Not much is talked about Punjab in terms of tourism and travel, but this now tiny state has had a long and eventful history.

1. Places to visit in Punjab, India

2. There is plenty to visit and do in the Punjab.
Here I am trying to compile a small list.
Will keep updating as and when I gather more info.
Punjab is a small state in the North of India with a long history.

3. Amritsar
Most visits to Punjab start with Amritsar in some way. Do visit The Golden Temple, also known as
Harmandir Sahib, a historical Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) for Punjab and the Sikh community.
The second place to visit is Jallianwala Bagh, once a public park, which was the site of a massacre in
the colonial days, when the British Government forces opened fire on peaceful protestors killing
hundreds of them.
Amritsar is also great for eating out, as well as for navigating the narrow old streets and discovering
plenty of heritage, shopping etc.
Gobindgarh Fort was originally built by Gujjar Singh Bhangi, the local chieftain in the 18th century
Gobindgarh was conquered and enhanced in the early 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh who
renamed it after the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The fort had five cannons which included the
famous two ‘Zamzama' cannons, also called ‘Bhangiyon-de-tope'.
Ram Bagh Palace, was the palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of Sikh Empire in Punjab, India. It
was used as summer palace by Ranjit Singh. The palace is situated in the center of a garden popularly
known as Ram Bagh or Barandari.

4. Bathinda
Qila Mubarak, is a historical monument in the heart of the city of Bathinda in Punjab, India. It has
been in existence from 90-110 AD in its current place and is the oldest surviving fort in India. It was
here that Razia Sultan, the first woman to take charge of the Delhi throne was incarcerated on her
defeat and dethroned. The bricks of the fort date back to the Kushana period when emperor Kanishka
ruled over Northern India/Bactria. Raja Dab, along with emperor Kanishka, is believed to have built the
fort. (From Wikipedia)

5. Ludhiana
Lodhi Fort in Ludhiana was built by Sikandar Lodhi almost 500 years ago on the banks of the River
Sutlej.
Payal Fort is located in Payal in Ludhiana District. Built in 1771 by Maharaja Amar Singh, it was later
captured by Maharani Sahib Kaur.

6. Patiala
Qila Mubarak located at Patiala is a rare and outstanding example of Sikh Palace architecture in India.
There is a great collection of different type and sizes of mirrors in Darbaar hall. The great and beautiful
paintings of Sikh rulers is also an attractive part of Darbaar hall. No one can neglect the beauty of the
imposing art work, done with glass by giving different colours, of Androon hall. (from Wikipedia).
Sheesh Mahal or the Palace of Mirrors was built in the 19th cenutury.
The Bahadurgarh Fort is 6 kilometres away from Patiala city. It is situated on the Patiala-Chandigarh
road. The fort was constructed by Nawab Saif Khan in 1658 A.D and later renovated by a Sikh ruler
Maharaja Karam Singh in 1837. The construction of the entire fort was completed in eight years. A sum
of ten lakh rupees was spent on its construction. It covers an area of 2 km2. The fort is enclosed within
two rounded walls and a moat. The circumference of the fort is slightly over two kilometres. (from
Wikipedia)

7. Batala
Shershah Suri Mahal Batala. This is of two parts. First part is the palace which is used as an official
block in Baring Union College Batala. Second one is the summer palace which is known as
baradari.......But one part is known as Hazira park. There is a lot more to do to preserve this historical
site. (from here….)

8. Kapurthala
The Jagatjit Palace also known as Sainik School now was built by the erstwhile Maharaja of
Kapurthala. The palace building has a spectacular architecture based on the Palace of Versailles and
Fontainebleau[citation needed] spread over a total area of 200 acres (0.81 km2). It was designed by a
French architect M. Marcel and built by a local builder Allah Ditta.
Kanjli Wetland, a man made Wetland, which subsumes the Kanjli Lake, located in the Kapurthala
district of Punjab state in India, was created in 1870 by constructing the headworks across the
perennial Bien River, a tributary of the Beas River to provide irrigation facilities to the hinterland. The
rich biodiversity of the wetland comprising aquatic, mesophytic and terrestrial flora and fauna including
some important species of plants and animals was recognized internationally by the Ramsar
Convention in 2002 by designating the Kanjli Lake in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
(from Wikipedia)

9. Faridkot
Raj Mahal was built in the reign of Maharaja Bikram Singh around 1885-1889 and is based on French
architectural styles.

