Punjab - India's Overlooked Travel Destination

foobnum · Nov 2nd, 2007, 05:55

I am leaving for India for three weeks on Monday and our local paper here in Whistler had an article that caught my attention and I thought I would share with everyone. I wasn't planning a visit here but now I think I will knock a couple days off my Goa trip and visit Punjab. Anyway, have a read.

http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/piq... t=Travel+1444

Brisso · Nov 2nd, 2007, 09:48

For mine, the Punjab is a bit drab (poet and don't know it).

Amritsar yes and the border crossing ceremony, but Ludhiana and the general countryside as far as I saw are less interesting. Gujurat on the other hand has some gems - the temple at Somnath, Palitana, Lothal ...

shashank.aggarwal · Nov 2nd, 2007, 10:01

I started a thread several months back on this one...not much response though

shere · Nov 3rd, 2007, 15:31

We had everything to rival (some say better) Rajasthan. Lush green scenery, plenty of Royal palaces spread across the state, lots of Gurdwara and Temples.

What happened, the palaces were converted into third rate public offices, schools or just left to fall down. The Gurdwara with their 18th and 19th century frescoes were destroyed by so called kar seva baba who clad everything with cheap white marble. Even the old frescoes were not spared and in many instances were tiled over using cheap bathroom tiles.

The governments of Punjab have little interest in tourism, if they wanted they could get a few of these magnificent palaces (eg Jagatjit in Kapurthala, Moti Bagh (old one) in Patiala, Moti Mahal Nabha) converted into luxury hotels on par with anything Rajasthan has to offer.

Rural experience tours could be offered similar to the campsites you get in himachal.

We have Neemrana converting an old palace in Patiala, so maybe that will get the ball rolling.

karnail · Nov 3rd, 2007, 23:06

I agree Shere, There is a trend these days to plaster every thing or if funds are available to cover it with white marbel. Even ASi is plastering a no. of heritage structures. Pity.

GauhatiBoy · Nov 4th, 2007, 01:12

A lot of it depends not on what station you stop at, but how much you look around. That's my 2 cents.

solesouljoy · Jan 1st, 2008, 22:27

I enjoyed my trip to Amritsar. Friendly people, relaxed atmosphere vs the golden triangle cities. The Golden temple experience was a good one and the surrounding parks, martyr's gallery, ram bagh museum etc gave me an insight into the Punjabis; their collective identity, religion and culture, and some implications politically.

Gurj · Jan 2nd, 2008, 00:28

it is Mehtiana gurdwara, it is located in ludhiana punjab close to jagroan the place is unbelievable it has very nice and realistic statues of sikh history like what the Sikhs went through in the past when the muslims tried to convert the sikhs to islaam some of the statues can be a bit gory they show the sikh people getting slaughtered, these statues are bigger than life sized and they are unreal. The last time I was there they even had a zoo in behind. My house in India is very close by there and every time I go there I always bump into other people I know, who are visiting from Canada. Honestly this place is unbelievable and a must see. Even if you are not a Sikh.

machadinha · Jan 2nd, 2008, 18:41

Moderator note: All members are kindly requested to keep in mind the site's Forum Rules and realize that generalizations of any kind regarding whomever are not acceptable.

Continuation along those lines will result in this thread being tidied up. Thank you.

Edit: As some contributors chose to ramble on regardless about the pros and cons of certain Punjabis and other people or nationalities wherever they may reside and whatnot, this thread has now been cleaned up using a broad brush.

loniponi · May 3rd, 2008, 15:36

anyone in dharmsala/mcleod ganj, who wants to share taxi to amritsar for a day or two? there is also a bus that leaves everyday from dharmsala around 4:30 pm...and 7 hours later around midnight you arrive.... i would take the bus, but not too into going alone on the bus that late.... i'd like to visit amritsar maybe this tuesday or wednesday...,May 6 or 7th??????

