Punjab — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Tour highlights
- Marvel at the magnificent Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest of all Sikh temples
- Join the boisterous crowds for the flamboyant evening border closing ceremony at Wagha to watch Indian and Pakistani soldiers prance and strut on their respective sides before ritually slamming the gates shut for the night
- Explore the surreal Rock Garden in Chandigarh, one of India’s strangest and most unique sights — an essential visit on any Punjab tour
- Stop off at Patiala near Chandigarh, a town that boasts some worthwhile gardens and palaces
- Check out the temples and forts at Pathankot as you take a break on the road to Himachal Pradesh or Jammu and Kashmir
- Take time to visit some of the many small towns and villages of the region for a real flavor of Punjab
Travel tips
- The best time for a Punjab trip is from October to March. This corresponds with the winter in Punjab, and temperatures are comfortably cool, bordering on cold in December and January. Summer, from April to June, can be uncomfortably hot, and July to September is the monsoon season.
- Punjab, like many parts of India, has a large number of festivals. Make sure you check what is taking place while you are there to give yourself a chance of experiencing some of the colorful local celebrations.
- As one of the more affluent parts of India, Punjab is generally a relatively safe place to travel. However, you should still keep your wits about you — be careful of pickpockets and take the usual precautions about not traveling alone in unfamiliar places at night.
- Hospitality is an important aspect of the Sikh religion. As part of this, free meals are served in Gurudwaras (Sikh temples), and you can also stay for free in the Golden Temple itself. However, don’t overstay your welcome — maximum two or three nights is about right — and don’t forget to leave a donation when you leave.
- Punjab is known as the ‘breadbasket of India’, and sampling local cuisine there is a special treat. Specialties include butter chicken and chana masala (chickpea curry) — both well-known throughout India (and internationally!) but done best in Punjab.
For more holiday ideas in India, take a look at our trips to India.