RegionOutline guide

Punjab (India)

State in northwestern India

Photo: Authors of above images; Compiled by User:RaviC, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Punjab or Panjab (Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬ Pañjāb) is a state in Northwestern India, bordering Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to the northeast and north respectively, and Chandigarh, Haryana and Rajasthan to the southeast, south and southwest respectively.

Regions

Doaba
The area between Beas and the Sutlej rivers.
Majha
The border area with Pakistan and the birthplace of Sikhism, home to the Golden Temple.
Malwa
The southern part of the state.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
Punjab is very well connected by rail, with frequent services linking it to major cities across India.
By road
Punjab has an extensive and well‑maintained road network, making it easy to enter the state from neighbouring regions.

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Getting around

By two-wheeler
Two‑wheelers are a popular way to explore cities and smaller towns, offering flexibility and ease of movement through traffic.
By auto-rickshaw
Auto‑rickshaws are widely available in all cities and towns and are ideal for short distances. They are inexpensive, quick, and easy to hail from the roadside.
By bus
Punjab has an extensive bus network connecting almost every town and village.

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Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Halwara International Airport

Halwara · International · HWR

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Cities

Chandigarh

India's first planned city, the joint capital of both Haryana and Punjab.

Read before you go to Punjab (India)

Articles and travel topics about Punjab (India) and India.

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Inspiration

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandPunjab’s history is one of the oldest and most influential in South Asia, shaped by its fertile plains, powerful rivers, and position along major migration and trade routes.

TalkPunjab is a linguistically vibrant state, and language plays a major role in its cultural identity.

Get inPunjab is very well connected by rail, with frequent services linking it to major cities across India.

Get aroundTravelling by car is one of the most convenient ways to get around Punjab. The state has excellent highways and smooth intercity roads, especially along the Delhi–Ambala–Ludhiana–Jalandhar–Amritsar corridor.

See

SportsKabaddi is the most iconic sport of Punjab. The state hosts major tournaments, including the famous Kabaddi World Cup (circle style), which draws large crowds and teams from around the world.

DoPunjab’s spiritual heart lies in its gurdwaras, the most famous being the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

BuyMarkets here are a shopper's haven, but only if you're not afraid to haggle and bump elbows in bazaars.

WorkPunjab has a strong work culture shaped by agriculture, industry, and a large global diaspora.

EatWhile it is widely popular, there is a misconception in some Western countries that Punjabi cuisine is completely curry-based.

DrinkDrinks found in Punjab are the same as the ones throughout India, but often have a Punjabi twist to them.

CopePower outages and water shortages happen not just every day, but often several times on the same day, with summers especially bad.

Stay safeMake sure you pay attention to your surroundings. Pickpocketing is common in some parts.

RespectSikh names follow this pattern: given name + religious name + surname.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Punjab (India)" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Punjab, India", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Authors of above images; Compiled by User:RaviC, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

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