Punjab

Part of a territory that once extended far into Pakistan, the Punjab is inexorably linked to the Sikh religion. The homeland of the Sikh brotherhood was shaped by centuries of conflict with Mughal invaders, a struggle which also left its mark on the attitudes and customs of the Sikh people. Sharing a capital with neighboring Haryana, the Punjab sprawls across the north Indian plains towards the border with Pakistan. Travelers and Sikh pilgrims flock to historic Amritsar, the setting for the legendary Golden Temple, but fewer visitors make it to Chandigarh, the modernist capital created by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier after the partition ...

Part of a territory that once extended far into Pakistan, the Punjab is inexorably linked to the Sikh religion. The homeland of the Sikh brotherhood was shaped by centuries of conflict with Mughal invaders, a struggle which also left its mark on the attitudes and customs of the Sikh people. Sharing a capital with neighboring Haryana, the Punjab sprawls across the north Indian plains towards the border with Pakistan. Travelers and Sikh pilgrims flock to historic Amritsar, the setting for the legendary Golden Temple, but fewer visitors make it to Chandigarh, the modernist capital created by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier after the partition of the Punjab in 1947. Other attractions include the pilgrim city of Anandpur Sahib and the surreal nationalistic parades that take place every evening at the Wagah-Attari border crossing. As well as religion, the Punjab is famous for its food - Punjabi chefs were responsible for such classic Indian creations as naan bread, tandoori chicken and the lassi.

About the Expert

Joe Bindloss has written more than 30 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, with a focus on Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and island nations.