PUNJAB GUIDE |
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Punjab the land of five rivers, was spilt
down the middle at Independence. Indian Muslims
fled west in to Pakistan, Hindus east, in an
exodus accompanied by horrific massacres. The
Sikhs meanwhile threw in their lot with India,
which they considered a safer option. Punjab
also known as the land of Plenty. There is no dearth of breathtaking
palaces, for Punjab was the seat of royality, as
the imposing Quila Mubarak will tell you.
Museums galore and so are the religious places
with the Golden Temple offering succour to the
mind and soul of any one visiting.
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Guide |
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PUNJAB INFORMATION |
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| Punjab is an Indo-Iranian word meaning
"the land of five rivers". Punjab lies at the
cross-roads of the great civilizations of the world.
Historicaly, the area west of Punjab was under the
sphere of influence of the Persians, the east was the
heartland of the Indian civilization, the south under
the influence of the Arabs and the north under the
Turko-Mongolian influence. Many great religious
movements which found world-wide appeal grew in the
fertile plains of Punjab. They include Budhism, Sikhism
and many schools of Sufi thought in Islam . This ethnic
and religous diversity is reflected in the cultural
mosaic of todays's Punjab. |
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PUNJAB FACTS AND FIGURES |
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Area:
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50,362 sq km |
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Capital: |
Chandigarh |
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Languages:
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Punjabi, Hindi |
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Location: |
North West India |
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Per Capita Income: |
8,321 |
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Religion: |
Hindu |
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Main Income: |
Tourism, Agriculture, Indusry |
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Total Districts: |
17 |
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Number of Villages: |
12,673 |
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Time to visit: |
October to March |
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PUNJAB HISTORY |
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| Punjab is the wellspring of Indian
culture. Traditional literature the Ramayana and
Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Vedas, all take us back to
Punjab. Archaeolgiststs find the earliest evidence of
recognisably Indian civilisation in the excavation of
Punjab's Harappan sites. The uninterrupted continuity of
Indian culture flows forth from ancient Punjab.Artifacts
dating back to the Pleistocene Age have been found in
the valley of Kangra, Pehalgam, and Hoshiarpur. These
finds testify to the cultural unity extending to the
whole of the region. The Harappa-Ropar and Sanghol
civilisations were the outcome of the culture that
developed over a vast area. The Harappan civilisation
perhaps was overwhelmed by the village folk, who,
although did not belong to a different culture,
represented a different pattern of life. There is no
conclusive evidence to prove that the authors of the Rig
Veda came to the land of seven rivers from any outside
country. The whole complex of Rigvedic hymns shows them
settled in this region from the outset and considering
it their sacred land and original home .Sage Priyamedha
Sindhukshit in the famous ‘Hymn of Rivers" (Nadi-stuti)
after invoking the favour of rivers soars to a high
pitch of exultation in his reference to the Sindhu. He
clearly states that his ancestors were the inhabitants
of the land through which the river flowed from ages
immemorial.The Vedic and the later Epic periods of the
Punjab were socially and culturally the most prolific.
The Rig Veda was composed here.During the period quite a
number of centres learning and culture were established.