10. Jalandhar
Sarai Nurmahal is situated 16 miles south of Jalandhar.. The serai was constructed on the orders of
Noor Jahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir under the supervision of Zakariya Khan in 1618AD,
then Governor of the Doab. Nurmahal got its name from Noor Jahan, who is said to have been
brought up here.

11. Doraha
Doraha Serai was built as Mughal caravan serais, by the Mughal ruler Jahangir. Once an example of
fine Mughal architecture, this historical serai is in a dilapidated condition. It lies in the Ludhiana District
at Doraha.
Serai Lashkari Khan located on Highway number One near Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Kotan (near
Doraha) in Ludhiana District, Punjab is a historical inn built by moghul military general Lashkari Khan,
in the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1667 AD.
From Wikipedia.

12. Sanghol
Sanghol is an ancient village predating Harappan civilisation in the Fatehgarh Sahib District of Punjab. This
place holds a special position on the archaeological atlas of India. Excavations at the site have yielded coins
and seals related to Toramana and Mihirakula belonging to central Asia. A Buddhist stupa was excavated in
1968, but in February 1985 a rich treasure of 117 beautiful carved stone slabs,which includes 69 pillars, 35
crossbars, figures and figurines, was excavated by the experts of the Directorate of Archaeology, Punjab.
Scholars have explained them as Kushan sculptures of the Mathura school of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
These treasures have since been displayed for art lovers and historians in Sanghol Museum. Many of the art
pieces from this museum often go on display as special exhibits at various museums around the world.
Situated on the top of a mound, Ucha Pind Sanghol is spread over an area of 200 km.

13. Sirhind - Fatehgarh Sahib
Varahamihira (505 – 587) in his Sanskrit treatise, Brihat Samhita, mentions the city as 'Satudar Desh', later it was inhabited by
a tribe of 'Sairindhas Aryans, leading to its present name.[5] According to Huan Tsang, the Chinese traveller who visited India
during the seventh century, Sirhind was the capital of the district of Shitotulo, or Shatadru (the present day River Sutlej).[6]
Entrance to the Ramgarh Fort near Sirhind
In 12th century, Sirhind came under the rule of the Hindu Chauhan Rajputs of Delhi.[7] During the rule of Prithvi Raj Chauhan
(1168–1192), the Hindu Rajput ruler of Delhi, it became his military outpost.
It further rose in glory during the Mughal Empire, when it became its provincial capital, controlling the Lahore-Delhi Highway, the
Grand Trunk Road. During the Mughal era, Sirhind was the name for Malwa, since it was the area's capital city. Sirhind was the
headquarters of the Mughal administration in Eastern Punjab. Many European travellers describe its splendours, and it also
developed into a center of cultural activity.[8]
Ruins of Daulat Khana-E-Khas at Aam Khas Bagh', built by most probably, Sultan hafiz Rakhna, during the reign of emperor
Akbar
Sirhind was known for the dozens of saints, scholars, poets, historians, calligraphers and scribes who lived there. This city is
mostly famous to muslims for Great saint Imām-e-Rabbānī Shaykh Ahmad al-Farūqī al-Sirhindī(R.)(1564–1624).He was an
Indian Islamic scholar of Arab origin, a Hanafi jurist, and a prominent member of the Naqshbandī Sufi order. A large number of
buildings survive from this period, including the fort named 'Aam Khas Bagh'; it is said that in its heyday, the city had 360
mosques, gardens, tombs, caravansarais and wells.
Younger sons of tenth sikh guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji namely Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba fateh singh ji were bricked
alive at the age of 9 and 7 years rescpectively by then governor wazir khan. Gurudwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib is established at
that place to commemorate them. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his Sikh army in 1710 destroyed the city of Sirhind
completely and killed Wazir Khan the governor. The Sikhs occupied Sirhind and made Bhai Baj Singh the governor. (From
Wikipedia)

14. Ropar
Ropar is one of the bigger sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Ropar is also the home of the Ropar Wetlands, a Ramsar wetland site of extreme bio-diversity and
ecological importance. These wetlands are home to numerous migratory and resident birds and
wildlife.

15. Harike Wetlands
Harike Wetland also known as "Hari-ke-Pattan", with the Harike Lake in the deeper part of it, is the
largest wetland in northern India in the border of Tarn Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district of the
Punjab state in India. Another Ramsar site, Harike is home to numerous resident and migratory birds.

16. Anandpur Sahib
Keshgarh Fort was built by Guru Govind Singh in Anandpur Sahib in around 1689.
Hola Mohalla is an important Sikh Festival that takes place in March every year at Anandpur Sahib.

17. More soon from TheUntourists