Punjab is a state in northwestern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the Indian states and union territories of Himachal Pradesh to the north and northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, Rajasthan to the southwest, Jammu and Kashmir to the north. To the west, it shares an international border with the identically named Pakistani province of Punjab. Chandigarh serves as a shared captial for Punjab as well as Haryana. The state covers an area of 50,362 square kilometres, which is 1.53% of India's total geographical area, making it the 19th-largest Indian state by area out of 28 Indian states. With over 27 million inhabitants, Punjab is the 16th-largest Indian state by population, comprising 23 districts. Punjabi, written in the Gurmukhi script, is the most widely spoken and the official language of the state. The main ethnic group are the Punjabis, with Sikhs (57.7%) and Hindus (38.5%) forming the dominant religious groups. Three of the five traditional Punjab rivers — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — flow through the state. Punjab sits at an elevation of 300 m and is typically explored in about 3-4 days. The most favourable months to visit are November, February, March, and October, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Qila Mubarak, Jallianwala Bagh, and Sheesh Mahal, Patiala. Other notable highlights include the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Sikhism’s holiest shrine, the nightly Wagah Border retreat ceremony, and jallianwala Bagh’s poignant independence-era memorial. It falls within Jagraon Tahsil district.
State: Punjab
Ideal Duration: 3-4 Days
November, February, March, October
Two to three days is enough for Amritsar’s Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagah Border; add a day for Anandpur Sahib or Patiala.
Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) is the main gateway for the Golden Temple and Wagah Border.
The Golden Temple, the Wagah Border ceremony, its rich Sikh heritage, and vibrant Punjabi food and culture.
October to March offers the most comfortable weather; summers can exceed 40°C.
Yes, Amritsar in particular is very well set up for group and pilgrim tourism, with wheelchair assistance available at the Golden Temple.