 

As its name defines its related to SHRI GURU NANAK DEV JI. GURU SAHIB used to worship GOD on bank of well Ajita Randhawa da khooh after his first udasi in 1515. On the Stage situated in the Gurudwara Sahib GURU SAHIB had dsicussion with Ajita Randhawa. Later the golden guband was made by Maharaj Ranjit Singh ji. Dera Baba Nanak being situated only 1 km from india pakistan border, GURUDWARA SRI KARTARPUR SAHIB can be seen from the Border with naked eyes.

RANJIT SAGAR DAM: 

The earliest recorded proposal of storage on the river Ravi was mooted in 1912 for a 200 ft . high Dam near village Thein. It was inspected by committee headed by Mr. Willey in 1926-27 who had recommended to carry out the survey of the area, but up till 1954 nothing substantial was done except inspections by Geologists. It was in 1957 that the proposal of storage Dam on Ravi River materialized into an Irrigation scheme. The power generation aspect was then postponed to a future date. The first multipurpose project report was submitted to Government of India in 1964. Finally the project was accorded approval by Government of India in April 1982.Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam) Project is one of the largest multipurpose river valley project on the river Ravi about 24 KMs up-stream of Madhopur Head Works. It houses four generating units of 150 MW each with total installed capacity of 600 MW. It has firm power of 162 MW at 100% load factor. 4.6% of energy generated is supplied free of cost to H.P. and 20% of energy generated is to be supplied to J&K at the generated cost at the Bus Bar. The Project has been conceived as a peaking station. The power generated is being fed into the existing 220 KV Grid substation at Sarna.

FISH PARK:

Fish Park offers the scope for hangouts and relaxation. It is located in Civil Lines, a cluster of homes in the city. Some years back, it used to be the center for purchasing food items for the fish. Today, though there is no fish in the park, it is called so owing to the statue of the fish in the center. It is very well maintained.

SHAHPUR KANDI FORT:

Shahpur Kandi is a strategic fort famous in Punjab as a  hanging rest house which is one of its kind and worth a visit. It was built in 16th century at a distance of about 7 km from Pathankot ( a little north of Madhopur). Shahpur Kandi fort lies on the banks of Ravi River and is famous for its impressive view. The fort is transformed into a lovely rest house by the authorities to promote tourism. Shahpur Kandi is a link between Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India. On the way to Shahpur Kandi, there are some caves of the period of Mahabharata that are believed to be visited by Pandavas during their exile.

ACHLESHWAR TEMPLE: 

This age-old temple is situated just opposite to the Gurdwara Shri Achal Sahib on the fringes of Chahal and Salho villages. Based on the writings on the board of the temple it is believed that this temple belongs to the Satyuga period and is devoted to Lord Kartik, the son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.

• HOSHIARPUR:

Hoshiarpur district is located in the north-east part of the State. It falls in the Jalandhar Revenue Division and is situated in the Bist Doab, Doaba region of the State. The district is submountainous and stretches of river Beas in the north-west.It shares common boundaries with Kangra and Una districts of Himachal Pardesh in the north east, Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts (interspersed) in south-west and Gurdaspur district in the north-west.The district has mild climate compared to other districts of the State. This is due to the abundance of hilly terrain on the one hand and sizeable forest covers thereon, on the other. Moreover, chain of check dams constructed recently on the choes under "Kandi Watershed Development Project" have appreciably enhanced water surface area in the distict. This has made the summer hights quite pleasant.

• Attractions of Hoshiarpur:

TAKHNI-REHMAPUR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY:

Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located near Takhni village on Hoshiarpur - Mahingrowal road in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary covers 382 hectares about 944 acres of government land, Out of which 498 acres of land belongs to Takhni village and the rest belongs to Rehmapur village of Hoshiarpur district. Takhni Rehmapur Sanctuary is positioned at the foot hills of Shivalik range of Himalayas and is an ideal Foot Hill Ecosystem. This sanctuary is covered with dry deciduous, moist deciduous scrub and chir pine forest.

