Must-see attractions in Punjab & Haryana

  • Golden Temple

    Amritsar

    The legendary Golden Temple is actually just a small part of this huge gurdwara complex, known to Sikhs as Harmandir Sahib. Spiritually, the focus of…

  • [UNVERIFIED CONTENT] One of the highlights of Chandigarh is the Rock Garden designed by local artist Nek Chand.

    Nek Chand Rock Garden

    Chandigarh

    Chandigarh's Rock Garden is unique: it's the surreal fantasy of the much-missed Nek Chand (1924–2015), a local transport official who, starting in 1957,…

  • Govindgarh

    Punjab (India)

    Of all the ruined forts in Punjab, Bathinda’s Govindgarh is the mightiest and most impressive. It’s also the oldest, dating way back to the 7th century,…

  • (GERMANY OUT) Indien, Haryana, Chandigarh - Monument "Open Hand" entworfen von dem franzoesischen Architekten Le Corbusier     (Photo by Manoli Weber/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

    Capitol Complex

    Chandigarh

    At the epicentre of Le Corbusier’s planned city are the imposing concrete High Court, Secretariat and Vidhan Sabha, shared by the states of Punjab and…

  • Guru-Ka-Langar

    Amritsar

    At the southeast end of the Golden Temple Complex is the Guru-Ka-Langar, an enormous dining room where an estimated 100,000 pilgrims come to eat every day…

  • Qila Mubarak

    Punjab (India)

    The ancestral home of the maharajas of Patiala, this richly ornamented 18th-century fort is an Arabian Nights fantasy of soaring buttresses and latticed…

  • Golden Temple Interpretation Centre

    Amritsar

    Hidden beneath the marble square outside the clock-tower entrance to the Golden Temple, this fascinating multimedia museum tells the story of Sikhism and…

  • Partition Museum

    Amritsar

    Housed in the beautifully restored 19th-century Town Hall, this unique museum (the only one in the world dedicated to Partition) offers a poignant and…

  • Amrit Sarovar

    Amritsar

    Spiritually, the focus of attention within the Golden Temple Complex is the tank that surrounds the gleaming central shrine. Known as the Amrit Sarovar,…

  • Border-Closing Ceremony

    Punjab (India)

    Every afternoon Indian and Pakistani border guards meet at the border post between Attari and Wagah to engage in a 30-minute display of military…

  • Government Museum & Art Gallery

    Chandigarh

    You’ll find a fine collection of artworks and treasures at this impressive state museum, including trippy paintings of the Himalaya by Russian artist…

  • Sheesh Mahal

    Punjab (India)

    Graced by two wedding-cake towers and an ornamental suspension bridge, Sheesh Mahal is one of Punjab's more striking buildings. Inside the lavishly…

  • Mata Temple

    Amritsar

    Credited with fertility-improving powers, this fascinating labyrinthine Hindu temple commemorates the 20th-century female saint Lal Devi. From the main…

  • Jallianwala Bagh

    Amritsar

    Reached through a narrow gatehouse leading to an enclosed courtyard, this poignant park commemorates the 1500 Indians killed or wounded when a British…

  • Le Corbusier Centre

    Chandigarh

    One for fans of 20th-century avant-garde architecture and design, this fascinating museum displays documents, sketches and photos of Le Corbusier, along…

  • Akal Takhat

    Amritsar

    The Guru Granth Sahib is installed in the temple every morning and returned at night to the Akal Takhat, the temporal seat of the Khalsa brotherhood. The…

  • Sukhna Lake

    Chandigarh

    Fulfilling the leisure objective of Le Corbusier’s urban master plan, this landmark artificial lake is a popular rest and recreation stop for Chandigarh's…

  • Pinjore Gardens

    Chandigarh

    The beautifully restored, 17th-century Mughal-era Pinjore Gardens, on the edge of the small town of Pinjore, are built on seven levels with water features…

  • Ram Bagh

    Amritsar

    Ram Bagh was the former palace grounds of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839), who founded the Sikh empire. It now serves as a public park. At its heart,…