Nov 2nd, 2007, 05:55	#1
foobnum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Whistler Posts: 13	Punjab - India's Overlooked Travel Destination I am leaving for India for three weeks on Monday and our local paper here in Whistler had an article that caught my attention and I thought I would share with everyone. I wasn't planning a visit here but now I think I will knock a couple days off my Goa trip and visit Punjab. Anyway, have a read. http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/piq... t=Travel+1444

Nov 2nd, 2007, 10:01	#3
shashank.aggarwal The Meet Up Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 4,149	I started a thread several months back on this one...not much response though __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

Nov 3rd, 2007, 23:06	#5
karnail Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 137	I agree Shere, There is a trend these days to plaster every thing or if funds are available to cover it with white marbel. Even ASi is plastering a no. of heritage structures. Pity. __________________ http://karnail.blogspot.com/

Jan 2nd, 2008, 00:28	#8
Gurj Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada Posts: 14	another great destination is Mehtiana it is Mehtiana gurdwara, it is located in ludhiana punjab close to jagroan the place is unbelievable it has very nice and realistic statues of sikh history like what the Sikhs went through in the past when the muslims tried to convert the sikhs to islaam some of the statues can be a bit gory they show the sikh people getting slaughtered, these statues are bigger than life sized and they are unreal. The last time I was there they even had a zoo in behind. My house in India is very close by there and every time I go there I always bump into other people I know, who are visiting from Canada. Honestly this place is unbelievable and a must see. Even if you are not a Sikh.

Jan 2nd, 2008, 18:41	#9
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 8,477	Moderator note: All members are kindly requested to keep in mind the site's Forum Rules and realize that generalizations of any kind regarding whomever are not acceptable. Continuation along those lines will result in this thread being tidied up. Thank you. Edit: As some contributors chose to ramble on regardless about the pros and cons of certain Punjabis and other people or nationalities wherever they may reside and whatnot, this thread has now been cleaned up using a broad brush. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links Last edited by machadinha : Jan 3rd, 2008 at 16:58.

Nov 2nd, 2007, 09:48	#2
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 339	For mine, the Punjab is a bit drab (poet and don't know it). Amritsar yes and the border crossing ceremony, but Ludhiana and the general countryside as far as I saw are less interesting. Gujurat on the other hand has some gems - the temple at Somnath, Palitana, Lothal ...

Nov 3rd, 2007, 15:31	#4
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,067	We had everything to rival (some say better) Rajasthan. Lush green scenery, plenty of Royal palaces spread across the state, lots of Gurdwara and Temples. What happened, the palaces were converted into third rate public offices, schools or just left to fall down. The Gurdwara with their 18th and 19th century frescoes were destroyed by so called kar seva baba who clad everything with cheap white marble. Even the old frescoes were not spared and in many instances were tiled over using cheap bathroom tiles. The governments of Punjab have little interest in tourism, if they wanted they could get a few of these magnificent palaces (eg Jagatjit in Kapurthala, Moti Bagh (old one) in Patiala, Moti Mahal Nabha) converted into luxury hotels on par with anything Rajasthan has to offer. Rural experience tours could be offered similar to the campsites you get in himachal. We have Neemrana converting an old palace in Patiala, so maybe that will get the ball rolling.

Nov 4th, 2007, 01:12	#6
GauhatiBoy Not sure where I'm from Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oregon USA Posts: 285	A lot of it depends not on what station you stop at, but how much you look around. That's my 2 cents.

Jan 1st, 2008, 22:27	#7
solesouljoy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 20	I enjoyed my trip to Amritsar. Friendly people, relaxed atmosphere vs the golden triangle cities. The Golden temple experience was a good one and the surrounding parks, martyr's gallery, ram bagh museum etc gave me an insight into the Punjabis; their collective identity, religion and culture, and some implications politically.

May 3rd, 2008, 15:36	#10
loniponi Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Busan South Korea Posts: 3	anyone in dharmsala/mcleod ganj, who wants to share taxi to amritsar for a day or two? there is also a bus that leaves everyday from dharmsala around 4:30 pm...and 7 hours later around midnight you arrive.... i would take the bus, but not too into going alone on the bus that late.... i'd like to visit amritsar maybe this tuesday or wednesday...,May 6 or 7th??????

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