Near the end of the year, I’ll be travelling to Punjab again. It’s been six years since the last time I went and I’m so excited to go back!
Punjab is known for many things. The food, traditional clothes, hospitality, farmland, history, there is so much to explore. Although I wasn’t born in Punjab, I always feel a sense of comfort going back.
Travelling to any new country and state can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you haven’t been there before. I have decided to share a guide on what to expect and see when visiting Punjab.
So whether this is a destination you’ve been wanting to go to or just feel like reading about, enjoy this guide!
Before you begin! This information is all from my experience. There are many other sites to visit if you want more detailed information about Punjab.
choose your city!
Punjab has many cities and villages. They each have it’s own charm. My mom was born and raised in the city of Patiala and my dad is from the city of Ludhiana. I usually stay in Patiala with my cousins and their family when I’m there to visit.
Patiala is known as the “royal city” because of it’s rich history and the many palaces and sites around the city. Patiala has a blend of Rajput, Mughal, and Punjabi culture.
Ludhiana is known for its textile and apparel industry. During my stay I visited two other cities, Chandigarh and Amritsar. I will mention a bit more on them later. No matter what city you choose, there is something unique about each of them.
weather
Depending on the season, the weather in India as a whole can either be really hot or moderately cold. When I went with my mom and older sister in 2017, we made the mistake of going in the summer. I say mistake because the heat caught on to us when we wanted to go sight-seeing.
Story Time!
Last time, I had the privilege of seeing the beautiful and breathtaking Taj Mahal in Agra. I’ve always seen the palace through pictures and in movies, so seeing it in person was unreal. But… it was 110 degrees outside. We all ended up getting sick due to the extreme heat and the pollution around the area of the palace. I feel like if the weather was not extremely hot, I could have enjoyed the experience much more.
Ultimately, I would not go in the summer. The heat can be brutal to say the least, especially if you want to visit famous attractions or go out. I can say the best time to go would be any season besides summer. The winter, fall, and spring season has weather that is pleasant and comfortable.
clothing
When travelling in Punjab, you wear clothes depending on the weather and where you are going. I usually bring comfortable clothing because while we are there, we usually are walking a lot and going to many places.
I would say that during the other seasons besides summer, you can wear whatever you want that keeps you warm and comfortable. During the summer, I would wear looser clothing so that the humidity wouldn’t get to me! (It still did though).
You can also causally wear a suit, and no I don’t mean formal suits that you wear for meetings and important business, I mean a traditional Punjabi suit like this one here:
I actually feel like the best part when visiting Punjab is buying suits to take back home with you! There are so many different styles of suits like a sharara or a lehenga. I enjoy the process of finding any kind of suit. When you enter a store they usually offer you something to drink while shopping, which doesn’t happen to me when I shop here in America! I believe it shows the hospitality that you find in Punjab. Usually I would sip on “Limca” which is basically a lemon soda.
Patiala is known for their jutti’s! This is a kind of footwear commonly worn and is made of leather and intricate embroidery. So be sure to check out any local jutti store while you are there. I can say that all other cities in Punjab have suits to shop for among other clothing too.
food
Well here is the best part! I believe that eating Punjabi food in Punjab just hits different. My aunt in Patiala has her own garden and usually cooks for us using the vegetables she grows herself!
Apart from homemade food, local street food stalls are common in many areas. They would usually sell all kinds of food like mangoes, corn, samosas, golgappe, aloo tikki, chaat, and even cha (tea).
I feel like explaining Indian food by typing what it is rather than showing it can be hard to describe, but trust me when I say it’s delicious! Just be careful if you have any allergies.
a few of my favorites
Heritage Haveli Restaurant: It’s so good! I think there is a Haveli restaurant in each city in Punjab and they all are different from the other aesthetically! Basically, each Haveli restaurant has decor that shows a bit of Punjabi history all while having some great food options.
Cafe Coffee Day (CCD): This is a chain-brand coffeehouse that my cousins and I would go too. You will find CCD anywhere. It’s a laid back cafe that serves coffee, tea, and baked goods. I’m thinking of that ice cream brownie I had when I was there as I write this.
I really like to go to cafes, especially ones that are unique and have a nice vibe to it. Although CCD would be considered mainstream, I hope to explore some more unique cafes when I go back!
Pirates of Grill: A really cool restaurant that is known for their small BBQ platters and interesting range of deserts!
places to see
Chandigarh – Rock Garden
This is for all you artsy nature lovers! A beautiful artistic sculpture garden that is definitely a must-see with your own eyes. I loved it there. The garden was made by Nek Chand Saini, a government official who created this garden secretly during his free-time in 1957.
What is really special about the Rock Garden is that you feel connected to nature. The sculptures around the garden are made from recycled items such as bottles, glasses, broken pipes, ceramic pots, and other kinds of scrap to create something worthwhile. There is even a stunning waterfall as you continue walking through the garden. I can say that the whole area is very picturesque and one to explore.
Amritsar – Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple)
My family and I make sure to stop by here any time we visit Punjab. The Golden Temple is a historical and sacred spot for many Sikhs. You must cover your head and take off your shoes before entering. Thousands of people visit the temple everyday and the upper half of the temple is made of pure gold!
There is also the “Guru ka Langar” or the community canteen and kitchen which serves free food everyday regardless of your creed, caste, skin color, or gender.
The Golden Temple is also surrounded by a pond called “Amrit Sarovar.” There are many historical spots around the temple such as an old Jubi tree and a Central Sikh Museum atop the Clock Tower.
This year, I hope to visit the Golden Temple at night rather than the day.
Although I stayed in Punjab for the main duration of my stay, I was really happy to see a few places that I wanted to for the longest time, such as the Taj Mahal which I recommend visiting!
Another place was Jaipur. I spontaneously picked some attractions to see. Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, and the Rambagh Palace.
But something that I wish I knew earlier was bringing my passport with me before visiting any major attraction or when checking in to any hotel. This is because it’s a part of the government regulations to follow when you are a visitor, and if you don’t have one they won’t let you visit or check in.
Another Story Time!
We traveled from Delhi to Jaipur which was all together a four hour drive. When we visited The Rambagh Palace which was BEAUTIFUL we decided it would be fun to spend a night there before seeing the other places in Jaipur. Turns out we couldn’t check in because all of us didn’t have a passport on us. Since we couldn’t check in to any hotel while we were there, we had no choice but to drive all the way back to Delhi on that same day.
I still got to see Jaipur, we made the trip again three days later but the main thing is to be sure to carry your passport with you at all times!
Traveling to a new country is always exciting and thrilling. You get the feel of a new culture and environment and step out of a certain comfort zone. I hope you were able to take something from this guide and would want to plan a trip to Punjab!
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