  • Brahmasarovar

    Punjab & Haryana

    The focus of attention at Kurukshetra is the vast, sacred body of water that is Brahmasarovar, India’s largest ceremonial tank. According to Hindu holy…

  • Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

    Punjab & Haryana

    More than 100 species of migratory birds, including Siberian cranes, greater flamingo and rosy pelican, join a host of resident species (white-throated…

  • Sri Krishna Museum

    Punjab & Haryana

    The Sri Krishna Museum features an impressive collection of sculptures, carvings and paintings, and a low-tech multimedia exhibition with dioramas, giant…

  • Sheikh Chehli’s Tomb

    Punjab & Haryana

    The impressive mausoleum of 17th-century Sufi mystic Sheikh Chehli, who provided spiritual guidance for the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, lies in a quaint…

  • High Court

    Chandigarh

    The High Court is one of Chandigarh's most iconic buildings from the Le Corbusier era. Executed in reinforced concrete, the massive avant-garde structure…

  • Kesgarh Sahib

    Punjab (India)

    The largest and most dramatic gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib is the Kesgarh Sahib, set back from the main highway on the edge of the old town. An elegant…

  • Baba Atal Tower

    Amritsar

    Just outside the Golden Temple Complex, and with its own ceremonial tank, the octagonal Baba Atal Tower was constructed in 1784 to commemorate Atal Rai,…

  • Heritage Transport Museum

    Punjab & Haryana

    A private collection of gleaming vintage motors – cars, commercial vehicles, scooters, aviation and rail memorabilia – alongside non-motorised modes of…

  • High Court Museum

    Chandigarh

    On the approach road to the High Court, the small High Court Museum displays assorted judicial memorabilia including original Le Corbusier sketches, a…

  • Bhima Devi Temple

    Chandigarh

    The ruins of the 10th-century Bhima Devi Temple comprise broken pillars, statuettes and friezes (including some Khajuraho-esque erotic carvings) scattered…

  • Chandigarh Architecture Museum

    Chandigarh

    Using photos, letters, models, newspaper reports and architectural drawings, this museum tells the story of Chandigarh’s planning and development,…

  • Natural History Museum

    Chandigarh

    This place is a must-visit for those travelling with children, and has exhibits featuring fossils, model dinosaurs, exquisite hand-embroidered pictures of…

  • Anandpur Sahib Fort

    Punjab (India)

    Up to your right as you walk out the back of Kesgarh Sahib gurdwara, a broad paved path climbs the hillside to the small Kesgarh fort, which affords…

  • Khalsa Heritage Complex

    Punjab (India)

    The striking five-petal form (inspired by the five warrior-saints in the Khalsa) of the Khalsa Heritage Complex, which opened in 2011, is one of India’s…

  • Secretariat

    Chandigarh

    One of the three definitive superstructures within Chandigarh's main administrative zone, the Secretariat Building is one of Le Corbusier's masterpieces…

  • Ramgarhia Bunga

    Amritsar

    At the east end of the Amrit Sarovar tank is the Ramgarhia Bunga, a protective fortress topped by two Islamic-style minarets; inside is a stone slab once…

  • Vidhan Sabha

    Chandigarh

    This architectural masterpiece by Le Corbusier is home to the state legislative assemblies of Punjab and Haryana. Tourists can only visit as part of their…

  • Bougainvillea Garden

    Chandigarh

    Home to an overwhelming population of bougainvilleas, the eponymous Bougainvillea Garden has a thought-provoking memorial to Indian soldiers killed in…

  • Rose Garden

    Chandigarh

    The most pleasant of the parks and gardens that dot Chandigarh is perhaps the Rose Garden, which contains over 1500 rose varieties.

  • Khalsa College

    Amritsar

    This vast, sprawling castle of a college, on your right as you head west of town along GT Rd, was founded in 1890 to educate the cream of Punjabi society…

  • Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama

    Amritsar

    Located in the northwest corner of Ram Bagh, this museum is dedicated to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ‘Lion of Punjab’ (1780–1839), who founded the Sikh…

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