Barking deer, Cobra, Garden Lizard, Hare, Hog deer, Indian Pangolin, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Mongoose, Monitor Lizard, Porcupine, Python, Rat Snake, Sambar (wild deer), Wild Boar, and Red Jungle Fowl etc are the important fauna species found in the sanctuary. The main flora (plant) species found in the sanctuary are - Arjun, Mangifera Indica (mango), Amla, Bargad, Bamboo, Dhak, Khair, Kikar, Krembal , Mesquite, Neem, Pipal, Chilbil Papri, Shisham, Siris, Subabul etc are the significant flora species of this sanctuary.

TOMB OF SHAH NOOR JAMAL:

The Tomb of  Shah Noor Jamal in the Saleran village is around 15 km away from the city of Hoshiarpur, on the Hoshiarpur-Dharamshala Road. It was built in Hijri 1334 and is famous for the two day annual fair held in the month of March. The tomb has three graves, including the grave of Shah Bur Jamal, a Muslim saint and the graves of his parents. 

KAMAHI DEVI TEMPLE:

The Kamahi Devi Temple is at a distance of around 11 km from Jhir di Khuhi on the main Mukerian-Talwara Road. It is situated in the Beh Nangal village and is believed to have been built by the Pandavas. This temple was originally named as the Kamakshi Devi Temple which was later on changed to Kamahi Devi Temple.

SHEESH MAHAL: 

Sheesh Mahal was constructed in 1911 by Lala Hans Raj Jain. The interior walls and roofs of the palace are decorated with glass work. The first floor has paintings depicting the coronation ceremony of George V while the ground floor has statues of different gods and goddesses.

• SANGRUR:

The District of Sangrur takes its name from its headquarters town, Sangrur. It is said to havebeen founded by one Sanghu, a Jat, about four hundred years back.It is bounded by Ludhiana district in the north, by Barnala district in the west, by Patiala district in the east and by Ftehbad district (State Haryana) in the south.The climate of the district is on the whole dry and is characterised by a short monsoon, a hot summer and a bracing cold winter. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season from November to March is followed by the hot season lasting up to the end of June. The period from July to mid-September constitutes the rainy season, of south-west monsoon, the second half of September and October may be termed the post-monsoon or transition period.Winds are generally light but do gain some strength during the late summer and early part of the monsoon season. In the south-west monsoon season winds from easterly and southeasterly directions are more common with north-westerlies blowing on some days. In the post-monsoon and winter seasons, the predominant wind direction is north-westerly. In the summer, winds are generally from north-westerly direction but on some day sthey blow from south-east.

• Attractions of Sangrur:

BANASAR GARDEN: 

Banasar Garden has marble baradari in the centre of the swimming tanks. The baradari has a beautiful bridge and marble gate. The rulers of Jind State used to spend their summers here. It presents a splendid view during moonlit nights due to reflections in water surrounding it.A well planned Banesar Garden in the north of the city with an attractive marble baradari is a popular picnic spot. There is also a mini zoo in the Banasar Garden. Adjacent to Banasar, there is another important building known as Diwankhana. Here, Raja of Jind used to hold Darbar during the princely times. At present there is a beautiful museum wherein weapons and other important articles belonging to princely times have been displayed. 

GURUDWARA AKOI SAHIB: 

The Gurdwara Akoi Sahib is situated 5 km north of Sangrur City, on the Malerkotla-Sangrur Road of Akoi Village. This gurdwara has been visited by first, sixth, and ninth Sikh gurus, namely Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to this place from Nanakiana Sahib of Mangwal Village, in 1504. At that time, only a dense forest existed in the place. It is said that, with the blessings of the guru, the place prospered and turned into a complete city.Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji visited this place in 1616, during his trip from Amritsar to Nanak Matta, while Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji visited this place in 1665, along with his mother, wife and maternal uncles.

• GURUDWARA MANJIB SAHIB PATSHAHI 9TH & 10TH:

The gurdwaras of Manji Sahib Patshahi IX and X are situated 13 km west of Dhuri, on the Dhuri-Barnala Road of Mulowal Village. The place is said to have been visited by the ninth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He came here during his journey of the Malwa region, while coming back from Rajo Majra Village. At this place, the guru took bath in the pond and made a foundationby laying four bricks. One of those bricks has still been preserved here.