Panini and Vishnu Gupta were associated with
this.religion , Philosophy, grammer, law, astrology,
medicine and warfare were taught . Yasak’s Nirkuta and
Panini’s Ashtadhyayi are those classic creations of
which help us to understand the language and culture of
the ancient Punjab. |
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PUNJAB TOURIST ATTRACTIONS |
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| Golden Temple (Amritsar) » Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar) » Wagha Border (Amritsar)
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PUNJAB FAIRS AND FESTIVALS |
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Fairs or Melas in Punjabi are synonymous with the joy
and gaiety; and in the countryside where the life
follows a hard routine, nothing is more welcome to the
people than the prospect of a festival or a mela. A
rural mela in Punjab has a great significance. It is not
just an occasion for festivity and mass gathering but it
is an unbounded expression of the spirit of the inner
freedom, of creative pride, of zest for life, and of
colorful traditions of the people of Punjab.People come
to participate in fairs from far-off places, trudging
dusty distances. Most of the fairs are held in memory of
a saint or a pir, and people from all communities living
in a village participate in it. Men women and children
of all ages, classes and creeds flock in hundreds and
enjoy the numerous fascinating features of the fair;
races, wrestling bouts, singing, acrobatics, etc. They
play on folk instruments, such as vanjli and algoza.A
fair is enchantingly picturesque. A bustling market
springs up in which articles of food and products of
local handicrafts-toys, glass bangles, and an assortment
of all kinds of articles for domestic use are on
display. There is fun and frolic all round. The gay ones
in small groups sing boli’s and perform folk-dances to
the strain of the vanjli and algoza. The sturdy ones
test their strength in wrestling fields. It is a feast
of color and gaiety and fully reflects the joy of the
community. The fairs of the Punjab are linked with its
culture and reflect by and large the various phases of
its life.Punjab Most Important Festivals
Maghi, Lohri, Karva Chauth, Dusshera, Diwali, Saraswati Puja, Holi. |
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HOW TO REACH |
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By Air : Chandigarh has excellent air service,
and it is linked with Delhi. Ludhiana and Amritsar also
have daily air service to New Delhi. Furthermore,
Amritsar airport is an international airport. By
airplane, from Delhi one can reach any city in Punjab
within two hours.
By Rail : Punjab is well connected with major
cities of India.
By Road : Good metalled roads
connect all the major towns with Chandigarh and Delhi. |
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PUNJAB MAJOR CITIES |
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| Chandigarh » Amritsar » Bathinda » Patiala |
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PUNJAB WILDLIFE AND BIRDS |
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One of the least known facts about Punjab is that it is
the natural habitat for a variety of flora and fauna.
There are a number of wetlands, bird sanctuaries and
zoological parks all over Punjab. So, even in this land
of myriad cultural colours, you can enjoy a Lion Safari
at Chhatbir Zoo near Chandigarh or just watch the exotic
migratory birds fly in at Hari Ke Pattan in Amritsar.
Read on to find out more about the wildlife in
Punjab.Hari-ke-pattan- National Wetland & Wildlife
Sanctuary, Amritsar It is one of the most important
lakes in India. The lake turns into a haven for nearly
350 species of migratory birds the winter season
(November-onwards). A number of colourful and exotic
birds fly in from as far as Siberia. It is also one of
India's leading in-land sweet water fish market and home
of varied wild life. The nearest districts are Harike,
Amritsar, Kapurthala and Ferozepur. |
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PUNJAB ARTS AND CRAFTS |
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Art is described as a creation or expression of
something beautiful especially in a visual form and arts
and Crafts as a phrase means decorative designs and
handicrafts. In this field, also, Punjab has a
distinguished tradition, which its people have
maintained in spite of the passage of time.
Plastering the walls with mud and drawing ferns, plants,
several other fascinating motifs has been a way of life
of the woman of Punjab. They have also been making paper
mache utencils made by mixing paper and various kinds of
earth, for storing house hold necessities in colourful
designs.
The mudwalls of the rural houses in Punjab are painted
on festive occasions like Dushera, Karva chauth( the day
on which fast is observed by the women for the well
being of their husbands), Holi, Diwali etc.. One is
spellbound by the attractive and intricaterly composed
patterns and designs painted on the mudwalls which are
intended to invoke the blessings and welcome Lakshmi,
the goddess of wealth and plenty. These drawing are
mostly done by the women. The art of mudwall paintings
in Punjab is called Chowk-Poorana. |
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PUNJAB ECONOMY |
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The economy of Punjab is characterized by a productive,
increasingly commercial agriculture, a diversity of
small and medium-scale industries, and the highest per
capita income in the nation.The state's economy is
characterized by agriculture and small and medium-scale
industry. With about 70 percent of its people engaged in
agriculture, Punjab accounts for as much as one-quarter
of India's output of wheat. Other crops include corn
(maize), rice, millet, barley, and edible seeds,
together with cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, and oilseeds.
Most of the land is irrigated through various
river-valley projects. The area's great success in
increasing agricultural production since the 1960s is
largely attributable to the so-called Green Revolution,
which has stressed the introduction of modern farming
methods, new seeds and fertilizers, and irrigation. |
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