• NAWANSHAHR:

Nawanshahr district was carved out of Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts of Punjab in November 7, 1995 on the auspicious occasion of birthday of Sh. Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the sixteenth district of Punjab State.People of this district are economically sound. Large numbers of families from the district have settled in countries like Canada, UK, and USA etc. Consequently huge remittance is being received by their kith and kin back in India which contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the district.

All the towns and the villages are well connected by roads. Nawanshahr has also rail track connecting it with Jalandhar, Rahon and Jaijon. District enjoys the rare honour of being the native village of Shahid Bhagat Singh whose ancestral village Khatkar Kalan falls in it.

• Attractions of Nawanshahr:

GURUDWARA NABH KANWAL:

Gurudwara Nabh Kanwal was dedicated to Maharaja Raja Sahib, who wasconsidered to be as pure as a lotus, which is why the Gurudwara has kanwal, meaning lotus, in its name. The nearby villages of Jhingram and Rehpa have several Gurudwara buildings.  

• SHIVALA BANNA MALL:

The Shivana Banna Mall has a long history behind it, similar to that of Nawanshehar and is located just opposite to the Municipal Corporation Office of Nawanshehar. The place was constructed by the chief minister for Maharaja Kapurthala. The minister also constructed several schools and hospitals in the area.

SURAJ KUND RAHON:

In Rahon there is a old Sarovar (Pool) and a temple Suraj Kund. It is situated in the south direction. According to a myth in all over India there are only two and a half kunds, from which one is in Rahon, half in Haridwar and one in Nasik. All these Kunds are related with Shri Ram Chander Ji.

• KIRPAL SAGAR:

In village Dariapur near rahon , Kirpal Sagar is built as a sign of human unity. At this place the worship place of four religions ( HINDU, MUSLIM, SIKH, CHRISTIAN) are made at the four corners of an egg shaped pool. In between a pyramid, a common symbol of four religions is under construction.

• GURUDWARA BHAI SINGH HIYALA:

In village Hiyala situated in the lap of Nawanshahr there is beautiful Gurudwara named "Baba Bhai Sikh". At this place a big fair is held very year on and a day after Dussehra. According to a myth Baba Bhai Sikh was a native of village Jhingran. Then he started living here. He used to graze cattle. Along with his work he used to meditate and give spiritual discourse to the people. According to him "To serve humanity is the greatest worship of God". The place  where Gurudwara is built used to be the residence of Baba Bhai Sikh.

• KAPURTHALA: 

Kapurthala district is in many ways an unique and harmonious blend of the glorious past, pulsating present and a promising future. What is probably the single most significant historical event of this region is the Enlightenment of Guru Nanak sahib in the year 1499, while bathing in the Bein rivulet, in the little town of Sultanpur Lodhi. It is after receiving this grace that he sowed the seeds of Sikh faith from here. Guru Nanak sahib spent 14 years of his life in this town, meditated under the Ber tree (which still exists) and journeyed from here to various parts of the world spreading the message of oneness. For anyone who imbibes his message, Sultanpur Lodhi is an overwhelming experience. It is this heritage of spiritualism that is evidenced even today in the peace-loving, harmonious and tolerant nature of the people of Kapurthala. It is in the rekindling of this lost spirit that the future of Punjab lies. 

The vestiges of the royalty that ruled Kapurthala still gloriously mark the present day city of Kapurthala. It was one of the first cities in Punjab to get modern amenities like sewerage, drinking water and communication systems, which still work. The spectacular Jagatjit Palace styled after the French palace of Versailles is like a bejeweled crown in the landscape of Punjab. The unique Moorish Mosque, Shalimar garden, Panj Mandir, the stately Durbar Hall, the beautiful  Kamera garden complex with the majestic rest house etc are major places of tourist attraction. Add to these the other tourist attractions like the scenic Kanjli wetland bird sanctuary near kapurthala , the Pushpa Gujral Science City and above all Sultanpur Lodhi, all in one compact area, this region comes alive like an enduring celebration. This star studded necklace of a tourist circuit has all the potential to be a major international tourist attraction.

• Attractions of Kapurthala:

RAIL COACH FACTORY: 

Established in 1986, RCF (RAIL COACH FACTORY) is a coach manufacturing unit of Indian Railways. RCF has already carved a niche in the industrial scenario of the country at large and Indian Railways, in particular. It has manufactured around 16000 passenger coaches of 51 different types including Self Propelled passenger vehicles which constitute over 35% of the total population of coaches on Indian Railways.

PUSHPA GUJRAL SCIENCE CITY: 

This Science City has been set up in 72 acres of land in the of heart of Punjab, on Jalandhar- Kapurthala Road. It is intended to inclucate the scientific aptitude & temperament, to fire the imagination and creativity, foster the spirit of enquiry and exploration among the masses, especially in the young minds.The subject areas covered include physical, applied, natural and social sciences, engineering, technology, agriculture, health sciences, energy, industries, human evolution and civilization, the environment, ecosystems, Jurassic parks as well as frontier areas like space, nuclear science, information technology, robotics and Bio-technology.

SHALIMAR GARDENS: 

A beautifully well-laid compact garden with swimming pool and mausoleums of erstwhile rulers of Kapurthala is filled with piece and is a great spot for spending leisure time. The Shalimar Gardens where Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharaja Fateh Singh had met. There are also "Samadhis" of former rulers of Kapurthala State in this historic garden having excellent work on art of them. In addition have a pond, a park & a library. The Basant Panchi Mela is organized every year in this significant garden. The State Gurudwara located in the city centre, was built by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh.

JAGATJIT PALACE: 

A wonderful historic destination for tourists, Jagatjit Palace is one of the famous places of the city which was considered as the residence of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh in the past. This palace was built in the 1908 and is very popular for its beautiful architecture. This Palace is located at a distance of 3 Kms from Kapurthala.

BHAGAT SINGH MEMORIAL MUSEUM: 

Bhagat Singh Museum was built in order to pay homage to the great revolutionary martyrs of Punjab, who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of their motherland. It was inaugurated on the 50th martyrdom anniversary of Martyr Sardar Bhagat Singh. The museum exhibits the blood stained newspapers, blood soaked sand and the half burnt ashes of Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.The page of the Lahore Conspiracy Case Judgement is also showcased in the museum. Many other articles like a copy of holy Gita with Sardar Bhagat Singh's signatures and various old paintings are also on display in the museum. A huge bronze idol in the memory of great martyr is placed in front of the museum that attracts a number of tourists.

• MOGA

Moga District is the 17th District drawn on the map of Punjab State on 24th day of November 1995. Before this, Moga was the sub-division of Faridkot District. Moga town the head quarter of the District is situated on Ferozpur-Ludhiana road.Moga district has the proud of being the birth place of Lala Lajpat Rai Ji, the great freedom fighter.

• Attractions of Moga:

• GEETA BHAWAN:

Geeta Bhawan is a beautiful temple located in the vicinity of the Kashmiri Park. The Geeta Bhawan Trust runs a school named Geeta Bhawan Public School. The mirror mosaic work and the residence of Swami Vaidantanand ji Maharajare the prime attractions of the site.

GURUDWARA GURUSAR: 

Gurudwara Gurusar is located in the Lopon village, on the south-eastern side of the Moga District. It is believed that Guru Hargobind Singh visited this place. The present structure of the Gurudwara was constructed by Giani Indar Singh of Bhindran in 1960. The shrine has a spacious rectangular hall and domedsanctum that represent the Sikh style of architecture. The activities of the Gurudwara are managed by the manager appointed by the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee.

GURUDWARA LOHGARH SAHIB: 

Gurudwara Lohgarh Sahib, also known as the Dina Sahib, is situated in the Dina Village. It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh visited this site on his way to Muktsar. The Gurudwara is constructed in the memory of Guru Gobind Singh. The Guruji discarded his blue dress of Uch Ka Pir at this place. It is believed that when Guru Gobind Singh resided in the village, the Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan ordered to arrest him and send him to Sirhind.

It is considered that, within the premises of the shrine, Guru Gobind Singh wrote the famous letter to Emperor Aurangzeb, a Zafarnama in Persian language. Major Sikh anniversaries and a religious fair organised on the occasion of Maghi on 14th January every year are celebrated in the shrine. Prakash Divas of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh are also celebrated in the Gurudwara.